Sacramento is fastest growing big city in state

Of the 10 largest cities in California, Sacramento grew by the largest percentage with a 1.4 percent increase, according to the report released Monday by the California Department of Finance.

The city of Sacramento’s population rose to 493,025 in 2016.

California’s total population grew to 39.5 million in 2016.

The state added more than 300,000 residents last year with the largest increases in big cities, according to the report.

Within Sacramento County, Rancho Cordova saw its population rise 2.2 percent, to 73,872; Elk Grove 1.7 percent, to 171,059; and Folsom 1.6 percent, to 78,525.

Sacramento area counties that saw substantial growth included Amador (1.9 percent) and Yolo (1.6 percent). In Yolo County, the population of the city of Davis rose 1.6 percent, to 218,896.

El Dorado County’s population only rose 0.4 percent, to 185,062.

Los Angeles grew by more than 40,000 people and now is home to more than 4 million. San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco also saw significant population gains.

Cities with the largest declines in population percentage all saw decreases because of the loss of group living quarters such as prisons, college dormitories and military barracks. Declines in the state prison population resulted in nearly 4 percent declines in Crescent City in Del Norte County and Corcoran in Kings County.