RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ U.S. Census Bureau estimates for Virginia show healthy population increases last year in counties near the nation’s capital and in nearly all of the state’s largest cities. According to census estimates released Thursday, Fairfax County remains the state’s largest, gaining 3,100 residents to nearly 1.14 million in 2014. Loudoun County’s population jumped more than 12,000 to 363,000, and Prince William County had an increase of 5,900 residents to more than 446,000. Those areas near Washington, D.C., accounted for more than one-third of the state’s overall estimated gain. Virginia’s population rose nearly 56,000 last year to more than 8.3 million. Four of Virginia’s five largest cities gained residents. Virginia Beach is still the largest, growing by 1,672 residents to about 451,000. It’s followed by Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond and Newport News.
