SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In 1962, when California's population of more than 17 million surpassed New York's, Gov.
Pat Brown celebrated by declaring a state holiday. In the coming days, when the U.S. Census Bureau is expected to release the state's latest head count, there probably will be no celebrations.
Over the past decade, California's average annual population growth rate slipped to 0.06% — lower than at any time since at least 1900.
The state is facing the prospect of losing a U.S. House seat for the first time in its history, while political rivals Texas and Florida add more residents and political clout.