New census count puts U.S. population at 281.4 million

Thursday, December 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON -- The population of the United States grew to 281,421,906, according to figures released by the Census Bureau Thursday. The new national figure marked a 33,399,123 gain from 1990.

"The census is a cornerstone of our representative form of government," Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta said. "America's population is the largest ever."

The first figures from the decennial head count will reshape America's political boundaries.

Arizona, Texas, Florida and Georgia gained two seats in the House as the Census Bureau unveiled the first results from this year's national head count that will be used to reassign the 435 House seats among the states.

California, Nevada, Colorado and North Carolina will each gain one.

New York and Pennsylvania will each lose two seats. Losing one seat each will be Connecticut, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Missisippi.

The numbers landed on President Clinton's desk Thursday morning, several hours before Mineta and Census Director Kenneth Prewitt made a public release at a news conference.

"Today, I am pleased to receive from the Department of Commerce the first data released from Census 2000, our country's 22nd decennial census," Clinton said in a statement. "Most importantly, I want to thank the American people for their participation in Census 2000."

The U.S. Constitution says seats in the House must be redistributed fairly among the states every 10 years following the census. Based on an estimated national population this year of nearly 276 million, that means each House member represents about 625,000 people, Haaga said, though states with a population below that still must have one representative.

The reapportionment figures are just the first numbers from Census 2000 that will have wide political implications. "The census is not nearly done. As we speak the Census Bureau is working to complete the accuracy and coverage evaluation," Mineta said.

Prewitt acknowledged that census counters may have missed some people.

"We know that a census number is an estimate. It's not the truth. We try to get that estimate as close as we can to the truth," Prewitt said.

In March, the Census Bureau is scheduled to begin releasing more data detailing county and local-level populations that will be used to redraw congressional and state legislative districts.