U S C E N S U S B U R E A U

Demographic Trends 

in the 20th Century

Census 2000 Special Reports

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

CENSR-4

Issued November 2002

By 

Frank Hobbs 

and 

Nicole Stoops

Helping You Make Informed Decisions •1902-2002
This report was prepared by Frank Hobbs and Nicole Stoops under the general

direction of John F. Long, Chief, Population Division. Numerous U.S. Census

Bureau staff contributed to the data compilation, review, and publication

production.

In the Population Division, Marie Pees, Chief, Census Activities and Tabulation

Staff, provided key information about the availability and comparability of

historical census data, as well as Census 2000 data tabulations, and Todd

Gardner, Population Distribution Branch, provided significant contributions to

the data compilation and understanding of the metropolitan population data. In 

the Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division, Leonard J. Norry,

Assistant Division Chief, Jeanne Woodward, Chief, Housing Statistics Branch,

and William S. Chapin, Housing Statistics Branch, provided similarly vital

contributions pertaining to the housing data.

Special thanks are due to Campbell Gibson, Population Division, for his

contributions to multiple phases of the production of this report. He contributed

significantly to the compilation and understanding of the race and Hispanic-origin

data and the households and families data. The authors are especially grateful

for his thorough review of the whole report and the generous sharing of his

interest in and his knowledge and breadth of understanding of historical Census

Bureau data and demographic trends. 

The authors are grateful to other Population Division staff for their contributions to

the verification and review of the data and information contained in this report. We

thank Robert A. Kominski, Assistant Division Chief, Social and Demographic

Statistics, for his general direction and review, and Michael Ratcliffe, Chief,

Population Distribution Branch, Jorge del Pinal, Assistant Division Chief, Special

Populations, Annetta Smith, Chief, Age and Sex Statistics Branch, Gregory

Spencer, Chief, Population Projections Branch, Kevin Deardorff, Chief, Ethnic and

Hispanic Statistics Branch, and Claudette Bennett, Chief, Race Statistics Branch,

for their review of specific chapters of the report. We thank Marjorie Hanson,

Population Division, for the improvements added by her review of the complete

text of the report. For verification, the authors thank Donna Defibaugh, 

Andres Claudio, Marylou Unsell, and Debra Niner, Population Division. 

In the Geography Division, the authors would like to thank the Cartographic

Operations Branch, including Timothy Trainor, Chief, Constance Beard, Tracy

Corder, and Deanna Fowler for assistance in the geographic representation of the

state population data, and Frederick R. Broome for assistance with the U.S.

centers of population trends. 

Greg Carroll, Penny Heiston, Jan Sweeney, Elizabeth J. Williams, and 

Arlene Butler of the Administrative and Customer Services Division, Walter C.

Odom, Chief, provided publication and printing management, graphics design, and

composition and editorial review for print and electronic media. General direction

and project management were provided by Gary J. Lauffer, Chief, Publication

Services Branch.

Finally, the authors wish to thank the many Population Division and Housing and

Household Economic Statistics Division staff, both past and present, whose

subject matter contributions to each decennial census of the 20th century helped

make the production of this report possible.

Acknowledgments
U.S. Department of Commerce

Donald L. Evans,

Secretary

Samuel W. Bodman,

Deputy Secretary

Economics and Statistics Administration

Kathleen B. Cooper, 

Under Secretary for Economic Affairs

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Charles Louis Kincannon,

Director

Demographic Trends 

in the 20th Century

CENSR-4

Issued November 2002
Suggested Citation

Hobbs, Frank and Nicole Stoops,

U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Special

Reports, Series CENSR-4, 

Demographic Trends in the 20th Century, 

U.S. Government Printing Office, 

Washington, DC, 2002.

ECONOMICS

AND STATISTICS

ADMINISTRATION

Economics and Statistics

Administration

Kathleen B. Cooper,

Under Secretary for Economic Affairs

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Charles Louis Kincannon,

Director

William G. Barron, Jr.,

Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer

Preston Jay Waite,

Acting Principal Associate Director for Programs

Nancy M. Gordon,

Associate Director for Demographic Programs

John F. Long,

Chief, Population Division

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free 866-512-1800; DC area 202-512-1800

Fax: 202-512-2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century iii

Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Chapter

1. Population Size and Geographic Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2. Age and Sex Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

3. Race and Hispanic Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

4. Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

5. Households . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Text Table

1-1. States Experiencing Intercensal Population Decline: 

1900-1910 to 1990-2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

1-2. States Ranked by Population Size: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . 29

1-3. Ten Most Populous Metropolitan Areas: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . 37

2-1. Ten States With the Highest Percents Under Age 15 and 

Age 65 and Over: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

3-1. Ten States With the Highest Percents Black, American 

Indian and Alaska Native, and Asian and Pacific Islander: 

1900, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Figure

1-1. Total Population: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

1-2. Population Increase by Decade: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . 13

1-3. World Population Distribution: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

1-4. Population Density: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

1-5. Mean and Median Centers of Population: 1900 to 2000 . . . . 17

1-6. Total Population by Region: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

1-7. Population Distribution by Region: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . 19

1-8. Percent Change in Population per Decade by Region: 

1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

1-9. Population Density by Region: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . 21

1-10. Total Population by State: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . . . 23

1-11. Increase in Total Population by State: 1900-2000 . . . . . . . . . 24

1-12. Percent Change in Total Population by State: 

1900-1950 and 1950-2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

1-13. Population Density by State: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . 31

1-14. Total Population by Metropolitan Status: 1910 to 2000 . . . . 32

1-15. Percent of Total Population Living in Metropolitan Areas 

and in Their Central Cities and Suburbs: 1910 to 2000 . . . . 33

Table of Contents
iv Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

1-16. Percent of Total Population Living in Metropolitan Areas by Size of 

Metropolitan Area Population: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

1-17. Population Density by Metropolitan Area Status: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

1-18. Percent of Population Living in Metropolitan Areas by Region: 1910 to 2000 . . . . . . 41

1-19. Percent of Population Living in Metropolitan Areas 

by State: 1910, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

1-20. Percent of Total Population Living in the Ten Largest Cities: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . 45

2-1. Total Population by Age and Sex: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

2-2. Age and Sex Distribution of the Total Population: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . 54

2-3. Total Population by Broad Age Group: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

2-4. Percent Distribution of the Total Population by Age: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

2-5. Median Age: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

2-6. Population Age 65 and Over: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

2-7. Percent of Total Population Age 65 and Over: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

2-8. Percent Under Age 15 and Percent Age 65 and Over by Region: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . 60

2-9. Sex Ratio: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

2-10. Sex Ratio by Region: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

2-11. Sex Ratio by State: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

2-12. Sex Ratio by Metropolitan Area Status: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

2-13. Sex Ratio by Broad Age Group: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

3-1. Total Population by Race: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

3-2. Population of Races Other Than White or Black by Race: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . 75

3-3. Distribution of Total Population by Race: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

3-4. Percent Races Other Than White or Black by Race: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

3-5. Hispanic Population and Percent Hispanic of Total Population: 1980 to 2000 . . . . . . 78

3-6. Average Annual Growth Rate by Race: 1900-1950, 1950-2000, and 1900-2000 . . . . 79

3-7. Percent Change in Population Size by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1980-2000 . . . . . . 81

3-8. Regional Distribution of Total Population by Race: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

3-9. Percent Races Other Than White by Race and Region: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

3-10. Hispanic Population Distribution by Region: 1980 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

3-11. Percent Hispanic of Regional Population: 1980 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

3-12. Percent Minority by Region: 1980 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

3-13. Percent Races Other Than White by State: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

3-14. Percent Two or More Races by State: 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

3-15. Percent Hispanic by State: 1980 and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

3-16. Percent Minority by State: 1980 and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

3-17. Percent Metropolitan by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1960 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

3-18. Age and Sex Distribution of the Total Population by Race: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . 103

3-19. Age and Sex Distribution of the Total Population by 

Hispanic Origin: 1980 and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

3-20. Median Age by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

3-21. Percent Minority by Broad Age Group: 1980 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

3-22. Percent Under Age 15 by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century v

3-23. Percent Age 65 and Over by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . 109

3-24. Sex Ratio by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

4-1. Total Housing Units by Occupancy Status: 1940 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

4-2. Distribution of Total Housing Units by Occupancy Status: 1940 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . 119

4-3. Vacancy Rate by Region: 1940 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

4-4. Vacancy Rate by State: 1940 and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

4-5. Occupied Housing Units by Tenure: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

4-6. Distribution of Occupied Housing Units by Tenure: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

4-7. Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units by Region: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

4-8. Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units by State: 1900, 1950, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . 129

4-9. Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units by Metropolitan Status: 1960 to 2000 . . . . . 130

4-10. Homeownership Rate by Age of Householder: 1960 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

4-11. Homeownership Rate by Race and Hispanic Origin of Householder: 1980 and 2000 . . 132

4-12. Homeownership Rate by Household Size: 1940 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

5-1. Households by Size: 1900 and 1940 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

5-2. Distribution of Households by Size: 1900 and 1940 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

5-3. Average Household Size: 1900 and 1930 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

5-4. Total Households by Region: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

5-5. Distribution of Households by Region: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

5-6. Total Households by Age of Householder: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

5-7. Distribution of Households by Age of Householder: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

5-8. Households by Type: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

5-9. Distribution of Households by Type: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

5-10. Percent One-Person Households by Region: 1900 and 1940 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

5-11. Percent One-Person Households by State: 1940, 1970, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

5-12. One-Person Households by Age and Sex of Householder: 1960 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . 155

5-13. Distribution of One-Person Households by Age and Sex of 

Householder: 1960 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

5-14. Percent One-Person Households Within Specific Age-Sex Groups: 1960 to 2000 . . . . 157

5-15. Percent of Households With a Female Householder by Type of 

Household: 1970 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

5-16. Percent Female Householders of Total Householders by Type of Household 

and Race and Hispanic Origin of the Householder: 1980 and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

5-17. Percent of Family Households With Own Children Under 18 by Family 

Type and Age of Children: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Appendix A. Detailed Tables

Table

1. Total Population for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . A-1

2. Population Density for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . A-2

3. Population by Metropolitan Status for the United States, Regions, 

and States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
vi Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Part A. Metropolitan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3

Part B. Nonmetropolitan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4

Part C. Percent Metropolitan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5

4. Total Population, Population Change, and Population Ranking for the 

Ten Largest Cities in the United States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6

5. Population by Age and Sex for the United States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7

Part A. Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7

Part B. Percent Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8

Part C. Selected Age Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9

Part D. Percent Distribution for Selected Age Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10

Part E. Sex Ratio (Males per 100 Females) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-11

6. Population by Sex for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . A-12

Part A. Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12

Part B. Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13

Part C. Sex Ratio (Males per 100 Females) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-14

