Pennsylvania's population rose modestly last year, as did counties around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Census Bureau estimates released Thursday show that the state's population last July 1 was 12,773,801. That's about 9,300 more people than the previous year.
Some metro areas gained population, while many rural counties continued to lose people.
Philadelphia County population increased in 2013 to 1,553,165. That's a gain of about 4,500. Population in Allegheny County rose by 1,615 to 1,231,527.
Luzerne County declined the most, with a drop of 1,320 people.
Philadelphia's growth last year primarily stemmed from births and foreign immigrants. After peaking at more than 2 million people in 1950, the city's population began a 50-year decline that paralleled the loss of its manufacturing base.
