Florida overtakes New York as third most populous U.S. state

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Florida overtakes New York as third most populous U.S. state

BY LETITIA STEIN
TAMPA, Fla. Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:07pm EST

(Reuters) - Florida has leapfrogged New York to rank as the third most populous U.S. state, the Census Bureau reported on Tuesday, reflecting demographic trends that are reshaping American politics and culture, along with state bragging rights.

With 19.9 million residents, Florida surpassed New York by a slim margin to rank behind two other warm-weather states: California, population 38.8 million; and Texas, 27 million.

New York, while still growing, dropped to fourth with 19.7 million residents, the July 2014 tally found, continuing the state's longtime slide from the top of the national rankings.

"What it reflects is a very important milestone and shows really a long-term trend, both in Florida and in other Southern and Western states," said Stanley Smith, a demographer with the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/23/us-usa-census-florida-idUSKBN0K11FF20141223

[True Blue Door]

1. Ugh. "Flawridda."

Even when they're Blue they're crazy.

[shenmue]

2. Oh dang

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Alaska is number 48,

and I like it that way. We were passed this year by North Dakota. Only Wyoming and Vermont have fewer people -- but we have lots more space.

[HockeyMom]

5. I would rather live in Maine than Florida

Native New Yorker now living in Florida. HATE Florida weather. Husband is retiring in a year or two, and we are OUT OF FLORIDA. If not back to New York, then it will definitely somewhere NORTH with 4 Seasons. If I ever hear one more person say the word "paradise" in relation to Florida, I am going to punch them.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. That's good news.

Now I have another reason to not go there.

[hifiguy]

7. Why??

A friend of mine moved to Florida some years back after spending most of his life in Minnesota. He HATED Florida with a passion - hurricanes/monsoons, swamps, alligators, way too many new-money assholes, hideous traffic - he was in the Miami are and worked at the U of Miami - and all the worst of everything Southern. He and his wife gave up after 2.5 years and came back to Minnesota. Even our brutal winters were better than living in FL as far as they were concerned.

Never been there myself but after his description I never want to go there.