The U.S. Census Bureau released the results of the 2010 census Tuesday, revealing that the United States is now a country of more than 300 million and Georgia is a state of nearly 9.7 million.

Georgia's growth means the state will pick up an additional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for a total of 14 seats.

"Today's announcement reinforces my belief that Georgia remains one of the greatest destinations for Americans looking for great opportunity and a high quality of life," said Gov.-elect Nathan Deal.

"As our state continues to grow, so does our influence and stature on the national stage. I think it will serve our nation well to have another Georgian in the House. It will serve our state well to add to our clout in the Electoral College."

In late summer 2011, the General Assembly will reconvene in a special session called by Deal to redraw districts for the state House, state Senate and Georgia's congressional seats.

"This 2010 census population represents growth of 9.7 percent over the population count of 2000," said Robert Groves during a broadcast news conference Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

According to census data collected in April, there are 308,745,538 people living in the country. A decade ago, there were 281,421,906. A decade ago in Georgia, there were 8.2 million.

The South saw some of the greatest growth in the country over the past decade.

"There was a shift of 12 seats affecting 18 different states," Groves said. "The trend is a growth in seats in the West and South."

Texas gained four seats as a result of the census data, the most of any state in the nation.

The Northeast and Midwest regions have continued to show slow population growth as more people move to the South and the West.

"This is the very first decade in the country's history that the West region is more populous than the Midwest," Groves said.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, apportionment totals are calculated by a congressionally defined formula to divide the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives between the states based on population.

President Barack Obama will give the apportionment counts to Congress during the first week of its regular session in January. The reapportioned Congress will convene in January 2013.

Beginning in February, the Census Bureau will release demographic data to the states on a rolling basis so state governments can start the redistricting process.