NO Population Revised Up

The U.S. Census Bureau has revised its estimate of New Orleans’ population as of July 1, 2008, to 336,644 from 311,853 after city officials said the count was too low.

Mayor Ray Nagin Jr. said the higher population figure would make the city eligible for an additional $15 million in federal funds for local efforts involving education, the homeless, and child care.

“As we continue our rebuilding, it is important that we gain access to every dollar available to our community,” Nagin said.

The city said in its challenge that the population in July 2008 was between 336,644 and 351,653, based on the number of households using over a certain amount of electricity.

Last January, the bureau raised its estimate of the city’s population in July 2007 by nearly 50,000 residents based on a similar challenge by the city.

The population of New Orleans was about 455,000 before Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.

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