7. Population by Broad Age Group for the United States, Regions, 

and States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15

Part A. Population Under 15 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15

Part B. Population 15 to 64 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16

Part C. Population 65 Years and Over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17

Part D. Percent Under 15 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-18

Part E. Percent 65 Years and Over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-19

8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990 . . . . . . A-20

Part A. White Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20

Part B. Black Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21

Part C. American Indian and Alaska Native Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22

Part D. Asian and Pacific Islander Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-23

Part E. Other Race Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-24

Part F. Percent White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25

Part G. Percent Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-26

Part H. Percent American Indian and Alaska Native . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-27

Part I. Percent Asian and Pacific Islander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-28

Part J. Percent Other Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-29

9. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . A-30

Part A. Race Alone and Two or More Races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-30

Part B. Race Alone or in Combination With One or More Races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-31

Part C. Percent Distribution by Race Alone and Two or More Races . . . . . . . . . . . . A-32

Part D. Percent Race Alone or in Combination With One or More Races . . . . . . . . . A-33

10. Hispanic, Non-Hispanic, and White Non-Hispanic Population for the 

United States, Regions, and States: 1980 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-34

Part A. Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-34

Part B. Percent of Total Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-35
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century vii

11. Population by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin for the United States: 1900 to 2000 . . A-36

12. Housing Units by Occupancy Status and Tenure for the United States, Regions, 

and States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-38

Part A. Total Housing Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-38

Part B. Owner-Occupied Housing Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-39

Part C. Renter-Occupied Housing Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-40

Part D. Vacant Housing Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-41

Part E. Percent Owner-Occupied of Occupied Housing Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-42

Part F. Percent Vacant Housing Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-43

13. Households by Size for the United States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-44

14. Households by Size for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000 . . . . . A-45

Part A. Total Households . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-45

Part B. One-Person Households . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-46

Part C. Two-or-more Person Households . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-47

Part D. Percent One-Person Households . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-48

15. Households by Type, by Presence of Own Children Under 18 Years, and by 

Age of Householder for the United States: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-49

Part A. Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-49

Part B. Percent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-50

16. Selected Population and Housing Characteristics by Metropolitan Status 

and Race and Hispanic Origin for the United States: 1950 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-51

Appendix B. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Appendix C. Sources and Quality of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1

Appendix D. Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 1

Population Size and Geographic

Distribution

The U.S. population more than tripled from 76 million

people in 1900 to 281 million people in 2000. The

growth of 32.7 million people in the 1990s represented the largest numerical increase of any decade in U.S.

history.

The U.S. population grew increasingly metropolitan

each decade, from 28 percent in 1910 to 80 percent in

2000. Suburbs, rather than central cities, accounted

for most of the metropolitan growth. By 2000, half of

the U.S. population lived in suburban areas.

The population of the West grew faster than the population in each of the other three regions of the country

in every decade of the 20th century. The Northeast

was the most densely populated region and had the

highest percentage of its population living in metropolitan areas throughout the century. 

Between 1900 and 2000, the mean center of population shifted 324 miles west and 101 miles south, moving from Bartholomew County, Indiana, to Phelps

County, Missouri. 

Age and Sex Composition

At the beginning of the century, half of the U.S. population was less than 22.9 years old. At the century’s

end, half of the population was more than 35.3 years

old, the country’s highest median age ever.

Children under age 5 represented the largest 5-year

age group in 1900 and again in 1950. During the last

half of the century, the baby-boom generation’s entry

into an age group had a major impact on the growth

of that age group. By 2000, the largest 5-year age

groups were ages 35 to 39 years and 40 to 44 years,

a large segment of the baby-boom generation. 

During the century, the population age 65 and over

increased tenfold, from 3.1 million in 1900 to 35.0

million in 2000. The proportion of the population age

65 and over declined for the first time in the 1990s,

due partly to the relatively low number of births in the

late 1920s and early 1930s. Rapid growth of the

population age 65 and over will begin again in 2011,

when the first of the baby-boom generation reaches

age 65, and will continue for many years.

The United States’ gender composition shifted from a

majority male population to a majority female population around midcentury. The sex ratio (males per 100

females) declined every decade from 1910 to 1980,

then increased in the 1980s and the 1990s. Among

the regions, the West had the highest sex ratio and the

Northeast had the lowest sex ratio for the entire century. Only seven states, all in the West, still had a larger male than female population at the end of the century.

Race and Hispanic Origin

From 1900 to 2000, the number of non-Southern

states with populations of at least 10 percent races

other than White increased from 2 to 26, reflecting the

spread of diversity across the country. 

In the Northeast, the Midwest, and the South, Blacks

constituted the largest share of the population of races

other than White in every decade of the 20th century,

while in the West each of the races other than White

represented the largest share during the century. 

Only five states—Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, South

Carolina, and West Virginia—had a lower percentage of

races other than White in 2000 than in 1950.

From 1980 to 2000, the Hispanic population (of any

race) more than doubled.

By the end of the century, three states—California,

Hawaii, and New Mexico—and the District of Columbia

had majority “Minority” populations (including

Hispanics).

Housing

Prior to 1950, over half of all occupied housing units

were rented. By 1950, homeownership became more

prevalent than renting. The homeownership rate continued to increase until 1980, decreased slightly in the

1980s, then increased in the 1990s, reaching the highest level of the century (66 percent) in 2000.

HIGHLIGHTS
2 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Each region’s highest homeownership rate of the century was recorded in 2000. The Midwest had the highest

homeownership rate for every decade of the century,

except in 1910, when the West ranked first. The 1930s

was the only decade when the proportion of owneroccupied housing units declined in every region. The

largest increase in homeownership rates for each region

occurred in the following decade, the 1940s, as the

economy recovered from the Depression and experienced post-World War II prosperity.

Every region experienced an increase in vacancy rates

during the 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s and a decrease in

vacancy rates during the 1960s and the 1990s.

At the end of the 20th century, householders who

were Black, Hispanic, or of two or more races were

more likely to rent rather than own their homes.

Households

In 1900, the most common household contained

seven or more people; from 1940 to 2000, it contained two people. 

In 1900, nearly half of the U.S. population lived in

households of six or more people; by 2000, more than

half lived in households of one, two, or three people.

Between 1950 and 2000, married-couple households

declined from more than three-fourths of all households (78 percent) to just over one-half (52 percent).

One-person households represented 1 of every 10

households (9.5 percent) in 1950, but constituted 1 of

every 4 households (26 percent) by 2000.

During the period 1960 to 2000, women age 65 and

over accounted for 27 percent to 33 percent of oneperson households, but just 5 percent to 8 percent of

the total population.

In 1970, women represented about 1 of every 5 (21 percent) householders in the United States. By 2000,

women composed more than 1 of every 3 (36 percent)

U.S. householders.

In the last several decades of the century, male householders represented a greater share of one-person

households. And male family householders with no

wife present became increasingly likely to have children present in their households.
In 2002, the U.S. Census Bureau celebrates 100 years

as an agency of the government of the United States.

The first national population census was conducted in

1790, but it was not until March 6, 1902, that

Congress passed legislation establishing a permanent

Census Office in the Interior Department. The Census

Office then officially opened its doors for business on

July 1, 1902. One year later, the Census Office became

the Bureau of the Census, as part of the newly formed

Department of Commerce and Labor. The Census

Bureau became part of the Department of Commerce

in 1913, when the Department of Commerce and the

Department of Labor were separated. 

Since its inception, the U.S. Census Bureau has collected, tabulated, and published information on the population of the United States. Over the last century,

these efforts grew increasingly complex and their

implementation increasingly sophisticated. The

Census Bureau obtained information on a basic core of

items from the entire population throughout the century, while evolving the methods and concepts used to

collect data over the decades. This report consolidates information from each census, 1900 to 2000, to

illustrate the remarkable changes in the American population in the 20th century. 

The population trends in the United States reflect the

country’s trends in fertility and mortality and in internal

and international migration. These components underlie the changes in the size of our population, its geographic distribution, its age and sex composition, and

its racial and ethnic composition. They also influence

changes in the country’s housing and household composition. The trends examined in this report represent

the subject areas covered by the population census of

the United States on a 100-percent basis in Census

2000. That is, the data reflect information collected in

census questionnaires for the entire population. Subject

items collected on a sample basis (about one-sixth of all

U.S. households since 1980) are not included. 

This publication highlights the broad trends that have

served to redraw America’s demographic portrait continually over the course of the 20th century. As the

United States entered the 20th century, most of the

population lived in the Northeast or the Midwest, in

nonmetropolitan areas, was male, under 23 years old,

White, and rented a home; nearly half lived in a household with five or more other people. One hundred

years later, as the United States entered the 21st century, most of the population lived in the South or the

West, in metropolitan areas, was female, at least 35

years old, White (but much less so), owned a home,

and lived alone or in a household with one or two

other people. 

These noteworthy population shifts often did not

occur in a continuous or uniform fashion from census

to census or for each geographic area. To examine the

trends, this report covers the major decade-to-decade

changes for each of the major subject areas of population size, growth, geographic distribution, age, sex,

race and ethnic composition, housing, and households

over the period 1900 to 2000. The report focuses on

overall trends for the country, regions, and states,

with additional trends shown for metropolitan areas.

The population trends are shown through the use of

“headline-style” findings, maps, figures, and accompanying text. Appendix A provides detailed tables with

more data for each decade of the century. 

With minor exceptions, the data used to depict the

demographic trends represent the population totals

recorded at the time each census report was issued

and do not reflect adjustments or corrections to the

original data. While in-depth analytical studies of any

of the individual subjects covered in this report could

produce refined trends of the numbers themselves,

such refinements would not alter the broad substantive findings. In terms of geographic coverage, most

trends cover the conterminous 48 states and the

District of Columbia for the period 1900 to 1950 and

include data for Alaska and Hawaii beginning with

1960, the first census after they became states. State

trends based on total population size include the 50

states and the District of Columbia for the entire century. For a detailed discussion of the sources and

quality of the data used in this report for each subject

area covered, see Appendix C. 

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 3

INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1

POPULATION SIZE AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 7

National Trends

The United States population more than tripled from

76 million people in 1900 to 281 million people in

2000.

The United States ranked as the fourth most populous

country in the world from the start of the century until

the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, and as the

world’s third most populous country since then, after

China and India. 

The population growth of 32.7 million people in the

1990s was the largest numerical increase of any

decade in U.S. history.

U.S. population density increased twofold during the

period 1900 to 2000, but the level in 2000 (an average of 80 people per square mile) remained low in

comparison with the density in most countries, and

lower than the world population density of 120 people

per square mile.

