California’s population is on the rise. So much for the claims of the state’s demise

[ocman]

California’s population is on the rise. So much for the claims of the state’s demise

SACRAMENTO — It was bound to end. This is California, after all. Losing population defies our history. Now we’re back growing again.
Yes, that’s correct. California has resumed adding people after three years of shedding them.

Just last week, I reported that California residents were fleeing the state. They still are. But our numbers again are rising, based on updated Newsom administration data to be released around May 1.

What caused the turnaround?

Fewer people are now able to work remotely in other states, old people have quit dying at the extraordinary rate they were during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Biden administration has relaxed restrictions on legal immigration.

....

Schwarm said 42% of California’s legal immigrants come from Asia and 38% from Central America. And 57% have at least a bachelor’s degree. Last year, California gained more than 124,000 legal foreign immigrants,

California’s population grows for the first time since 2020

California’s population is celebrating its first net increase since 2020 — with a net gain of 67,000 residents last year, state authorities announced on Tuesday.
Officials attributed the rise — to 39,128,162 individuals as of Jan. 1 — to an improvement in legal foreign immigration policies, a growth in the natural population and the return of mortality rates to long-term trends.
Meanwhile, net domestic migration rates receded to those of the 2010s, while the state’s Department of Finance projected a continued positive population expansion.
“With immigration processing backlogs largely eliminated and deaths returning to long-term trends, a stable foundation for continued growth has returned,” a statement from the agency said.

Population numbers rose in 31 of California’s 58 counties, predominantly in the Bay Area, the Central Valley and the “Inland Empire:” the metropolitan area eastbound of coastal Southern California.

Los Angeles County and Orange County grew by 0.05 and 0.31 percent, respectively, according to the data.

Five counties across the state featured growth that surpassed one percent: Sutter, Yuba and Glenn counties in the Sacramento Valley; San Benito County east of Monterey; and Imperial County east of San Diego. The Department of Finance attributed those increases largely to housing gains.
Nine of 10 counties with populations of more than 1 million, which make up 72 percent of the state’s total residents, saw surges in their numbers. Riverside County was at the helm, with an increase of 13,800 individuals.

TLDR version: Population rose back above 39M. Net gain of 67,000. Net migration receded back to 2010 levels. Biden’s immigration relaxation and asylum seekers and calling employees back to the office. Also, people not dying.

[austlar1]

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12...growth-census/

[bilbao58]

That didn’t take long.

[homebucket]

Is there a list that shows which counties grew the most by raw numbers and by percentages?

[edale]

I thought it was general consensus here that census population estimates are basically worthless due to how off they were compared to actual counts in 2020.

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by ocman

California’s population is on the rise. So much for the claims of the state’s demise



California’s population grows for the first time since 2020






TLDR version: Population rose back above 39M. Net gain of 67,000. Net migration receded back to 2010 levels. Biden’s immigration relaxation and asylum seakers and calling employees back to the office. Also, people not dying.

Also, housing no longer being affordable in Phoenix and 20 days in a row with temperatures over 110 degrees might lead to people rethinking their choice of moving out of California.

[LA21st]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Also, housing no longer being affordable in Phoenix and 20 days in a row with temperatures over 110 degrees might lead to people rethinking their choice of moving out of California.

Its 97 in Sherman Oaks today. Hottest day for us so far.

I dont know how people in Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Tennesee and Florida put up with this every day for half the year (at least)

Staying inside in AC isn't good QOL. Cheap house? Who cares? You can't do anything.

And its only gonna get hotter in those places.

[ssiguy]

Population loss is always a bad thing. In Canada, we would kill to have growth rates this low. Canada added nearly 1.3 million in 2023 for an annual growth rate of a whopping and highly unsustainable rate of 3.2%. Ontario alone grew by 550,000 which is the fastest rate of any state or province in NA. Such rates have sent rental and real estate prices soaring while crushing our healthcare system.

