The Declining Midwest

The new census numbers came out this week.  Texas has seen the largest population growth since the 2010 census - -

• Texas 1,203,015
• California 998,920
• Florida 706.806
• North Carolina 288,527
• Colorado 220,171

What is interesting is the regional breakdown that clearly illustrates the continued changing growth patterns of the U.S.  The percentage increase from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013 for the four primary regions are as follows:

• West 3.21%
• South 3.34%
• Midwest 0.93%
• Northeast 1.13%

Midwestern declinism is visible at the state level for the same time period in the context of population percentage increase (the national average for 2010-2013 was 2.39%):

• Texas 5.18%
• Missouri 0.92%
• Indiana 1.34%
• Ohio 0.28%
• West Virginia 0.07%
• Kentucky 1.29%
• Florida 3.99%
• Arizona 3.67%
• Michigan 0.12%

In some cases, the magnitude of declinism will be significant.  For example, from July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013, West Virginia (being 95% white is a killer when you look at the diversity of high growth rate states) has seen a population decline of 0.13%, one of only two states to have a negative population growth rate (Can you name the other?  Just as white as West Virginia.).  How a business could possibly think it could grow in an environment of neutral to declining population growth is a mystery to me.  Why more people don't want to move individually or collectively to Texas is an even bigger mystery.