Maricopa County replaced Harris County Texas as the county with the nation’s highest annual population growth according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released today. Harris County was the largest numeric gainer for eight years in a row. Maricopa County added over 222 people per day in 2016 more than any other county.  Between July 1 2017 and July 1 2018, the county added 81,244 people per day, still averaging over 200 new movers a day.

Maricopa County home to Phoenix primarily grew through the addition of 43189 residents from net domestic migration.   A measure of how many people move to or from an area versus other parts of the United States. The county also added 25428 people from natural increase (more births than deaths) and 10188 people from net international migration.  Harris County Texas home to Houston saw changes in net domestic migration going from a net gain of more than 17000 to a net loss of more than 16000. Despite this, Harris County had the second largest gain in population due to high natural increase (46412) and net international migration (27922).

In addition Maricopa grew the fastest among the top 10 largest counties at 1.95 percent an increase from 1.90 percent from the previous year. Harris County remained the third-largest county with 4.6 million people and Maricopa County remained the fourth-largest county with 4.2 million people. Los Angeles County and Cook County Ill. remained the largest and second-largest counties respectively.

The statistics released today provide population estimates and components of change for our nation’s 382 metropolitan statistical areas 551 micropolitan statistical areas and 3142 counties as well as Puerto Rico’s metropolitan statistical areas micropolitan statistical areas and municipios.

Find more highlights from this year’s release below and local-level statistics on census.gov

On the Move[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]