Between 1900 and 2000, the center of population

shifted 324 miles west and 101 miles south, moving

from Bartholomew County, Indiana, to Phelps County,

Missouri. 

The U.S. population grew increasingly metropolitan each

decade, from 28 percent in 1910 to 80 percent in 2000.

The suburban portion of metropolitan areas, rather than

central cities, accounted for most metropolitan growth

during the century. By 2000, half of the U.S. population

lived in suburban areas.

Nearly one-third of Americans lived in a metropolitan

area with 5 million or more residents by the close of

the century.

Regional Trends

In 1900, the majority (62 percent) of the U.S. population

lived in either the Northeast or the Midwest. However,

by the end of the century, the majority (58 percent) of

the population resided in either the South or West. 

The population of the West grew faster than the population in each of the other three regions of the country

in every decade of the 20th century.

The population density of the Northeast far exceeded

the densities of the other regions from 1900 to 2000.

The Northeast also had the highest percentage of its

population living in metropolitan areas for the entire

20th century.

State Trends

In 1900, New York’s population of 7.3 million exceeded that of any other state. In 2000, California had the

largest population (33.9 million), and 10 other states

(including New York) had populations larger than New

York’s population at the beginning of the century. 

The 1990s was the first decade when none of the 50

states lost population, although the District of

Columbia’s population declined for the fifth consecutive decade.

From 1900 to 2000, Florida’s ranking in population

size increased more than any other state, from 33rd to

4th, followed by Arizona’s, from 48th to 20th. Iowa’s

ranking declined the most, from 10th in 1900 to 30th

in 2000.

Among the 50 states, Rhode Island had the highest

population density from 1900 to 1960, and New

Jersey had the highest population density from 1970

to 2000.

Alaska had the lowest population density of all states

throughout the century. Excluding Alaska prior to its

statehood in 1959, Nevada had the lowest population

density every decade.

The percentage of population living in metropolitan

areas increased for every state from 1910 to 2000. By

2000, the majority of the population in 37 of the 50

states lived in a metropolitan area.

Chapter Highlights

POPULATION SIZE AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 9

The trends in the size and geographic distribution of

the United States population reflect the country’s historical trends in fertility, mortality, and internal and

international migration. Over the course of the 20th

century, the United States population experienced several major changes. Overall growth was substantial in

both numerical and in percentage terms, although it

varied from decade to decade. Although U.S. population growth was remarkable compared with other

industrialized countries, the U.S. share of the world’s

population declined as less developed countries grew

more rapidly. Population growth resulted in the country becoming increasingly more densely populated,

but the large land area of the United States kept overall population density at a comparatively moderate

level in global terms. 

Regionally, the distribution of the U.S. population generally experienced a shift toward the South and the

West. These regions dominated the 20th century’s

population growth, especially in the latter half of the

century. The gains in total population share of the

South and the West occurred at the expense of corresponding losses in population share of the Northeast

and the Midwest. 

State trends in population size, percentage growth,

and rankings varied considerably. California accounted for one-sixth of national population growth during

the 100-year period. Just eight states—California,

Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and

New Jersey—were responsible for more than half of

the total population gain from 1900 to 2000. Not all

states gained population in every decade. While several states in the South and the West stood out as clear

leaders in population growth trends during the century, states in the Northeast consistently ranked among

the most densely populated. 

“Metropolitanization” particularly characterized the

demographic change of the United States in the 20th

century. Prior to World War II, the majority of Americans

lived outside of metropolitan territory. By the end of the

century, 4 out of every 5 people in the United States

resided in a metropolitan area. The growth of metropolitan areas in the 20th century was essentially a

growth of the suburban population (defined here as the

metropolitan population living outside of central cities),

especially in the latter half of the century. In 2000, the

central city population represented a smaller share of

the U.S. population than it did in 1950. By the end of

the century, the percentage metropolitan in the regions

ranged from 74 percent in the Midwest to 90 percent in

the Northeast. Eight states—California, Connecticut,

Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New

York, and Rhode Island—had all reached at least 90 percent metropolitan population by 2000. 

The graphics and text in this chapter portray the

decade-to-decade trends in the U.S. population. State

trends often are covered graphically through the use

of thematic maps showing data for the beginning,

middle, and end of the century. Trends in population

density and metropolitan population are also discussed. Detailed data for each decade for the United

States, regions, and states on total population size,

population density, and metropolitan classification are

provided in Appendix Tables 1, 2, and 3. State trends

and rankings based on total population size include

Alaska and Hawaii. 

Chapter 1

POPULATION SIZE AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 11

The United States population more than tripled, growing from 76 million people in 1900 to 281 million people in 2000 (see Figure 1-1). From the start of the century until the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the

United States ranked as the fourth most populous

country in the world, and since 1991 as the world’s

third most populous country. The net addition of more

than 200 million people to the U.S. population over

the course of the 20th century represents more than

the current population of every country in the world,

except China, India, and Indonesia. 

Net change in the U.S. population results from adding

births, subtracting deaths, adding people who migrated to the United States, and subtracting people who

left the country. During the past 100 years, net immigration to the United States was roughly 40 million

people. In the same period, about 330 million babies

were born, and nearly 165 million people died. The

subtraction of total births minus total deaths yields a

natural increase of about 165 million people, which

includes the natural increase contribution resulting

from births and deaths to migrants.

Many social and demographic factors contributed to

the huge growth of the U.S. population in the 20th

century. Declining mortality was one such factor. As

public sanitation, personal hygiene, and scientific and

medical technology improved, life expectancy

improved. Average life expectancy at birth increased

by about 30 years over the course of the 20th century, from about 47 years in 1900 to about 77 years in

2000. Infants, in particular, benefited from 20th century advances in health and medicine. The infant mortality rate (the number of deaths to infants less than 1

year of age per 1,000 births) decreased sharply over

the century, from a rate well in excess of 100 per

1,000 births at the start of the century, to a rate less

than 10 per 1,000 births by the century’s end.

The U.S. population more than tripled from 76 million 

in 1900 to 281 million in 2000.

(Millions)

Figure 1-1.

Total Population: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

76.0

92.0

105.7

122.8

131.7

150.7

179.3

203.2

226.5

248.7

281.4
12 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Population growth in the United States varied greatly

throughout the century, both numerically and in percentage terms. The population growth of 32.7 million

in the 1990s was the largest numerical increase in U.S.

history (see Figure 1-2).1 The previous record increase

was in the 1950s, a gain fueled primarily by the postWorld War II baby boom (1946 to 1964). 

Population growth in the 1930s was the smallest of

any decade during the period 1900 to 2000. The low

growth in this Depression-era decade was due to low

levels of fertility and negligible net international

migration. 

The decade-to-decade pattern of the percentage

change in population followed the same up-and-down

course as the numerical population change. However,

while the maximum numerical population increase

occurred in the last decade of the century, the highest

percentage increase in the total U.S. population took

place at the start of the century, 1900-1910.2 During

this period, the country experienced relatively high

birth rates and, most significantly, the arrival of an

exceptionally large number of immigrants.

Immigration and high fertility levels also contributed

to the high growth of the following two decades,

1910-1920 and 1920-1930. 

The 1930s, which was the decade with the lowest

numerical increase in population, also was the decade

with the lowest percentage increase (7.2 percent).

After this low point, the population growth rate

increased in the 1940s and 1950s. 

While the first period of rapid population growth was

due primarily to immigration, the second period, from

1950 to 1960, was due primarily to the post World War

II baby boom. The 1950s represented the second

highest decade of population increase during the century in both numerical (28.6 million) and percentage

(19.0 percent) terms.

After the high growth rate in the 1950s, the percentage increase in population declined over the next

three decades. The U.S. population continued to grow,

but at an increasingly slower rate. However, the rate

of population growth increased during the 1990s for

the first decade since the 1950s, exceeding the

growth rate of the 1970s and 1980s, but still less than

in the first three decades of the century. 

The 1990 to 2000 population increase was 

the largest in U.S. history.

1 See U.S. Census Bureau, 2001g, Population Change and

Distribution: 1990 to 2000, by Marc J. Perry and Paul J. Mackun.

Population change in any decade may result from changes in census

coverage, as well as from births, deaths, and net international migration.2 The higher percentage increase results because the total population base in 1900 (76.0 million) is much smaller than the population

base in 1990 (248.7 million).
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 13

Figure 1-2.

Population Increase by Decade: 1900 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

1900-10 1910-20 1920-30 1930-40 1940-50 1950-60 1960-70 1970-80 1980-90 1990-00

1900-10 1910-20 1920-30 1930-40 1940-50 1950-60 1960-70 1970-80 1980-90 1990-00

Percent increase

Numerical increase in millions

16.0

13.7

17.1

8.9

19.0

28.6

23.9 23.3 22.2

32.7

21.0

14.9 16.1

7.2

14.5

19.0

13.3

11.5

9.8

13.2
14 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Population estimates prepared by the U.S. Census

Bureau for all countries of the world provide an opportunity to view the trend in U.S. population growth in a

global context.3 As noted earlier, the United States

ranked as the fourth most populous country in the

world from 1900 until the breakup of the Soviet Union

in 1991 and has ranked as the world’s third most populous country since then. China and India ranked 1st

and 2nd, respectively, in total population size throughout the 20th century. 

In 1950, using present-day boundaries, the ten most

populous countries were (in order): China, India, the

United States, Russia, Japan, Indonesia, Germany,

Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Italy. By 2000, the ten

most populous countries were: China, India, the

United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, Pakistan,

Bangladesh, Japan, and Nigeria. 

Over the 50-year period, seven countries stayed among

the ten most populous countries. The countries that

dropped out of the top ten (Germany, the United

Kingdom, and Italy) were among the world’s more

developed countries (MDCs), and were replaced by

Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, all less developed

countries (LDCs).4 Furthermore, Russia and Japan (both

MDCs) dropped in rank, while the ranks of Indonesia

and Brazil (both LDCs) increased.

China constituted about one-fifth of the world’s population throughout the latter half of the century (see

Figure 1-3). More than one-third of the world’s population lived in either China or India. The U.S. share of

the world’s population declined each decade, from 

6.0 percent in 1950 to 4.5 percent in 2000. Due to

faster growth rates of LDCs than of MDCs, the combined share of the United States and all other MDCs

fell from about one-third (32 percent) of the world’s

population in 1950 to about one-fifth (19 percent) in

2000. In contrast, the share of world population

increased in each of the less developed regions.

From 1950 to 2000, the United States and 

the rest of the developed world comprised a declining 

share of the world’s population.

(Percent)

Figure 1-3.

World Population Distribution: 1950 to 2000 

Note: Estimates are for July 1.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Data Base, www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbnew.html.

