State Department of Finance: estimated
SP population breaks 30,000

The state Department of Finance estimates California grew by 335,000 people during the fiscal year that ended July 1, a 0.9 percent growth rate, and that there are now about 38.5 million Californians.

And, with an estimated 30,009 residents, Santa Paula officially busted the 30,000-people marker.

The figures, based on births, deaths, driver licenses, housing permits and other tracking data, were released by the state in December. 

The fastest-growing counties in the state were San Benito, Placer, Contra Costa, Riverside, Alameda and San Joaquin, which each grew by 1.3 percent or more. Twelve of the state’s 58 counties, mostly in far northern areas, lost population.

For the 11th consecutive year, the population of Ventura County grew by less than 1 percent, demonstrating ongoing sluggish growth caused by more people moving out of the county - where housing prices are considered high - than in.

The state Department of Finance found the population of Ventura County grew to 844,259, or by 0.59 percent, from July 1, 2013, to July 1, 2014. Nearly all of the growth (93 percent) was the result of natural increase - 4,647 more births than deaths. The remaining 7 percent increase - 1,766 people - was due to those moving into the county. 

The department issues a separate report in the spring that provides city-by-city estimates of population changes that occurred during the previous calendar year but as of July 1 Santa Paula was estimated to have 30,009 people.