18,000 Moved to ND in 2013

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Census Bureau estimates that about 18,000 people migrated into North Dakota last year, after gains of 12,200 people in 2012 and 6,900 in 2011.

Kevin Iverson manages the Census Office at the state Commerce Department. He says the change is even more dramatic when the Census figures are compared to a decade ago, when North Dakota was last among states in terms of growth.

Iverson says that between 2000 and 2003, North Dakota lost about 8,400 residences. He says that after years of out-migration, it's good to see economic growth drawing people to the state.

Many are coming for jobs in the western oil patch, which has been booming in recent years.

Census data show North Dakota's population reached an estimated all-time high of 723,393 residents last