Only a tiny fraction of the 7.5 percent population growth Alabama experienced from 2000 to 2010 occurred in Covington County, according to U.S. Census data released this week.

The 2010 Census shows the population of Covington County is 37,765, up 134 residents from the 2000 count. The data was not immediately available by city yesterday.

Alabama’s growth of 332,636 people from 2000 to 2010 occurred mostly in Baldwin, Autauga, Shelby, Talladega, and Limestone counties, each of which experienced more than 25 percent increases in population. The state had a total of 4.7 million residents. Thirty-one Alabama counties had population loss, including three of Covington County’s neighbors, Escambia, Conecuh and Butler counties.

Covington County was among the 12 counties experiencing 0 to 5 percent population growth, as were Geneva and Crenshaw counties. Covington County’s sixth neighbor, Coffee County, was among the 15 counties with 5 to 15 percent grown.

Demographically, the state experienced population growth in all ethnicities.

The state’s population is 68.5 percent white; 26.2 percent African American; 0.6 percent American Indian; 1.1 percent Asian; 0.1 percent Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; 2.0 percent some other race alone; 1.5 percent two or more races.

The state’s Hispanic population increased to 3.9 percent of the total population.