Oklahoma counties continue to grow

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma continues its trend of slow population growth and rural flight. <br><br>Newly released Census Bureau statistics show the state's population grew 1.25% from 2000 to 2002.

Thursday, April 17th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma continues its trend of slow population growth and rural flight.

Newly released Census Bureau statistics show the state's population grew 1.25% from 2000 to 2002.

The population now stands at 3,493,700, the highest ever.

Rogers County has grown faster than any other county since 2000, increasing by just under 7%. Wagoner County is next at 4.95%.

Forty of Oklahoma's 77 counties lost population from 2000 to 2002.

Most of the counties that lost the most population were in the western part of the state. That continues a trend of rural flight to more urban areas.