Good news: Philly growing

Philly is finally done shrinking.

The U.S. Census Bureau revised its 2008 population estimate for the city this week, revealing a slight increase after decades of decline.

The change comes as a result of a challenge the city filed, which showed updated databases and a more accurate count of residents in group quarters, such as nursing homes and jails, said Deputy Planning Director Gary Jastrzab.

The revised estimate puts Philadelphia at 1,540,351, up from the original 2008 estimate of 1,447,395. The new figure reflects a 1.5 percent rise from the 2000 Census and comes at a time when the city is trying to raise awareness about the 2010 Census.