This month’s Virginia News Letter, published by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, features an analysis of population trends revealed by the 2010 decennial census. Virginia experienced another decade of steady growth, reaching over 8 million people. The commonwealth’s growth rate (13 percent) outpaced the nation (9.7 percent) and was only slightly lower than the 14.4 percent growth rate of the prior decade. The state’s population continues to concentrate in three large metropolitan areas–Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. Northern Virginia alone composed more than half of the state’s growth. Virginia, like the nation as a whole, is experiencing increasing racial diversity with the rapid growth of Hispanic and Asian populations. To access this article, click here.