Census figures reveal Oklahoma has nearly 4 million residents

Over the last seven years, Oklahomans did more welcoming than waving goodbye.

From 2010 to 2017, the Sooner State saw a net population gain of 179,266 people, ranking No. 21 in state population growth, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The 4.8 percent increase made Oklahoma No. 25 in the nation for percentage growth, and brought the population to 3,930,864 people in July 2017.

“This backs up what most of us see happening across our state – the construction of new apartments and houses, along with the development of new businesses and entertainment venues," Gov. Mary Fallin said.

Fallin also pointed to revived downtowns in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, an improving energy sector and, according to at least one study, the lowest business tax burden in the country.

"Oklahoma has one of the lowest costs of living in the U.S., such as our state having the secondlowest electric power costs in the country, and at the same time offers a great quality of life,” she said.

Oklahoma outpaced its northern neighbor in population growth. Kansas

Oklahoma has one of the lowest costs of living in the U.S., such as our state having the second-lowest electric power costs in the country, and at the same time offers a great quality of life.”

Gov. Mary Fallin

saw a gain of 2.1 percent, or just shy of 60,000 people, ranking it No. 39 in residents added.

While California remains the most populous state, Oklahoma’s neighbor and sometimes rival to the south added the most people. Texas added more than 3.1 million people to its Lone Star ranks.

Over the survey period, the United States population grew by 5.5 percent, from more than 308 million people to more than 325 million.

The District of Columbia led the nation with 15.3 percent population growth.

After no growth in 2011 and 2012, West Virginia saw a negative change in population in each of the last five years, with a net decline of more than 37,000 people, according to the census.