Other developed countries

United States

India

China

Other Asia and Oceania

Africa

Latin America and the 

Caribbean

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

More developed countries

Less developed countries

6.5 7.2 7.7 8.1 8.4 8.6

8.9 9.3 9.7 10.6 11.9 13.2

16.5 17.5 18.4 19.4 20.4 21.3

22.0 21.4 22.1 22.1 21.6 20.8

14.5 14.7 15.0 15.5 16.1 16.7

25.6 24.0 21.5 19.1 16.9 15.0

6.0 5.9 5.5 5.1 4.7 4.5

4 For the definition of more developed countries and less developed countries, see the Glossary.

3 See U.S. Census Bureau, the International Data Base at 

www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbnew.html.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 15

Given a fixed land area, any increase or decrease in

population is accompanied by a corresponding

increase (or decrease) in population density.5 Over the

course of the century, the population density of the

United States tripled from 26 people per square mile

of land area in 1900 to 80 people per square mile in

2000 (see Figure 1-4). 

In 1959, Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th

states, respectively. The addition of Alaska, the

largest U.S. state in terms of land area, had a major

impact on population density. In interpreting the historical trend, population density actually declined

slightly from 1950 (not including Alaska and Hawaii

prior to statehood) to 1960 (including Alaska and

Hawaii). The effect of including Alaska and Hawaii on

the trend in population density for the period 1900 to

1950 is shown in Figure 1-4.

Although population density tripled during the period

1900 to 2000, the U.S. density level in 2000 remained

relatively low in comparison with most countries of

the world, and lower than the overall world population

density of 120 people per square mile.

Density levels vary considerably among the countries of

the world. Among countries with 5 million or more people in 2000, Australia, Canada, and Libya each had population densities less than 10 people per square mile,

while the Netherlands and South Korea had densities of

over 1,200 people per square mile, and Bangladesh a

density of nearly 2,500. Of the world’s ten most populous countries in 2000, Russia, Brazil, and the United

States all had relatively low density levels (less than

100), followed by Indonesia, Nigeria, China, and

Pakistan (in the 300 to 500 range), Japan and India (829

and 883, respectively), and then Bangladesh.6

U.S. population density tripled between 

1900 and 2000, but remained relatively low 

compared to most countries.

(People per square mile of land area)

Figure 1-4.

Population Density: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

Density levels if Alaska and Hawaii are included from 1900 to 1960

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

25.7

31.1

35.7

41.5

44.5

50.9 50.7

57.4

64.0

70.3

79.6

21.5

26.1

30.0

34.8

37.4

42.8

5 Density represents the average number of people per unit of land

area (such as square miles, square kilometers). All density calculations for the United States, regions, and states in this report are based

on land area measurement used for Census 2000.

6 See U.S. Census Bureau, 2000, Statistical Abstract of the United

States: 2000 (120th edition), Washington, DC.
16 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Each decade, after tabulating the results of the decennial census, the Census Bureau calculates the mean and

median centers of population. The “mean center of population” refers to the point at which an imaginary, flat,

weightless, and rigid map of the United States would

balance perfectly if weights of identical value were

placed on it so that each weight represented the location of one person on the date of the census. 

Historically, the mean center of population has followed a trail that reflects the movement of the country’s population across America. The trend follows a

path indicating the settling of the frontier, waves of

immigration, and internal migration west and south. 

Over the course of the 20th century, the mean center

of population continually moved westward, starting

from Bartholomew County, Indiana, in 1900, progressing through Indiana, crossing Illinois, and by 2000

stopping in Phelps County, Missouri (see Figure 1-5).

This represents a shift of 324 miles west and 101 miles

south from its location at the start of the century.

From 1900 through 1940, the mean center of population was in the southern part of Indiana. From 1950

through 1970, it was in Illinois, and from 1980

through 2000, it was in Missouri. 

During the second half of the century, the mean center

continued to shift westward, and during the last five

decades, began also to move in an increasingly southerly direction. Of the 101 miles the mean moved southward from 1900 to 2000, 22 miles were moved between

1900 and 1950, but 79 miles between 1950 and 2000.7 

Another measure of the geographic center of population is the “median center of population.” The median

center is located at the intersection of two median

lines, a north-south line constructed so that half of the

country’s population lives east and half lives west of it,

and an east-west line selected so that half of the country’s population lives north and half lives south of it.

The median center of population is less sensitive to

population shifts than the mean center, since it is only

affected by population movements that cross the

north-south or the east-west median lines. 

In every decade of the 20th century, the median center of population was located in either Indiana or Ohio.

In 1900 and 1910, the median was in Randolph

County, Indiana. At the next three censuses, 1920,

1930, and 1940, the median was located farther east

in Darke County, Ohio, a southwestern county in Ohio

bordering Indiana. The eastward trend of the median

in 1920, 1930, and 1940 compared with 1900 and

1910 may be attributed in part to the impact of migration to industrial urban areas in the Northeast.

The relatively strong westward and southerly shift of

the mean center of population in the latter half of the

20th century is paralleled by movement of the median

center during the same period. In 1950, the median

center had returned to Indiana in a county (Wayne

county) adjacent to and south of its location in 1900

and 1910 (Randolph county). Over the next five

decades, the median center moved much farther south

and west within the state of Indiana, reaching Daviess

County at the close of the century. The largest shifts in

the median center of population occurred during the

1970s and 1980s.

Between 1900 and 2000, the mean center of the 

U.S. population moved about 324 miles west 

and 101 miles south.

7 The calculation of the mean center of population for 1900

through 1950 is based on the population of the conterminous United

States and for 1960 through 2000 includes the populations of Alaska

and Hawaii. Including Alaska and Hawaii in 1960 had the effect of

shifting the mean center about 2 miles farther south and about 10

miles farther west.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 17

• •

•

•

1920 1910 1900

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980 1990

2000

1930

St. Louis

Louisville

Springfield Indianapolis

MONROE

OWEN

GREENE SULLIVAN

CLAY

CLINTON ST. CLAIR

JEFFERSON

CRAWFORD

PHELPS

MISSOURI

KENTUCKY

INDIANA ILLINOIS

BARTHOLOMEW

•

•

DARKE

VIGO

RUSH

GREENE

MIAMI

PARKE

CLAY

RIPLEY

KNOX

OWEN

BUTLER

BOONE

HENRY

PUTNAM

PREBLE

WAYNE

JACKSON

SHELBY

MARION

ULLIVAN

WARREN

MONROE

MORGAN

CLERMONT

RANDOLPH

FRANKLIN

LAWRENCE

FOUNTAIN

CLINTON

HAMILTON MADISON

FAYETTE UNION MONTGOMERY

WARREN SHELBY

BROWN

BOONE

GRANT

DECATUR

HAMILTON

TIPPECANOE

DAVIESS

JENNINGS

TIPTON

HENDRICKS

DELAWARE

MONTGOMERY

MARTIN

JOHNSON

JEFFERSON

HANCOCK

DEARBORN

SCOTT

MERCER

BARTHOLOMEW

PENDLETON

VER

MILLION

BRA

KENTON

WASHINGTON

OHIO

SWITZERLAND CAMPBELL

ORANGE

1900

1910

1920 1930

1950 1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

1940

INDIANA

OHIO

Indianapolis

Cincinnati

Median Center of Population

Mean Center of Population

MO

IL IN OH

Figure 1-5.

Mean and Median Centers of Population: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division.
18 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

While all four regions8 of the United States grew considerably in the 20th century, the South and the West experienced the largest increases in population, 76 million

and 59 million, respectively. Combined, these two

regions increased by 471 percent during the century,

compared with the combined increase of 149 percent

for the Northeast and Midwest. Between 1900 and

2000, the combined increase of 135 million people in

the South and the West represented 66 percent of the

U.S. population increase of 205 million people. 

From 1900 to 2000, the population more than doubled in the Northeast (21 million to 54 million) and in

the Midwest (26 million to 64 million). The South’s

population during this period quadrupled from 25 million to 100 million, while the West’s population was

more than fifteen times larger in 2000, increasing

from 4 million in 1900 to 63 million at the end of the

century (see Figure 1-6).

From 1900 to 1930, the Midwest was the most populous region of the country. From 1940 onward, the

South had the largest population of all the regions. By

2000, the West’s population (63 million) had nearly

reached the Midwest’s population (64 million). The

Northeast (by far the smallest in land area) became the

country’s least populous region by 1990 and remained

the least populous in 2000. 

Despite the West’s phenomenal growth in population, it

remained the region with the smallest proportion of the

U.S. population as recently as 1980 (see Figure 1-7). As

recently as 1950, the West’s proportion (13 percent) of

the total U.S. population was just half of the next largest

region (Northeast, 26 percent). Yet by 1990, the West’s

population had become a larger proportion of the total

U.S. population than the Northeast’s, and appears likely

to overtake the Midwest as the country’s second most

populous region in the near future.

One of the most significant demographic trends of the

20th century has been the steady shifting of the population west and south. (See the earlier discussion of the

mean and median centers of population, Figure 1-5.) In

1900, the majority (62 percent) of the population lived

in either the Northeast or the Midwest. This combined

proportion declined each decade during the century. By

1980, the majority (52 percent) of the country’s population resided in either the South or the West. This

trend continued to the end of the century, with the

combined South and West regional populations representing 58 percent of the total population of the United

States in 2000.

More than one-third of the U.S. population lived in the

South in 2000, and about one-third (between 31 to 

36 percent) lived in this region over the entire century.

The Northeast represented about one-fourth of the U.S.

population for most of the century (ranging between 

24 percent to 28 percent during the period 1900 to

1970), but its share declined every decade since 1910,

to about one-fifth of the U.S. population in 2000. The

Midwest’s share of the country’s total population

declined every decade throughout the century, and its

percentage-point decline was even more than the

Northeast’s. The Midwest’s share fell by 12 percentage

points, from more than one-third (35 percent) of the

total population in 1900 to just under one-fourth 

(23 percent) in 2000. The West represented just 5 percent of the country’s population in 1900, but its share

increased every decade of the century and reached 

22 percent in 2000. As a result of the changing regional distribution of population over the course of the century, the West, Midwest, and Northeast each represented similar fractions (around one-fifth) of the total U.S.

population in 2000. 

The South and West accounted for nearly two-thirds of the 

U.S. population increase from 1900 to 2000.

8 Since the 1950 census, the U.S. Census Bureau has classified all

states and the District of Columbia into one of four regions—

Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. For the definition of each

region by state, see the Glossary.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 19

Millions

Figure 1-6.

Total Population by Region: 1900 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Midwest

West

South

Northeast

(Percent)

Figure 1-7.

