Border patrol.

• Position: NCTR: Migration sensation

HELLO, NORTH CAROLINA Between 2010 and 2015, more than a quarter million people migrated into the state, pushing North Carolina past the 10 million mark.

804,000

PEOPLE MOVED IN,

553,000

PEOPLE MOVED ON,

FOR A GAIN OF 251,000

A year closer to a new decade, North Carolina's migration streak shows no signs of slowing. By 2020, demographers expect the state to grow to 10.6 million residents. Many newcomers are likely to be foreign-born and most will gravitate to large metro areas.

Rural areas, particularly a swath of northeastern North Carolina, shrank as cities made big gains between 2010 and 2015. Wake County grew by 123,000 people and Mecklenburg gained 114,500. Charlotte and Raleigh are among the fastest-growing metros in the country, but Brunswick County is showing even more explosive growth: It's the state's fastest-growing county and 53rd in the nation.

SO LONG, SUNSHINE STATE

THE NEWCOMERS' PREVIOUS LOCALES

1. Florida

2. Abroad

3. Arizona

4. New York

5. South Carolina

   N.C. LOST RESIDENTS TO:

1. Virginia

2. Washington

3. Pennsylvania

4. Texas

5. California

   WINNERS V. LOSERS

   48 counties have lost A population since 2010.

   Five counties--Bertie, Gates, Northampton, Tyrrell and Washington--have each lost at least 5% of their population, totaling about 4,700 people.

   10 MILLION PEOPLE North Carolina is the latest state to reach this population threshold. 39.1 million California 5.1% * 27.5 million Texas 9.2% * 20.3 million Florida 7.8% * 19.8 million New York 2.2% * 12.9 million Illinois 0.2% * 12.8 million Pennsylvania 0.8% * 11.6 million Ohio 0.7% * 10.2 million Georgia 5.4% * 10.0 million N. Carolina 5.3% * * Change in population...