Nevada has returned to the top spot in state population growth.

The Census Bureau is releasing new figure Thursday saying the Silver State increased in population by 2.9-percent in the year ending July 1 — reaching 2.6 million people.

Nevada had been the nation’s fastest-growing state for 19 years in a row before iti was bumped off by Arizona last year.

Arizona’s the second-fastest-growing state according to the current estimate — up 2.8-percent, to 6.3 million people.

The census says Louisiana appears to be rebounding from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, gaining 50,000 residents. But it’s still far from returning to its pre-Katrina population level of 4.5 million.

The fastest-growing states continue to be in the Rocky Mountain region and the Southeast. Texas also is still attracting new residents at a rapid rate.

Two states lost population. Michigan’s population dipped by three-tenths of a percent and Rhode Island saw a decrease of four-tenths of a percent. Ohio’s growth was virtually flat.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)