If fast population growth is what you would like to see............careful what you ask for.

[chris08876]

Shame Cali can't build cheap housing in mass and in high rise fashion. I always envisioned LA county having Tokyo level density up to the horizon. A Cali that has 80 million and one that works would be cool to see. Cali could be growing much much faster if they build more. The demand is astronomical.

[The North One]

Originally Posted by chris08876

Shame Cali can't build cheap housing in mass and in high rise fashion. I always envisioned LA county having Tokyo level density up to the horizon. A Cali that has 80 million and one that works would be cool to see. Cali could be growing much much faster if they build more. The demand is astronomical.

No Westerner with any means want's to live in Tokyo level density. And the whole appeal of California is having a single family home in a gorgeous setting with near perfect weather.

[LA21st]

Originally Posted by chris08876

Shame Cali can't build cheap housing in mass and in high rise fashion. I always envisioned LA county having Tokyo level density up to the horizon. A Cali that has 80 million and one that works would be cool to see. Cali could be growing much much faster if they build more. The demand is astronomical.

Yes, its def slowed down by the dumb council members here. Some are Nimbys, some are idiots who think new housing causes gentification. They're all incredibly stupid.
Cant wait until those 3 progressive maniacs are gone in next election.

Santa Monica--West LA/Culver City--Downtown LA---Glendale--Pasadena---is set up to be America's Tokyo with the various density/job centers. You can kinda glimpse this when traveling on the Expo Line between SM and downtown. The potential is right in your face.

Its just making it more dense/transit in between better.

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by LA21st

Yes, its def slowed down by the dumb council members here. Some are Nimbys, some are idiots who think new housing causes gentification. They're all incredibly stupid.
Cant wait until those 3 progressive maniacs are gone in next election.

Santa Monica--West LA/Culver City--Downtown LA---Glendale--Pasadena---is set up to be America's Tokyo with the various density/job centers. You can kinda glimpse this when traveling on the Expo Line between SM and downtown. The potential is right in your face.

Its just making it more dense/transit in between better.

Let's hope change happens. Yeah there is a ton of potential. A lot of potential really when it comes to not just building but the energy framework. Desalination, expanding the energy grid and even transit. LA County is sort of like a big template but a ton of potential. Rezoning, laxing the rules/making it easier, and officials that say "yes" would be ideal.

They really shoot themselves in the foot. The basin, near the coast, up in the Bay Area. Issue with the U.S. I suppose as we have a chronic underbuilding problem.

Considering Cali tends to be a frontline leader in different trends or "ideas" for the nation, I really do hope they set the standard when it comes to meeting the demand, affordable housing and density. Places like Miami or Atlanta shouldn't be outbuilding LA, LA should be outbuilding everyone. In an ideal world!!!

Originally Posted by The North One

No Westerner with any means want's to live in Tokyo level density. And the whole appeal of California is having a single family home in a gorgeous setting with near perfect weather.

Aside from the weather, that is the issue with the U.S.. All these single family homes but the issue is that look at the supply and prices. Every city doing the same thing and every city in time having the same issue. Less "luxury" housing, more basic units and affordability. That needs to be the future trend. For future prosperity and frankly to keep up with the population. All the recent folks moving in, coming in... they will have kids and than we'll have a big surge in new folks needing future housing. The issues of today housing wise will skyrocket 10 years from now. Ticking time bomb if resolutions are not enacted soon.

And even in the suburbs. Country needs to look at suburban density. Outside of the core.

The country can fix this issue, the will is not there though. Let the free market and developers build. Build more schools/clinics in developments, grocery stores, and build the mass units. Quality of architecture might have to suffer for long term prosperity, and when we get down to it, prosperity for the masses is key.

[jd3189]

I see a good amount of apartment complexes being built in various parts of LA and the surrounding cities/suburbs.

