Los Angeles hits demographic milestone; California sees population increase

Downtown Los Angeles with Whilshire Blvd in the background heading off to the west. My thanks to He who controls the lighting.

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Ten million people call Los Angeles county home, according to new population figures released by California's Department of Finance. Population growth in the Southland has been slow since the recession, with annual increases of less than one percent.

Ten million people call Los Angeles county home, according to new population figures released by California's Department of Finance. Population growth in the Southland has been slow since the recession, with annual increases of less than one percent. But demographers say reaching the 10 million mark is significant and reinforces the economic and political impact of the region.

Statewide, California's population has grown by over 300 thousand in the past year, to just over 38 million. Alameda and Santa Clara counties in the Bay Area expanded the most. Immigrants and an uptick in childbirths across the state account for much of the increase. 2012 marked the fastest rate of population growth in the states since 2003.

Why do you call California home? Have you moved to other parts of the country by moved back? If you live in L.A. County, are you concerned that public services will find it difficult in the long-run to support such a large number of people?

Guests:

Bill Schooling, Chief of the Demographic Research Unit at the California Department of Finance

Chris Thornberg, Founding Partner of Beacon Economics