Population Distribution by Region: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

West

Northeast

Midwest

South

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

5.4 7.4 8.4 9.7 10.5 13.0 15.6 17.1 19.1 21.2 22.5

32.3

32.0 31.3 30.8 31.6 31.3 30.7 30.9 33.3 34.4

35.6

34.7 32.5 32.2 31.4 30.5 29.5 28.8 27.8

26.0 24.0 22.9

27.7 28.1 28.1 28.0 27.3 26.2 24.9 24.1 21.7 20.4 19.0
20 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The population of the West grew faster than the other

three regions of the country in every decade of the

20th century (see Figure 1-8). In fact, with the exception of the 1930s, the rate of growth in the West was

at least double the rate of the other regions for the

decades from 1900 to 1960. 

For most of the century, the West and the South experienced relatively higher growth rates than the

Northeast and the Midwest. The Northeast and the

Midwest both had relatively lower growth rates in the

1930s and each decade from the 1960s through the

1990s. The Northeast also had a growth rate below

10 percent in the 1940s. Every region had growth

rates above 10 percent during the century’s first three

decades, when net immigration and fertility rates were

generally higher, and again in the 1950s during the

peak baby boom years. 

In the first third of the century (i.e., 1900 to 1930), the

Northeast had the second highest growth rate among

the regions. The South replaced the Northeast as the

second fastest growing region in the country in the

1930s and remained so for the rest of the century. 

The Northeast and Midwest experienced similar growth

rate trends every decade since the 1910 to 1920 period. Either the Northeast or the Midwest was the slowest-growing region during every decade of the century,

with the exception of 1910 to 1920, when the South

had a slightly lower growth rate than the other regions.

The growth of the population peaked in the decade

1900 to 1910 for both the Northeast (23 percent) and

the West (67 percent). The 1950s represented the

peak decade for the growth of the population in the

Midwest (16 percent), and the 1970s was the fastestgrowing decade in the South (20 percent).

The growth of the population reached its lowest point

for both the South (10 percent) and the West (17 percent)

in the 1930s Depression-era decade, which was the period with the lowest growth rate for the United States as a

whole. The West’s lowest percentage growth during the

century (in the 1930s) exceeded the Midwest’s highest

percentage growth (in the 1950s). The lowest growth

decade for the Northeast was the 1970s, with an

increase of just 0.2 percent, and the Midwest’s lowest

growth decade was the 1980s (1.4 percent). 

The West grew faster every decade than 

all other U.S. regions.

Percent

Figure 1-8.

Percent Change in Population per Decade by Region: 

1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1900-10 1910-20 1920-30 1930-40 1940-50 1950-60 1960-70 1970-80 1980-90 1990-00

Midwest

West

South

Northeast
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 21

While the Midwest (until 1930) and the South (since

1940) had the largest populations among the regions,

and the West grew the fastest each decade, the population density of the Northeast far exceeded the densities of the other regions from 1900 to 2000 (see

Figure 1-9). The West’s land area, which constitutes

nearly half of the total U.S. land area, had the fewest

people per square mile of the regions. 

The Midwest and the South had similar density levels

and trends over the period 1900 to 1970, with the

Midwest’s density slightly higher than the South’s.

Since 1980, the South’s density level has exceeded the

Midwest’s level, making the South the second most

densely populated region, and the gap between these

two regions widened between 1980 and 2000. 

Population density levels reflect a combination of population and land area. Although the Northeast represented the smallest share (19 percent) of the U.S. population in 2000, it represented an even smaller share

(about 5 percent) of the U.S. land area. Thus, the

Northeast had about one-fifth of the U.S. population

living in just one-twentieth of the country’s land area.

In contrast, while the West also represented about onefifth (22 percent) of the U.S population in 2000, this

population lived in 50 percent of the U.S. land area,

resulting in low population density. In 2000, the

Midwest’s shares of population and land area were

similar, 23 and 21 percent, respectively, while the

South’s population share (36 percent) was greater than

its share (25 percent) of the U.S. land area. 

Density levels, along with total population, increased

every decade for each region of the country, except for

the West, where a slight decline occurred from 1950 to

1960, due to the addition to the region of Alaska, a

large-area, low-density state (see Appendix Table 2).

Even after 100 years of population growth and high

rates of growth in the West and, in recent decades, the

South, density levels in the Midwest, South, and West

in 2000 were still less than the Northeast’s population

density at the start of the century. Between 1900 and

2000, the average number of people per square mile

increased from 130 to 330 in the Northeast, from 35

to 86 in the Midwest, from 28 to 115 in the South, and

from 3 to 36 in the West. 

The Northeast was the most densely populated 

region throughout the 20th century.

People per square mile of land area

Figure 1-9.

Population Density by Region: 1900 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

Midwest

West

South

Northeast

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
22 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

At the beginning of the century, no state had 10 million

or more people. In 1900, state population totals ranged

from a low of 42,000 in Nevada to 7.3 million in New

York (see Appendix Table 1). By 1950, three states, New

York, Pennsylvania, and California had passed the 10-

million mark. At the end of the century, 7 states had

reached a population of at least 10 million—California,

Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and

Ohio. The state with the most people in 2000 was

California, with a population of 33.9 million.

In 1900, New York and Pennsylvania were the only

states with populations of at least 5 million (see Figure

1-10). By 1950, four states—Illinois, Michigan, Ohio,

and Texas had between 5 and 10 million people. (As

noted above, after the first five decades of the century,

New York and Pennsylvania had crossed the threshold

of 10 million.) By 2000, a total of 13 states had a population size between 5 and 10 million, comprised of 12

new states, plus 1 holdover, Michigan, from 1950. 

Twenty-three states had fewer than 1 million residents

in 1900, and 12 of these states were in the West.9 By

1950, the number of states with fewer than 1 million

residents had fallen to 16, and 9 of these were western states. Only 7 states had populations of less than

1 million throughout the century. In 2000, Wyoming

had the fewest people, with a population of 494,000,

followed by Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, South

Dakota, Delaware, and Montana.10

Florida was the only state to grow from a population

of less than 1 million at the start of the century to a

population of over 10 million by the century’s end. 

Only 4 states—California, Illinois, Ohio, and Texas—

grew from between 1 and 5 million in 1900 to join the

10-million-and-over club by the end of the century.

California had already grown to a population of over

10 million by midcentury, increasing greatly from just

1.5 million people in 1900 to 10.6 million people in

1950. Illinois reached 10 million by 1960 and Ohio

and Texas by 1970. 

Arizona and Washington were the only states to

increase from less than 1 million population in 1900 to

between 5 million and 10 million (5.1 and 5.9 million,

respectively) in 2000. 

In 2000, California was the only state with a population of more than 30 million. Texas (with a population

of 20.9 million in 2000) was the only other state to

have crossed the 20-million threshold.

As mentioned above, New York’s total population of

7.3 million in 1900 was greater than any other state.

By 2000, the populations of 11 states exceeded this

figure: in addition to the 7 states with 10 million or

more population listed above, Michigan (9.9 million),

Georgia (8.2 million), New Jersey (8.4 million), and

North Carolina (8.0 million) had populations that were

larger than New York’s had been at the start of the

20th century. 

In 1900, nearly half of the states had fewer than 1 million people.

By 2000, only 7 states (and the District of Columbia) 

had a population under 1 million.

9 The District of Columbia, considered a state equivalent for statistical purposes, had less than 1 million residents for the entire century. 10 The District of Columbia, with 572,059 residents in 2000, had a

smaller population than every state, except Wyoming. 
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 23

Figure 1-10.

Total Population by State: 1900, 1950, and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

10 or more

5 to 10

1 to 5

Less than 1

Total population (in millions)

1950

2000

HI

AK

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

HI

AK

PA

CA

NY MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

WY

ID

OR

WA

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

FL

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

HI

AK

IL OH

PA

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

WY

ID

OR

WA

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

1900
24 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. population increased by more than 200 million

people between 1900 and 2000. The population increases in the 4 most populous states at the end of the century—California (32.4 million), Texas (17.8 million),

Florida (15.5 million), and New York (11.7 million)—

together represented 38 percent of the total growth in

the United States over the past 100 years. These were

also the only states that increased by more than 10 million people over this period (see Figure 1-11). 

California’s increase alone accounted for nearly onesixth of the total U.S. increase and was more than the

combined increase of 27 states. In 1900, California’s

population was about the same as the population of

Kansas (1.5 million) but, over the next 10 decades,

California increased by 32.4 million while Kansas grew

by an additional 1.2 million people. 

Over one-half of the U.S. population increase in the 20th

century occurred in just eight states. They included

Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and New Jersey, in addition to

California, Texas, New York, and Florida. The population increase in ten additional states represented another 25 percent of the total U.S. increase. Thus, over

three-fourths of the population increase in the United

States from 1900 to 2000 took place in just 18 states. 

The population of 10 states increased between 5 million

and 10 million during the period from 1900 to 2000.

With the exception of Arizona, all of these states are

“coastal” states, meaning states bordering either the

Atlantic or Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, or the

Great Lakes. 

Thirteen states (and the District of Columbia) gained

fewer than 1 million people during the 20th century.

Several of these states are geographically contiguous,

such as Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in New

England, and the northern interior states of Montana,

Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and

Iowa.

California, Texas, Florida, and New York accounted 

for more than one-third (38 percent) of the U.S. population

increase in the 20th century.

Figure 1-11.

Increase in Total Population by State: 1900 - 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 and 2000.

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

FL

CA

NY

TX

10 or more

5 to 10

1 to 5

Less than 1

Increase (in millions)
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 25

Although every state’s population was larger at the century’s end than at the start, the population of every state

did not grow in each individual decade. During the century, a decline in population from one census to the

next in either a state or the District of Columbia

occurred 32 times (see Table 1-1). 

The 32 instances of population decline during the ten

decades of the century took place in just 15 states (and

the District of Columbia). The District of Columbia’s

population declined most often during the period, losing population every decade since the 1950s. North

Dakota’s population fell four times between censuses;

Mississippi’s and West Virginia’s populations fell three

times; and Arkansas’s, Iowa’s, Oklahoma’s, South

Dakota’s, and Vermont’s populations each fell twice.

Seven states experienced one decade of population

decline during the century: Alaska, Kansas, Montana,

Nebraska, New York, Nevada, and Wyoming. By region,

the group represents five states in the Midwest, four

(and the District of Columbia) in the South, four in the

West, and two in the Northeast. 

Of the 32 instances of population decline, southern

states (and the District of Columbia) accounted for 15,

midwestern states for 10, western states for 4, and

northeastern states for 3 declines. 

More states declined in population in the 1930s than in

any other decade of the 20th century. Nearly all the state

population declines in this period occurred in Great Plains

states, extending northward from Oklahoma to Kansas,

Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. 