As for California's previous image as a place where you can own a single family home, that's not realistic anymore in our high cost housing market, especially with Blackrock buying up properties and forcing folks to rent them out. Really puts a middle finger to the whole "American dream" bullshit.

In this next stage of urban development with renewed growth in CA's population, the focus should be building more of those small apartments in LA and the Bay along with TODs and better public transportation.

I would say this is very crucial, especially for LA as it prepares for the Olympics in a few years. It may never reach the same level of density as Tokyo, but it could just be more of itself. Despite the prevalence on SFHs, there's also a lot of small apartments everywhere. Still car-centric with associated parking, but better than anywhere else in the Sunbelt, that's for sure.

[LA21st]

Originally Posted by jd3189

I see a good amount of apartment complexes being built in various parts of LA and the surrounding cities/suburbs.

As for California's previous image as a place where you can own a single family home, that's not realistic anymore in our high cost housing market, especially with Blackrock buying up properties and forcing folks to rent them out. Really puts a middle finger to the whole "American dream" bullshit.

In this next stage of urban development with renewed growth in CA's population, the focus should be building more of those small apartments in LA and the Bay along with TODs and better public transportation.

I would say this is very crucial, especially for LA as it prepares for the Olympics in a few years. It may never reach the same level of density as Tokyo, but it could just be more of itself. Despite the prevalence on SFHs, there's also a lot of small apartments everywhere. Still car-centric with associated parking, but better than anywhere else in the Sunbelt, that's for sure.

Its never going to be Tokyo, but there will be more walkable areas popping up with the additonal density/transit. Look at Palms. Its going to be full of 6-9 story residential complexes this decade, if not taller at some point.
Same for Mar Vista, parts of Van Nuys, Mid City, Pico Robertson, Swatelle, North Hollywood, West Adams etc. These areas are infilling at a good rate and looking more urban than say, 10 years ago. Its all kind of flying under the radar for forums like these because they aren't highrises, but they def are filling in at street level. Which is more important anyway, parking podium towers dont do shit for vibrancy.

[LAsam]

Continued development of mass transit and associated TODs seem like the most pragmatic way for CA to continue growing. Most of the SFR not in TOD zones is likely going to remain... at least within our lifetimes.

[bobdreamz]

Originally Posted by LA21st

Its 97 in Sherman Oaks today. Hottest day for us so far.

I dont know how people in Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Tennesee and Florida put up with this every day for half the year (at least)

Staying inside in AC isn't good QOL. Cheap house? Who cares? You can't do anything.

And its only gonna get hotter in those places.

Can't speak for the other states & not sure if you've been to Florida but it is in the Sub-Tropics and when it gets hot we have daily thundershowers to cool off the temps.

Do you know how rare it is to have a Heatwave in Florida or that Miami has Never had a temp above 99 F degrees?

[JManc]

If LA is poised to be like Tokyo then it better look like Ridley Scott's vision.

[The North One]

97? People in Phoenix have been living under 115 degrees pretty much this whole summer.

It's completely insane. But it's okay because it's "dry heat"

[jd3189]

I feel like dry heat can be worse than humidity. Like bobdreamz mentioned, South Florida has afternoon thunderstorms that cool things down during the summer. It can be uncomfortable, but if you’re used to it, it’s not that bad. I actually like it since I get cold easily and the humidity keeps the heat around longer.

In Cali, the more inland you are, the worse the heat is. The marine layer and the cooler Pacific have a similar effect in areas like San Diego, LA, and the Bay. But in the Central Valley, Inland Empire, and deserts? You’ll be baking in 100 degrees plus heat.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by The North One

No Westerner with any means want's to live in Tokyo level density. And the whole appeal of California is having a single family home in a gorgeous setting with near perfect weather.

Westerner as in the global west or US west? People obviously pay an arm and a leg to live in dense places throughout the global west. Focusing in on the western US, the city of San Francisco is a little higher in density than Tokyo, so they also will pay through the nose to live in that type of density on the West Coast.