Census estimates: Phoenix remains sixth-largest city - USATODAY.com

Phoenix is still the sixth-largest city in the nation with nearly 1.47 million residents, the latest census data show.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates released in late June show that Phoenix added 23,815 people from April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2011, and still trails the nation's five largest cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Philadelphia.

Phoenix's estimated population grew 1.6percent in that period, from 1,445,656 to 1,469,471.

Authorities last year said Arizona's decennial census count was likely off the mark due to the housing bubble and lags in recognizing a shift in birth and death patterns. It's also unclear how much the Great Recession and the state's immigration-enforcement policies may have affected the final count.

The latest estimates did not provide new insight into Phoenix's demographic changes. The 2010 census showed a demographic breakdown of the city's 1.45million residents. Some residents affiliated themselves with more than one race or ethnicity:

995,467 residents identified themselves as White, representing 68.9 percent of Phoenix's population.

589,877 residents identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino, representing 40.8 percent of the city's population.

290,412 residents identified themselves with an unlisted race or ethnicity, or a combination of races and ethnicities, representing 20.1 percent of Phoenix's population.

109,544 residents identified themselves as Black or African-American, representing 7.6 percent of Phoenix's population.

43,724 residents identified themselves as American Indian, representing 3 percent of the city's population.

57,619 residents identified themselves as Asian, about 4 percent of the city's population.

5,180 residents identified themselves as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, about 0.4 percent of the city's population.

By Emily Gersema, The Republic|azcentral.com Jul 23, 2012



Census estimates: Phoenix remains sixth-largest city - USATODAY.com