L.A. County Leads Rise : Population in California Hits Record 25.8 Million

California’s population increased by an estimated 441,000 residents during 1984 to a record high of 25,858,000 people on Jan. 1, 1985, the state said Wednesday.

Statewide population growth during 1984 was estimated at 1.8%.

The greatest numerical gains were reported in California’s biggest cities: Los Angeles up 39,500 to 3,144,800, San Diego up 15,600 to 971,600, San Francisco up 11,900 to 719,200 and San Jose up 11,600 to 696,000.

Los Angeles County led counties in numerical gains, up 91,400 to 7,952,700, according to the state Department of Finance’s annual population report.

The report listed Bakersfield, Rancho Cucamonga, Emeryville and Adelanto as California’s fastest growing cities.

The department’s annual estimates, which are based on utility service orders, vehicle and other government registration records, school enrollments and similar records, are the official population figures used by the state to divide population-based taxes and revenue grants between the national census every 10 years.

Among cities over 100,000, Bakersfield had the biggest estimated gain, a 6.6% increase, from 129,900 to 138,500 residents, followed by Stockton, up 4.1% to 176,900, and Fresno, up 4% to 274,800.

Among cities in the 50,000 to 100,000 range, Rancho Cucamonga in San Bernardino County had the greatest estimated growth during 1984, up 6.2% from 61,700 to 65,500 residents between Jan. 1, 1984, and Jan. 1, 1985.

Among cities cities under 50,000, Emeryville in Alameda County had the greatest percentage increase, up 24% from 3,920 to 4,860. Most of the growth in that industrial community was attributed to completion of a single large high-rise condominium development fronting on San Francisco Bay.

The desert community of Adelanto in San Bernardino County had the second-biggest percentage gain, up 20%, from 3,240 to 3,890.

Five counties declined slightly in estimated population, losing from 50 to 1,600 residents each: Del Norte, Inyo, Marin, Mono and Sierra.