Immigration shifts impacting population estimates

WASHINGTON - The government is providing new estimates showing the U.S. population grew to somewhere between 306 million and 313 million over the last decade.

The estimates are separate from the official 2010 census count, which is a few weeks away. The estimates are based on a review of birth and death records as well as calculations of new immigrants as of April 1, 2010. Demographers say the range of numbers offer a rough guide to the official 2010 count that will be used to distribute House seats.

Census Bureau director Robert Groves says pinpointing a more exact tally was difficult partly due to rapid shifts in immigration since 2000.

In 2000, the official census count was 281.4 million.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/12/234334