Only states in the South and Midwest lost population

between censuses during the period 1940 to 1970. In

the 1950s, only southern states lost population. The

only states outside the South and the Midwest to lose

population since 1930 were New York (1970s), Vermont

(1930s), and Wyoming (1980s). New York’s population

decline (679,000) was by far the largest of any decade:

no other state level decline exceeded 200,000.

The 1990s was the first decade when none of the 50

states lost population, although the District of Columbia’s

population declined for the fifth consecutive decade.

The population declined in more states in the 1930s than 

during any other 20th century decade, and the 1990s was the 

first decade when no state’s population declined.

Table 1-1.

States Experiencing Intercensal Population Decline: 1900-1910 to 1990-2000

Decade and state Region Change

1900-1910

Iowa .............................. Midwest -7,082

1910-1920

Vermont ........................... Northeast -3,528

Mississippi......................... South -6,496

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West -9,320

Nevada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West -4,468

1920-1930

Montana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West -11,283

1930-1940

Vermont ........................... Northeast -380

Kansas ............................ Midwest -79,971

Nebraska . . . ....................... Midwest -62,129

North Dakota. . . .................... Midwest -38,910

South Dakota ...................... Midwest -49,888

Oklahoma . . ....................... South -59,606

1940-1950

North Dakota. . . .................... Midwest -22,299

Arkansas . . ........................ South -39,876

Mississippi......................... South -4,882

Oklahoma ......................... South -103,083

Decade and state Region Change

1950-1960

Arkansas .......................... South -123,239

District of Columbia ................. South -38,222

Mississippi. . . ...................... South -773

West Virginia....................... South -145,131

1960-1970

North Dakota. ...................... Midwest -14,685

South Dakota ...................... Midwest -15,007

District of Columbia ................. South -7,446

West Virginia....................... South -116,184

1970-1980

New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Northeast -678,895

District of Columbia ................. South -118,177

1980-1990

Iowa .............................. Midwest -137,053

North Dakota. ...................... Midwest -13,917

District of Columbia ................. South -31,433

West Virginia....................... South -156,167

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West -15,969

1990-2000

District of Columbia ................. South -34,841

Note: The District of Columbia is considered a state equivalent for statistical purposes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.
26 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

At the state level, patterns of percentage change in population portray a different picture than patterns of

numerical population change. In any period, a state

with a small base population may not grow a large

amount in terms of population numbers, but may

increase by a large proportion of its original population

size.

From 1900 to 2000, Nevada’s population grew faster

(4,620 percent) than the population of any other

state. Arizona ranked second, with an increase of

4,074 percent. Western states accounted for 9 of the

10 fastest-growing states during this period. The

southern state of Florida ranked third, with an

increase of 2,924 percent. 

In contrast, no western state ranked among the ten

slowest-growing states during the century, while

states in each of the other regions did. Iowa had the

lowest percentage increase (31 percent) from 1900 to

2000, followed by Nebraska (60 percent).

During the first half of the century, states in the West

also accounted for 9 of the 10 states with the highest

percentage growth in population (see Figure 1-12).

The top five states from 1900 to 1950 were (in rank

order): California, Arizona, Florida, Washington, and

Nevada. During this period, California grew by more

than 600 percent. The populations of the ten fastestgrowing states at least tripled (increased by 200 percent or more). The populations of an additional 12

states (and the District of Columbia) more than doubled in size.

From 1900 to 1950, the ten slowest-growing states all

grew by less than 50 percent. Vermont grew the slowest (10 percent), followed by Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri,

and New Hampshire. 

Western states also accounted for 8 of the 10 fastestgrowing states in the 1950 to 2000 period. From

1950 to 2000, the five fastest-growing states (in rank

order) were: Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Alaska, and

Colorado. Nevada’s population increased by more than

1,100 percent during this period. 

During the second half of the century, the populations

of 7 states at least tripled, while the populations of 11

additional states more than doubled. 

From 1950 to 2000, the ten states or state equivalent

with the lowest percentage changes were: the District

of Columbia, West Virginia, North Dakota, Iowa, South

Dakota, Pennsylvania, New York, Nebraska,

Mississippi, and Rhode Island. During this period, the

populations of the District of Columbia and West

Virginia declined by 29 percent and 10 percent,

respectively. 

Comparing population change in the first and second

halves of the century, California grew fastest in the

first part and Nevada in the second half. Nevada,

Arizona, and Florida ranked among the five fastestgrowing states in both periods. In addition, California,

New Mexico, and Washington ranked among the ten

fastest-growing states for each 50-year period. 

Iowa was the only state to appear among the five

slowest-growing states in population for both halves

of the century, while Nebraska and Mississippi were

among the ten slowest-growing states.

The population of 11 western states, Florida, and

Texas at least doubled in size during both 50-year

periods. 

Nine western states and Florida accounted for 

the ten fastest-growing states from 1900 to 1950 and 

eight western states plus Florida and Texas were 

the fastest growing from 1950 to 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 27

Figure 1-12.

Percent Change in Total Population by State: 

1900 - 1950 and 1950 - 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

200 or more

100 to 200

50 to 100

0 to 50

Less than 0

Percent change

1900 - 1950

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

1950 - 2000
28 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The numeric and percentage change in population size

for the 50 states and the District of Columbia varied

widely over the century. These differences produced

marked shifts in the relative ranking of states in terms

of population size (see Table 1-2). 

Between 1900 and 2000, 15 states ranked among the

10 most populous at least once. Six of them were

among the ten largest throughout the century—

Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and

Texas. Of the remaining nine, four were among the

ten largest in 1900 but then dropped below this rank

and never re-entered—Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and

Massachusetts; three entered the ten largest and never

left—California, Florida, and New Jersey; North

Carolina was the tenth largest in 1950; and Georgia

was the tenth largest state in 1910 and in 2000 (see

Appendix Table 1). 

New York had the largest state population from 1900

through the 1960 census. California became the

largest state by the 1970 census and has remained the

most populous. Texas became the second largest

state by 2000, dropping New York to third.

State rankings fluctuate from census to census

depending on population growth. However, some

state rankings progressively increased during the century, while others progressively declined. In 2000, 

15 states were ranked at their highest level of the century. All of these states were either in the West (ten

states or the South (five states). In contrast, 11 states

ranked at their highest point during the century in

1900. Most of these are in the Northeast (Maine, New

Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) and the

Midwest (Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska).

None of these states is in the West. Although five

states in the South were at their peak rank in 2000

(Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia), three

states in the South had their highest population rank

in 1900—Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. 

While population changes altered the state ranking

order, most state ranks did not vary by more than ten

positions during the 100-year period. Five states

increased their ranking by more than ten places: four

states in the West (Arizona, California, Nevada, and

Washington), plus Florida, which increased in rank

more than any other state, from 33rd to 4th.

(Arizona’s rank increased nearly as much, from 48th in

1900 to 20th in 2000.) 

Seven states and the District of Columbia dropped by

more than ten places in their ranking over the century, all of them either in the Midwest or the South.

Iowa’s ranking declined the most, from 10th in 1900

to 30th in 2000.

Florida’s rank by population size jumped the most, 

while Iowa’s fell the most from 1900 to 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 29

Table 1-2.

States Ranked by Population Size: 1900, 1950, and 2000

State 1900 1950 2000

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 17 23

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 51 48

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 38 20

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 30 33

California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 2 1

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 34 24

Connecticut. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 28 29

Delaware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 48 45

District of Columbia. . . . . . . . . . . . 41 36 50

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 20 4

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 13 10

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 46 42

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 44 39

Illinois. . ...................... 3 4 5

Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 12 14

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 22 30

Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 31 32

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 19 25

Louisiana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 21 22

Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 35 40

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 24 19

Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9 13

Michigan ..................... 9 7 8

Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 18 21

Mississippi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 26 31

Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 11 17

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 43 44

Nebraska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 33 38

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 50 35

New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 45 41

New Jersey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 8 9

New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 40 36

New York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 3

North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 10 11

North Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 42 47

Ohio . ........................ 4 5 7

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 25 27

Oregon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 32 28

Pennsylvania . . ............... 2 3 6

Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 37 43

South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 27 26

South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 41 46

Tennessee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 16 16

Texas ........................ 6 6 2

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 39 34

Vermont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 47 49

Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 15 12

Washington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 23 15

West Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 29 37

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 14 18

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 49 51

Note: States in color are or have ranked in the top ten most populous states.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.
30 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Since population density is determined both by population size and by land area, relatively less-populated

states can have a high population density, and relatively more-populated states can have a low population density. For example, Rhode Island ranked first

among the 50 states in population density in each census from 1900 through 1960, even though it ranked

among the smaller states in population size.11

Conversely, Texas, which became the second-most

populated state in 2000, still ranked 28th in terms of

population density at the end of the century. 

At the beginning of the century, all the more densely

populated states were in the eastern half of the country (see Figure 1-13). State densities generally

increased over time as the population increased, since

the changes in the land area of states during the period were minimal.12 Even in 2000, the eastern half of

the country remained more densely populated than

the western half. 

Most of the states with a high population density have

a relatively small total land area. As noted above,

Rhode Island had the highest population density

among the 50 states from 1900 to 1960. By 1970,

New Jersey had become the country’s most densely

populated state and has remained so since then. At

the end of the century, both of these states had

population densities of more than 1,000 people per

square mile (see Appendix Table 2). Massachusetts

had the second or third highest density level throughout the century, and Connecticut ranked fourth every

decade from 1900 to 2000.

Throughout the 20th century, all of the least densely

populated states were relatively large-area states in

the West and Midwest regions. Maine was the

Northeast region’s least densely populated state

throughout the century. From 1900 to 1950, the least

densely populated state in the South was either Florida

or Texas. From 1960 to 2000, Oklahoma and

Arkansas had the lowest population densities in the

South. For the West region and for the United States,

Alaska (with just over one person per square mile in

2000) had the lowest population density of all the

states, a result of the combination of a relatively small

population size and a very large land area. Prior to

Alaska’s statehood in 1960, the state with the lowest

population density every decade was Nevada.

The number of states with more than 200 people per

square mile increased from 3 (New Jersey, Rhode

Island, and Massachusetts) in 1900 to 12 in 2000. The

nine additional states, ranked by density in 2000, are:

Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Delaware, Florida,

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California. 

In 1900, 14 states (and Alaska) had densities of fewer

than 10 people per square mile. They included Florida

and California, which, as noted above, had increased

to more than 200 people per square mile by the end

of the century. Five states—South Dakota, North

Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska—still had

fewer than ten people per square mile in 2000. 

Among the 50 states, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,

and Connecticut had the highest population densities 

throughout the century.

11 The District of Columbia is usually considered a state equivalent

for statistical purposes, and its density was higher by far than all 50

states throughout the century. However, it is excluded from the general discussion of state population density due to its lesser comparability attributable to a relatively small land area and its greater comparability to other cities, rather than states. 12 State population density calculations in this report are based

on land area measurement used for Census 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 31

Figure 1-13.

