Georgia and Tennessee both outpaced the nation in population growth since the turn of the century, according to the first new figures released from the 2010 census released today.

Tennessee, which grew by 11.5 percent to more than 6.3 million residents, did not make as big of an increase and kept its nine seats in the U.S. House.

Georgia will pick up a congressional seat for its current 13-member delegation from the 18.3 percent rise in its population to nearly 9.7 million residents.

Georgia lawmakers told the Times Free Press they hoped the new district would allow more of Northwest Georgia to be unified in a district that runs from Murray, Gordon and Bartow County west to the state line and south to Cedartown.

Other political insiders have speculated the 14th district would be centered in Gainesville in Northeast Georgia because Gov.-elect Nathan Deal and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle are both from Gainesville and would likely push for a representation for their hometowns.

Nationwide, the U.S. resident population represented an increase of 9.7 percent over the 2000 U.S. population,. growing to 308.3 million.

The Census counted every person living in the U.S. on April 1 and is mandated by the Constitution to determine how to divide the seats in the U.S. House among the 50 states. The population grew in the South and West and declined in the Midwest and Northeast.

Details in Wednesday's Times Free Press