North Carolina now has more than 10 million residents, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday.

The Bureau says North Carolina is growing at a rate of 281 newcomers per day, the fifth largest population growth in the country from 2010 – 2015.

Governor Pat McCrory said in a statement, “Those of us who live in North Carolina know why this state is such a great place to live. With our growing economy, great colleges and university and quality of life, from the mountains to the coast, nothing compares to North Carolina.”

McCrory added this means it’s time for the state to look ahead and invest in the state’s infrastructure.

“Our transportation system and other infrastructure need to be upgraded as North Carolina continues to grow. That is why I have put our 25 year vision for transportation in place. Our state’s transportation infrastructure plays a critical role in attracting and retaining businesses and connecting people to jobs, healthcare, education and recreation. The time to start is now if we want to be ready for the future growth.”

North Carolina is the ninth state to cross the 10 million population benchmark.  The other states are California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Georgia.

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