Census shows more Hispanics in South Carolina

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - South Carolina's population grew 15.3 percent in the last decade to more than 4.6 million people, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released on Wednesday.

The state's Hispanic or Latino residents more than doubled to just over 5 percent of the total population in 2010.

The white and black population saw slight upticks since the 2000 Census and accounted for 66 percent and 28 percent of the population, respectively.

Three coastal counties and York County, near Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the most growth, with population increases of 25 percent and higher.

Legislators will begin drawing the state's new 7th Congressional District after a series of public hearings kick off next week.

South Carolina is one of eight states gaining additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The others are Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Washington. Texas gained the most seats at four.

Ten states lost congressional seats: Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

(Reporting by Harriet McLeod; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Greg McCune)