www.wildlifehavenrehab.org/documents/FS8-LivingWithBlackBears.pdf Scroll down. Black Bear population state-by-state.
State 1988 1992 1996
Alabama 50 40 50
Alaska 100,000-200,000 100,000-200,000 100,000-200,000
Arizona 2,500 2,500-2,700 2,000-3,000
Arkansas 1,700-2,000 2,300 3,000
California 15,000 15,000-18,000 17,000-23,000
Colorado 7,000-15,000 8000-12000 10,000-12,000
Connecticut 30 15-30 30-60
Delaware 0 0 0
Florida 1,000 1000-1500 1,000-1500
Georgia 1,500 1,700 1,800-2,000
Hawaii 0 0 0
Idaho 18,000-25,000 20,000-25,000 20,000-25,000
Illinois 0 0 0
Indiana 0 0 0
Iowa 0 0 0
Kansas 0 0 0
Kentucky 100 Unknown 25-75
Louisiana 100 300+ >300
Maine 21,192 19,000 22,000-23,000
Maryland 200 170 250-300
Massachusetts 700-750 700-750 1,200-1,800
Michigan NA/NR 7,000-10,000 ~12,000
Minnesota 9,200 10,500-14,500 20,000
Mississippi 25 25 <50
Missouri 50-100 50-150 100-200
Montana NA/NR 9,000-10,000 20,000
Nebraska 0 0 0
Nevada 300 200-400 200-400
New Hampshire 2,500 3,000 2,000-3,000
New Jersey 175-225 275-325 550+
New Mexico 3,300 3,000 4,000
New York 4,100 4,000-5,000 4,000-5,000
North Carolina 3,000-4,000 5,500-6,250 8,500
North Dakota 0 50 >10
Ohio 0 20 12-30
Oklahoma NA/NR 200 100-150
Oregon 20,000-25,000 25,000 25,000-30,000
Pennsylvania 7,500 7,500 7,500
Rhode Island 0 0-2 0-2
South Carolina 100 300 275+
Tennessee 1,500-2,000 1,000-2,000 900-1,200
Texas NA/NR 50 75-100
Utah 750 800-1,000 800-1,300
Vermont 2,000-2,500 2,100 2,500
Virginia 2,500 3,000-3,500 3,000-3,500
Washington 19,000 27,000-30,000 ~30,000
West Virginia 2,000 3,000 5,000-6,000
Wisconsin 5,790 5,800 14,000
Wyoming NA/NR Unknown Unknown
US Subtotal 252,862-375,312 289,095-416,662 339,000-465,000