THE CENSUS: Up 10 1/2 Million

From 1950 to 1954, the U.S. population rose by 10,485,000 to 162,409,000, an increase of 7%, the Census Bureau reported this week. The states showing the biggest percentage gains: Nevada, up 31% from 160,083 to 210,000 and Arizona, up 23.8% from 749,587 to 928,000.

All regions showed increases: the Northeast by 6.1%, the North Central states by 6.5%, the South by 5% and the West by 14.3%. Despite the westward trend, Florida had a greater percentile increase than California, 19.1% to 18.1%.

Only seven states showed population declines: Arkansas by 5.8%, Oklahoma by 2.7%, Maine by 2.6%, Mississippi by 2.4%, Alabama by 2%, West Virginia by .8% and Vermont by .3%.