Population Density by State: 1900, 1950, and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

MI

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

IL OH

PA

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

FL

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

PA

CA

NY

1950

2000

200 or more

75 to 200

25 to 75

Less than 25

People per square mile of land area

1900
32 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau defined metropolitan population concentrations13 for the first time in 1910. At that

time, 26.1 million people lived in 19 metropolitan districts of 200,000 or more population and cities of

100,000 to 200,000 and their adjacent territory, leaving

65.9 million who lived in nonmetropolitan territory.

With each passing decade, the metropolitan population

increased, while the nonmetropolitan population generally decreased (see Figure 1-14).

While metropolitan concentrations certainly grew as a

result of births and migration, they also grew as a

result of territorial expansion. Over the course of the

century, the changing definition of “metropolitan”

caused new areas to achieve metropolitan status and

existing metropolitan areas to acquire more territory.

During the early part of the century, the metropolitan

population grew quickly, due in part to the influx of

immigrants into large cities, while the nonmetropolitan population changed very little. The smallest

increase in the metropolitan population occurred during the 1930s (8.2 million people). This was also the

last decade when the nonmetropolitan population

increased, although it remained larger than the metropolitan population into the 1940s.

By 1950, the U.S. population had become predominantly metropolitan for the first time, and the metropolitan

population exceeded the nonmetropolitan population

by 18.3 million people. By 2000, the metropolitan population (226 million) was four times the size of the nonmetropolitan population (55 million).

From 1910 to 2000, the metropolitan population grew

by nearly 200 million people, with the largest

increase, 33.3 million, occurring from 1990 to 2000.

In 1950, the U.S. population became predominantly metropolitan

and became increasingly more metropolitan 

in each subsequent decade.

13 The 1910 forerunner of a metropolitan area was the “metropolitan district.” Metropolitan districts/areas were redefined at each census. The definition of metropolitan areas was based on county

boundaries for the first time in 1950 (see the Glossary). Data presented in Figures 1-14 through 1-19 are based on the definition of

metropolitan at the time of each census.

(Millions)

Figure 1-14.

Total Population by Metropolitan Status: 1910 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1910 to 2000.

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Metropolitan 

Nonmetropolitan

281.4

92.0

105.7

122.8 131.7

150.7

179.3

203.2

226.5

248.7

65.9

69.8

68.0 68.7

66.2

65.9

63.0

57.1

56.0

55.4

26.1 35.9 54.8 63.0

84.5

113.5 140.2

169.4

192.7

226.0
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 33

Metropolitan areas accounted for a growing proportion of the U.S. population over the course of the century. In 1910, less than a third (28 percent) of the total

population lived in metropolitan areas, but by 1950,

more than half of the U.S. population lived in metropolitan areas. In 2000, the metropolitan population

represented 80 percent of the U.S. resident total of

281.4 million people (see Figure 1-15).

The highest percentage increase in metropolitan population growth occurred from 1920 to 1930, when metropolitan areas grew by 52 percent. The lowest metropolitan percentage growth occurred from 1980 to 1990,

when metropolitan areas grew by 14 percent.

Metropolitan areas include two parts: central cities and

suburbs.14 From 1910 to 2000, suburbs accounted for

most of the growth of metropolitan areas.

From 1910 to 1960, the population of central cities

accounted for a larger proportion of the total population than the population living in suburbs. For example, in 1910, 21 percent of the total U.S. population

lived in central cities, while only 7 percent of the population lived in suburbs. 

From 1910 to 1930, both central cities and suburbs

grew rapidly. Growth in the 1930s continued, but at a

slower pace. From 1940 onward, suburbs accounted

for more population growth than central cities and, by

1960, the proportion of the total U.S. population living

in the suburbs (31 percent) was almost equal to the

proportion of the population living in the central cities

(32 percent).

From 1940 to 2000, the proportion of the population

living in central cities remained relatively stable, while

the suburbs continued to grow substantially. By 2000,

half of the entire U.S. population lived in the suburbs

of metropolitan areas.

While the metropolitan population grew rapidly during 

the century, most of that growth occurred in the suburbs, with

little change in the percentage of population 

living in central cities.

14 For the definitions of metropolitan, central city, and suburb, see

the Glossary. 

Figure 1-15.

Percent of Total Population Living in Metropolitan Areas and 

in Their Central Cities and Suburbs: 1910 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1910 to 2000.

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Suburbs

Central 

cities 

28.4

80.3

77.5

74.8

69.0

63.3

56.1

47.8

44.6

34.0

7.1

9.2

13.8 15.3

23.3

30.9 37.6 44.8 46.2 50.0

21.2 24.8

30.8 32.5 32.8 32.3 31.4 30.0 31.3 30.3
34 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Most of the metropolitan population lives in relatively

large concentrations (see Figure 1-16). In 1950, only

14 metropolitan areas had populations of at least 1

million people, which constituted less than a third 

(29 percent) of the total U.S. population. By 2000, 50

metropolitan areas had populations of at least 1 million people, which accounted for over half (57 percent)

of the total U.S. population.15

From 1950 to 2000, the population living in metropolitan areas of at least 1 million people increased by 117.1

million and accounted for 83 percent of the total metropolitan growth and 90 percent of the total U.S. population growth. It is important to note that the growth of

the different size categories of metropolitan areas is

directly affected by the addition of new metropolitan

areas, the movement of existing metropolitan areas into

larger size categories due to population increase, and

the territorial growth of metropolitan areas due to

changing metropolitan boundaries, which often adds

counties to existing metropolitan areas.

Between 1950 and 2000, the share of the population

living in metropolitan areas with 1 million up to 5 million people and with 5 million or more people

increased greatly (by 10.2 and 17.7 percentage points,

respectively), while the share of the population living

in the other two size categories stayed within a narrow range. Although the share of the population living in metropolitan areas of 250,000 up to 1 million,

and less than 250,000 increased in two decades during the 50-year period, a smaller share of the U.S.

population lived in these areas in 2000 than in 1950.

For the two larger size classes, the lowest population

share occurred in 1950, while for the two smaller size

classes, the lowest population share occurred in 2000. 

Since 1990, more than half of the U.S. population has lived 

in metropolitan areas of at least 1 million people.

15 Metropolitan trends have been limited in most figures to censuses since 1950, when metropolitan areas based on county units

were first defined. 
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 35

Figure 1-16.

Percent of Total Population Living in Metropolitan Areas by 

Size of Metropolitan Area Population: 1950 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000.

5 million + 

12.2

15.8

15.2

20.4 21.2 29.9

17.3 19.5

25.5 25.2 28.9

27.5

17.9 18.9 19.9 19.4 18.7

16.0

8.7 9.1 8.4 9.8 8.7 6.9

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

1 million to 4,999,999

250,000 to 999,999

Less than 250,000

56.1

63.3

69.0

74.8

77.5

80.3
36 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Since 1950, the ten largest metropolitan areas have

always had populations of 1 million or more. In 1950,

Cleveland, Ohio, the 10th largest metropolitan area

had nearly 1.5 million people. By 2000, the 10th

largest metropolitan area, Houston-GalvestonBrazoria, Texas, had a population of 4.7 million (see

Table 1-3).

In 1950, New York and Chicago were the only metropolitan areas with populations of 5 million or more.

Their combined population in 1950 (18.4 million)

accounted for 12.2 percent of the total U.S. population.16 By 2000, they had been joined by 7 other metropolitan areas,17 creating a combined population of

84.1 million, or 29.9 percent of the U.S. total. By

2000, nearly 1 in 3 Americans lived in a metropolitan

area with 5 million or more residents.

While metropolitan areas grew significantly from 1950

to 2000, some relatively slower-growing metropolitan

areas in the Northeast and the Midwest dropped out of

the category of the ten largest metropolitan areas. For

example, the tenth largest metropolitan area in 1950,

Cleveland, Ohio, was no longer in the top ten by 1960.

St. Louis, Missouri, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,

dropped out of the top ten by 1980, when HoustonGalveston, Texas, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, were

added for the first time.

From 1950 to 2000, New York was the largest metropolitan area in the United States, with a population

ranging from 12.9 million people in 1950 to 21.2 million people in 2000.18 In 2000, New York accounted

for 7.5 percent of the total U.S. population. From

1950 to 1970, Chicago and Los Angeles were the second and third largest metropolitan areas in the United

States, respectively. However, from 1980 to 2000,

they switched ranks and Los Angeles was the second

most populous metropolitan area.

While New York remained by far the largest metropolitan area in the United States from 1950 to 2000, its

proportional lead over the second largest metropolitan

area slowly closed from 1950 to 1990 and then slightly increased from 1990 to 2000. In 1950, New York

was more than twice the size of Chicago, the second

largest metropolitan area. However, by 2000, New

York was about 1.3 times the size of Los Angeles, the

next largest metropolitan area.

From 1950 to 2000, New York was the most 

populous metropolitan area.

16 See U.S. Census Bureau. 1991. Metropolitan Areas and Cities.

1990 Census Profile, Number 3. 17 Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Washington-Baltimore,

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic

City, Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, and DallasFort Worth.

18 Although metropolitan areas were first classified as such in

1950, clearly New York ranked first in metropolitan population

throughout the entire century.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 37

Table 1-3.

