Since 1981, the preponderance of population growth has been in the South and West, 1986 population estimates show. California, Texas, and Florida accounted for 53 percent of the national population growth from 1980 to 1986, while Florida passed Illinois to become the fifth most populous state in 1986. Declines in energy-related industries,…

The total population of the United States including the Armed Forces overseas was 241,596,000 on July 1, 1986. The median age of the population rose from 30.0 years on April 1, 1980, to 31.8 years on July 1, 1986, while the fastest growing segments of the population between 1980 and 1986 were the groups aged 35 to 44 years and 85 years and over.…