- Published: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 05:16 PM
At nearly 12.9 million people, Illinois’ population stands at an all-time high.
But for some reason, many people think the state is losing people.
In response to continued questions and faulty reports, Senator Andy Manar is trying to set the record straight and provide the public with the real facts.
When the U.S. Census Bureau released its 2010 headcount for Illinois, the state had 12,830,632 residents, up more than 411,000 from the previous census in 2000. That’s akin to adding a city the size of Atlanta, GA.
And the Census Bureau says the state is still growing. The latest estimates put Illinois’ population at 12,875,255, up more than 44,000 people since the 2010 count.
People often confuse Illinois’ recent loss of a congressional district with a loss of population. That's simply not the case.
Despite the thousands of new residents, Illinois lost a congressional district because it did not grow as fast as some other states. There are a limited number of congressional seats, and after the census they are awarded to the states on a proportional basis. As a result, Illinois -- the fifth largest state -- often loses out to smaller states that experience sudden, drastic population growth.
Here are some useful charts and websites for finding facts about Illinois population:
Read Senator Manar's 3/13 Letter to the Editor in the State Journal-Register
State Journal-Register coverage of Springfield and Illinois population growth
U.S. Census Bureau
