The Dust Bowl, otherwise known as the Dirty Thirties, was a huge dust storm that killed multiple (and I mean multiple) farmer's crops, leaving them homeless, and foodless, and jobless. In California, there were 5.7 million residents, and the population shrank as Mexicans were repatriated. However, when the dustbowl happened, a lot of people began to move to California. By 1940, 250,000 people had arrived. Therefore, your answer would be the population increased, massively. I hope this helps! ~Mia