Here's one area of California where people aren't leaving and the population is actually growing

• In recent years, California has seen an exodus of residents, driven mostly by a lack of affordability.
• But the Central Valley is booming, making it one of the few areas of the state experiencing sustained growth.
• San Joaquin County has attracted the interest of Bay Area residents in search of cheaper housing.

For generations, the appeal of California living was buoyed by the state's climate, its economic strength, and an attraction to the West, which made the Golden State the most populous state in the country.

But the 2020 Census revealed a stunning statistic: California's population growth had slowed in the prior decade, which resulted in the state's first-ever loss of a congressional district.