ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s population crossed the 23 million residents mark for the first time last year due to the influx of people moving from other states, according to state demographic estimates.
As of April 1 of this year, Florida had 23,002,597 residents, according to estimates released earlier this month by the state Demographic Estimating Conference.
Florida is the third most populous state in the U.S., trailing only California's 39.5 million residents and Texas' 30.5 million inhabitants.
Florida added almost 359,000 people last year and has been adding about 350,000 to 375,000 people each year this decade, according to the estimates.
The population growth is expected to peak this year and get smaller with each following year for the rest of the 2020s as the final cohort of baby boomers entering retirement gets smaller, according to the estimates.
By the early 2030s, Florida's growth rate will be under 1% after hitting an expected 1.6% this year.
Since a little bit before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, all of Florida's growth has come from people moving to the Sunshine State from other parts of the United States or abroad. Deaths have outpaced births in Florida since late 2019 and early 2020, and that trend is predicted to continue well into the next decade.
Almost 10% of Florida's residents are age 75 and older, second only to Puerto Rico among U.S. states and the territory.
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FILE - People sit on Hollywood Beach, July 2, 2020, in Hollywood, Fla. Florida’s population crossed the 23 million-residents mark for the first time last year due to the influx of people moving from other states, according to state demographic estimates. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file)
HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña homered as the Houston Astros improved to 7-0 in games started by Yusei Kikuchi by beating the scuffling Arizona Diamondbacks 11-5 on Saturday.
Altuve had three hits and scored three times. Peña’s 15th homer was a three-run shot, capping a five-run sixth inning that started with the Astros clinging to a one-run lead.
Houston entered with a 4 1/2-game lead in the AL West over Seattle.
Arizona, which has dropped three straight and seven of 10, began the day leading the Braves and Mets by 1 1/2 games for the second National League wild card.
Kikuchi (8-9) allowed four runs and seven hits over six innings. He struck out six, giving him a career-high 183 strikeouts this season.
The left-hander has a 3.07 ERA since joining the Astros in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 29, with a 32.1% strikeout rate.
Kevin Newman homered off Kikuchi in the fourth to put Arizona up 3-1, but Houston rallied for four runs against Eduardo Rodriguez in the bottom half.
Rodriguez (2-2) faced 10 batters and needed 47 pitches to get through the inning. Houston loaded the bases without a hit, and Chas McCormick tied the game with a two-run single. Yordan Alvarez’s two-out RBI single put the Astros on top and, after an error, Alex Bregman capped the flurry with a bases-loaded walk.
Alvarez finished with three hits and is batting .410 with 13 RBIs over his last 10 games.
Eugenio Suárez hit his 25th homer in the sixth to bring Arizona within a run, but the Astros broke open the game with the help of Peña’s three-run drive into the Astros' bullpen in right-center field.
Dylan Floro was charged with all five Houston runs in the sixth.
Rodriguez gave up five runs, four earned, and seven hits over four innings with one strikeout.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: C José Herrera returned to the lineup after he was removed from Friday’s game when he was hit on the back of the helmet by Kyle Tucker’s follow-through on a strikeout.
Astros: After returning from a 79-game absence Friday due to a fractured right shin, RF Kyle Tucker did not start but was available off the bench. ... INF Mauricio Dubón is dealing with a sore left thumb, which forced him out of Friday’s game after he jammed it diving into first base.
UP NEXT
Houston RHP Justin Verlander (3-5, 4.52 ERA) opposes RHP Ryne Nelson (10-6, 4.15) when the series concludes Sunday night.
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Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez runs to second after hitting a double against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi follows through on a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman hits an RBI single against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros' Ben Gamel slides to score on Yordan Alvarez's RBI single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros' Jake Meyers (6) slides past Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera to score on Chas McCormick's 2-run single during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve, right, and Jeremy Pena celebrate the team's win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi questions a call during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena celebrates his three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve watches his solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
