Population estimates released by the Census Bureau today show Louisiana began to rebound from its post-Hurricane Katrina population loss, gaining nearly 50,000 people from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007, for a total population of 4.3 million. The state lost 250,000 residents during the previous one-year period. Texas gained more people than any other state: Its 2006-2007 increase of almost 500,000 was ahead of runner-up California, which added slightly more than 300,000.
This is the first in a series of population estimates that will be released on a flow basis through summer 2008. In addition to states, estimates will be provided for the total population of counties, incorporated cities and metro areas, as well as the population of the nation, states, and counties by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin.
The Census Bureau develops state population estimates by measuring the population change since the most recent census. It uses births, deaths, administrative records and survey data to develop estimates of migration. For more detail regarding the methodology see <http://www.census.gov/popest/topics/methodology/>.
Not disagreeing or agreeing with you, RW. But, allow me to make another point. At some point, New Orleans will have to stop using "post-Katrina" numbers and begin using simple "numbers." Take population, for instance. Right now, we call people who are returning to New Orleans "returning evacuees." How long do we call them that? I mean, if a person comes back 25 years from now, are they considered a "returning evacuee"? At some point, we must draw a line and say, "If you haven't returned by this time, we consider you to have permanently relocated elsewhere. You may still come back, but we won't consider you to have 'returned'". Remember those earthquakes during the World Series back in the 80s? Would you consider a person who is just moving back there to be "returning" or to be "moving back after living somewhere else for a while"? We can argue about exactly what year that point is defined as (I'd say 3 years after the storm, but that's not based on any scientific method). The reason that drawing that point is so important is this: once you draw that point, you must return to pre-Katrina population trends. The trends that relied upon available education, jobs, economics, etc. And, the pre-Katrina trends were of a declining population. So, given that nothing much has changed since pre-Katrina (we still have just 1 Fortune 500 company, the worst education system, corrupt politicians, etc.), you must conclude that our population will continue to decline. After all, if you don't change any of the variables in a statistical equation, the result is always the same. So, my point is that, while we may be increasing in population now, I don't look for that trend to continue through 2010. Written by Professor
on 12/28/2007
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Well, dears, we discussed this last night on the cold verandah. We have problems with increase in population and decrease in the rate of unemployment. It appears to us that some of these statistics were based on many if, ands, and nots. With an increase in population and a decrease in unemployment, we must ask what kind of jobs are these new citizens or returning citizens of Louisiana holding. We are seriously disturbed by what we continue to see as the lack of rebuiling in New Orleans. Perhaps some of this population and employment is elsewhere in the state. That might represent the reason why we do not understand the correlation between the figures. We still believe that many small businesses are not making it in this city and we need them. We also need to see larger businesses come back. Some have moved away after the storm. Some were ready to move before the storm and did so then. We continue to loose large and small businesses in New Orleans. The city remains stagnant to a great extend two years after Katrina. We said it would take at least ten years but at this rate it may take decades longer. City leaders and citizens must get a grip on reality - this crime ridden debacle of a city must be restored to order. Attorneys quibbling over the merger of the antiquated two court system, corrupt politicians having their records expunged, errors so that accused criminals can roam the street, thugs accosting citizens and tourists, alike. Hell, dears, this alone should result in a decrease in population and employment. Written by RhettsWife
on 12/28/2007
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