The data, which pegs the U.S. population at 308.7 million, gives eight states more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, with Texas leading the way with four new seats. This is the fourth consecutive decade Texas has gained seats.

Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington will also gain seats in the House. Florida gains two seats; the others one seat.

Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania will also lose a single seat while New York and Ohio each lose two seats. Ohio's decline could be fortuitous for President Barack Obama, who succeeded there during his presidential election bid, but faltered in garnering support there for Democratic candidates during November's midterm election.

The Rose Institute offers a deeper state-by-state analysis here.

The switches continue a trend of increases to population in the south and the west and decline in the northeast and midwest.

The U.S.'s 9.7 percent growth rate over the past decade means each Congressional district has grown in size. Each representative is now responsible for 711,000 people--up from 648,000 in 2000.

The growth rate also keeps America on pace with Canada and nearly doubles the population increase rates of China, France and England.

The dicennial Census is required by the Constitution. The switching of around of House seats can dramatically change power in Washington, and the 23rd version of the Census again adds strength to the Republican party. Most of the states adding seats have Legislatures controlled by Republicans, who in most cases, will have the power of redrawing state boundary lines to benefit their own party.

For the first time since it gained statehood, California neither added nor lost a seat in the House.

Reports the Associated Press:

The release of state apportionment numbers is the first set of numbers from the 2010 census. Beginning in February, the Census Bureau will release population and race breakdowns down to the neighborhood level for states to redraw congressional boundaries. 

The 2010 census results also are used to distribute more than $400 billion in annual federal aid and will change each state's Electoral College votes beginning in the 2012 presidential election.

In a validation of the country's burgeoning Hispanic population, the National Journal reports:

The trend of House seats migrating south along with population has continued for the better part of a century. Southern states and those along the country's border with Mexico held 195 seats in the past decade, up from 124 seats after the 1930 Census. In the next decade, those states will be represented by 204 members of Congress.

And there will likely be legal challenges and big debates among the groups that have to redraw Congressional boundaries because as the New York Times reports:

On the surface, the Republicans would seem to have the advantage. Most of the states winning seats trend Republican, and most of those losing them tend to elect Democrats. What is more, Republicans are in a strong position to steer the process, with Republican governors outnumbering Democrats 29 to 20 with one independent. Republicans also gained control of at least 18 legislative chambers in the midterms last month.

“Republicans are in the best position since modern redistricting began,” said Tim Storey, an expert on redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

But population gains in the south and west were driven overwhelmingly by minorities, particularly Hispanics, and the new districts, according to the rules of redistricting, will need to be drawn in places where they live, opening potential advantages for Democrats, who tend to be more popular among minorities.

Reach executive producer Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.