As expected, the state of Florida has now passed New York to become the third most-populous in the U.S.
USA Today noted that according to Census data released Tuesday, Florida surpassed New York’s state population by 147,070 people.
Census projections at the beginning of the year predicted that the Sunshine State would edge out the Empire State in 2014.
Florida gained more than 800 new residents a day between July 2013 and July 2014.
"Florida is kind of an icon of the 21st century in terms of the shifting population and the growing role Latin America is playing in transforming the country," said James Johnson, a business professor at the University of North Carolina. "I think it's going to be for the 21st century what California or New York was for the 20th century."
New York was the most-populous state in the nation up until the 1960’s when it was overtaken by California. The Golden State currently has 38.8 million residents, followed by Texas with 27.0 million.
The Census also noted that North Dakota was the fastest-growing state in the nation last year thanks to the oil boom.