D.C. Tops States as Fastest Growing

D.C. is growing faster than any state in the nation.

New 2011 census estimates show the District's population climbed by 2.7 percent from April 2010 to July -- the first time the District led states in growth since the early 1940s.

D.C. ranked 35th in percent growth between the 2000 and 2010 censuses

Texas was next-fastest growing, followed by Utah, Alaska, Colorado and North Dakota.

As a whole, the U.S. population grew by 2.8 million, reaching 311.6 million people. That growth of 0.92 percent was the lowest since the mid-1940s.

Three states -- Rhode Island, Michigan and Maine -- lost population.

The numbers are the first set of state estimates released since the 2010 census.

California remained the most populous state, followed by Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois.