State, city see meager 2010 growth

COUNT: Increase was less than 1 percent from 2009, says population report.

The California Department of Finance released figures Friday showing the state's population grew less than 1 percent in 2010 - one of the smallest increases in modern history.

The population in the Golden State was estimated at 37,511,000, an increase of 287,000 residents - or .77 percent - from the previous year. Los Angeles also had meager growth, with an increase of 0.4 percent to 3,810,00, an increase of 17,000 from 2009.

Finance Department spokesman Daniel Shiya said California is no longer a magnet for new residents because of its double-digit jobless rate and lack of new housing.

"It is about what we expected," Shiya said. "The growth we've seen has been due to a natural increase of births over deaths and not a lot of migration."

Los Angeles officials said they will scrutinize the revised figures to determine their accuracy and their impact on policy.

"Once the recovery gains steam, we expect the growth to pick back up," city Planning Director Michael LoGrande said. "In addition, undercounting has been a historical problem in L.A. While at this point, the jury is out on that question, undercounting has to remain a concern."

The figures were developed through a formula based on housing units.

There has been a steady decline in the number of new housing units since 2005. In 2010, there were 44,649 new housing units added statewide, compared with 63,036 in 2009.

"Housing units reflect how

the economy is doing," Shiya said. "I think from what we're seeing, I don't think there is any indication we are over the hump, economically."

According to the figures, Los Angeles remains California's largest city, followed by San Diego with 1.3 million and San Jose, with 958,000. San Francisco had a population of 804,000.

Another notable change is that Glendale, Oxnard and Huntington Beach - which each began the decade with populations of more than 200,000 - have fallen below that benchmark.

Glendale has about 192,000 residents, while Oxnard has 199,000 and Huntington Beach, 190,000.

Marla Sokoloff Shakara Ledard Scarlett Johansson Camilla Belle Aaliyah