The population of the U.S. grew by 2.8 million people between July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2005, according to a recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau. More than 296 million people reside in the nation, and the 10 most populous states, led by California with 36.1 million residents, account for 54% of the country’s population. Regionally, the West comprises 23% of the nation’s total population.

Five of the 10 fastest-growing states between 2004 and 2005 are in the West, including Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Utah and Oregon. With a growth rate of 3.5%, Nevada remained the nation’s fastest-growing state for the 19th consecutive year.