Ten Most Populous Metropolitan Areas: 1950 to 2000

Year and area Region Population

1950

New York, N.Y.-Northeastern New Jersey SMA ..................... Northeast 12,911,994

Chicago, Ill. SMA ............................................... Midwest 5,495,364

Los Angeles, Calif. SMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 4,367,911

Philadelphia, Pa. SMA .......................................... Northeast 3,671,048

Detroit, Mich. SMA.............................................. Midwest 3,016,197

Boston, Mass. SMA............................................. Northeast 2,369,986

San Francisco-Oakland, Calif. SMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 2,240,767

Pittsburgh, Pa. SMA ............................................ Northeast 2,213,236

St. Louis, Mo. SMA ............................................. Midwest 1,681,281

Cleveland, Ohio SMA ........................................... Midwest 1,465,511

1960

New York, N.Y.-Northeastern New Jersey SCA ..................... Northeast 14,759,429

Chicago, Ill.-Northwestern Indiana SCA............................ Midwest 6,794,461

Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. SMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 6,742,696

Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J. SMSA ..................................... Northeast 4,342,897

Detroit, Mich. SMSA ............................................ Midwest 3,762,360

San Francisco-Oakland, Calif. SMSA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 2,783,359

Boston, Mass. SMSA ........................................... Northeast 2,589,301

Pittsburgh, Pa. SMSA ........................................... Northeast 2,405,435

St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. SMSA ......................................... Midwest 2,060,103

Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va. SMSA ................................. South 2,001,897

1970

New York, N.Y.-Northeastern New Jersey SCA ..................... Northeast 16,178,700

Chicago, Ill.-Northwestern Indiana SCA............................ Midwest 7,612,314

Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. SMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 7,032,075

Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J. SMSA ..................................... Northeast 4,817,914

Detroit, Mich. SMSA ............................................ Midwest 4,199,931

San Francisco-Oakland, Calif. SMSA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 3,109,519

Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va. SMSA ................................. South 2,861,123

Boston, Mass. SMSA ........................................... Northeast 2,753,700

Pittsburgh, Pa. SMSA ........................................... Northeast 2,401,245

St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. SMSA ......................................... Midwest 2,363,017

1980

New York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y.- N.J.-Conn. SCSA .............. Northeast 16,121,297

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif. SCSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 11,497,568

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. SCSA ........................ Midwest 7,869,542

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton, Pa.-Del.-N.J.-Md. SCSA 1 .......... Northeast 5,547,902

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif. SCSA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 5,179,784

Detroit-Ann Arbor, Mich.SCSA.................................... Midwest 4,618,161

Boston-Lawrence-Lowell, Mass.-N.H. SCSA ....................... Northeast 3,448,122

Houston-Galveston, Tex. SCSA .................................. South 3,101,293

Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va. SMSA ................................. South 3,060,922

Dallas-Fort Worth, Tex. SMSA.................................... South 2,974,805

1990

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT CMSA ....... Northeast 18,087,251

Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA CMSA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 14,531,529

Chicago-Gary-Lake County, IL-IN-WI CMSA ....................... Midwest 8,065,633

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 6,253,311

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA 1 ............ Northeast 5,899,345

Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI CMSA ..................................... Midwest 4,665,236

Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH CMSA........................... Northeast 4,171,643

Washington, DC-MD-VA MSA .................................... South 3,923,574

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA..................................... South 3,885,415

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA ........................... South 3,711,043

2000

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA CMSA .... Northeast 21,199,865

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA CMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 16,373,645

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL-IN-WI CMSA........................... Midwest 9,157,540

Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV CMSA...................... South 7,608,070

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA CMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West 7,039,362

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA 1 ........ Northeast 6,188,463

Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, MA-NH-ME-CT CMSA ................ Northeast 5,819,100

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI CMSA................................. Midwest 5,456,428

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CMSA..................................... South 5,221,801

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX CMSA ........................... South 4,669,571

1

A small portion of the Philadelphia SCSA (1980) and CMSA (1990 and 2000) includes population in states of the South region (Delaware and

Maryland).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000.
38 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Metropolitan population density levels remained higher than nonmetropolitan density (see Figure 1-17)

since 1950, when metropolitan areas were first

defined. From 1950 to 2000, the density of metropolitan areas ranged from 299 to 407 people per

square mile, and the density of nonmetropolitan territory ranged from 19 to 24 people per square mile. 

While the density of nonmetropolitan areas remained

relatively stable from 1950 to 2000, the density of

metropolitan areas fluctuated.19 The peak of metropolitan population density in the last half of the century occurred in 1950. Then, it declined steadily from

1950 to 1980, driven primarily by the steep decline in

the population of central cities, one of the components of metropolitan areas. As Figure 1-17 shows,

the density of central cities was substantially higher

than the density of suburban and nonmetropolitan

areas throughout the second half of the century,

although it declined every decade during this period,

from a peak of 7,517 people per square mile in 1950

to a low of 2,716 people per square mile in 2000. 

The decline of central city populations was partly offset by the movement of population into the suburbs,

the other component of metropolitan areas. The density of suburban areas steadily increased from 1950 to

1970, however, this increase had little effect on the

overall density of metropolitan areas. To some extent,

this phenomenon reflects the addition of land area

(usually relatively lower density suburban counties) to

metropolitan areas as a whole with each passing census.20 Increased land area, coupled with population

declines of many central cities, resulted in an overall

decline in metropolitan density between 1950 and

2000. 

In the 1980s, metropolitan area density increased

slightly, then decreased slightly in the 1990s. Similarly,

the density of the suburban areas increased slightly

from 1980 to 1990, then leveled off from 1990 to 2000.

Although the density of central cities continued to

decline in both the 1980s and 1990s, the rate of the

decline slowed considerably during this period.

The density of central cities declined during the second half of

the century, yet remained far higher than the densities of

suburban areas, which increased, and the densities 

of nonmetropolitan areas, which were steady during the period.

19 The relative stability of nonmetropolitan density occurred even

though the nonmetropolitan population was smaller in 2000 than in

1950. A corresponding decline in the total area of nonmetropolitan

territory partially offset the drop in population.

20 The density levels for suburban areas shown in Figure 1-17

should be interpreted with caution. Suburban population as used in

this report refers to the population living in metropolitan areas, outside central cities. Using this definition includes a nontrivial portion

of county land area that is predominantly rural. This produces lower

density levels than would result if suburban were defined by using

the population living in the “urban fringe” of urbanized areas. 
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 39

People per square mile of land area

Figure 1-17.

Population Density by Metropolitan Area 

Status: 1950 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Suburban

Central city

Metropolitan

Nonmetropolitan

People per square mile of land area

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Suburban

Metropolitan

Nonmetropolitan
40 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The percentage of people living in metropolitan areas

increased in every decade for every region. In 1910,

more than half of the Northeast’s population, about a

quarter of the Midwest’s and the West’s, and about a

tenth of the South’s population was metropolitan. By

2000, at least three quarters of the populations in the

Northeast, the South, and the West were metropolitan

and nearly three quarters (73.8 percent) of the population in the Midwest lived in metropolitan areas (see

Figure 1-18).

The proportions of the populations that lived in metropolitan areas grew relatively faster in the South and the

West than in the Northeast and the Midwest. In the

South, the metropolitan population increased from 

9 percent in 1910 to 75 percent in 2000, and in the

West it grew from 28 percent in 1910 to 87 percent in

2000.

The ranking of the regions in terms of percentage metropolitan remained fairly stable over the century. The

Northeast had the highest percentage of people living

in metropolitan areas for the entire century. From

1910 to 1990, the Northeast was followed by the

West, the Midwest, and then the South. However, the

South passed the Midwest for the first time in 2000,

making the Midwest the least metropolitan of the

regions.

Comparing the regions to the national average in

terms of percentage of metropolitan population, the

Northeast remained above the national average

throughout the century and the West stayed above the

national average from 1930 to 2000. However, the

percentage metropolitan in the South and Midwest

remained below the national average for the whole

century.

As all four regions increased their metropolitan populations, the difference in the proportion living in metropolitan areas between the regions converged. The

largest differential (54 percentage points) between the

regions in the percentage metropolitan was in 1930

(74 percent in the Northeast compared with 20 percent in the South). By 2000, the difference between

the regions had narrowed to 16 percentage points 

(90 percent in the Northeast compared with 74 percent in the Midwest).

The Northeast had the highest percentage of 

people living in metropolitan areas of all four regions 

for the entire century.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 41

Percent

Figure 1-18.

Percent of Population Living in Metropolitan 

Areas by Region: 1910 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1910 to 2000.

Midwest

West

South

Northeast

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
42 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The percentage of population living in metropolitan

areas increased for every state from 1910 to 2000. In

1910, only five states (Maryland, Massachusetts, New

Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island), concentrated primarily along the northeastern seaboard, had a majority of their populations living in metropolitan areas and

no state had 75 percent or more of its population living in metropolitan areas.21 Thirty-three states had less

than a quarter of their populations living in metropolitan areas, of which 19 states had no metropolitan

population.

By 1950, the number of states with a majority metropolitan population had tripled to 15, and these states

were more dispersed throughout the country, spreading into parts of the Midwest and West. By 2000, at

least 50 percent of the population in 37 states lived in

metropolitan areas, and no states had less than 

25 percent metropolitan. As Figure 1-19 shows, by

2000, more than one-third (21) of the states had 

75 percent or more of their populations living in metropolitan areas and they were distributed among every

region. Some clustering of these states occurred

along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to

Virginia and into the large midwestern states (Ohio,

Michigan, and Illinois). Still another cluster extended

inland from California including Nevada, Utah,

Arizona, and Colorado. 

While increasing numbers of states were becoming

mostly metropolitan, as late as 1970, three states

(Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming) had no metropolitan

population at all. By 1980, all 50 states had a portion

of their populations living in metropolitan areas.

The top ten states with the highest percentage metropolitan remained fairly stable from 1910 to 2000.

Seven states (California, Connecticut, Maryland,

Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode

Island) were consistently among the top ten. By 2000,

all seven of these states, plus Florida, were at least 

90 percent metropolitan. Illinois and Pennsylvania

were also among the states with the highest proportions of metropolitan population for large portions of

the century (1910 to 1970 for Illinois, and 1910, 1930

to 1960, and 1990 for Pennsylvania). 

On the other hand, five states (Idaho, North Dakota,

South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming) remained

among the ten states with the lowest percentage metropolitan and, by 2000, none of these states had a

majority metropolitan population. Three more states,

Maine, Mississippi, and Montana, each ranked among

the ten states with the lowest percentage metropolitan

for all but one census during the period 1910 to 2000.

In 1910, no state had 75 percent or more of its population 

living in metropolitan areas. In 2000, more than one-third of the

states had 75 percent or more of their populations 

living in metropolitan areas.

21 The District of Columbia is usually considered a state equivalent

for statistical purposes, and its percentage metropolitan was 100 percent in every census from 1910 to 2000. However, it is excluded from

the general discussion of the percentage metropolitan by state due to

its particularly greater comparability to other cities, rather than

states, on this population measure.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 43

Figure 1-19.

Percent of Population Living in Metropolitan Areas 

by State: 1910, 1950, and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1910, 1950, and 2000.

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

MI

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

IL OH

PA

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

FL

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

PA

CA

NY

1950

2000

75 or more

50 to 75

Less than 50

Not applicable

Percent of population in 

metropolitan areas 1910
44 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Despite the significant growth of metropolitan areas in

the United States, the percentage of the population living in the ten largest cities grew steadily in the first

three decades of the 20th century, but declined appreciably over the next seven decades. The percentage of

the population living in the ten largest cities peaked in

1930 (15.5 percent) and fell every decade thereafter,

reaching its lowest point in 2000 (8.5 percent, see

Figure 1-20). 

The growth of the ten largest cities from 1900 to 1930

and their subsequent decline as a proportion of the U.S.

population mirrors the growth and decline of the total

central city population in the United States in the 20th

century. During the first part of the century, immigrants

as well as natives poured into the cities. In the second

half of the century, the growth of cities slowed and in

some cases even declined as the proportion of the population living in the suburbs increased.

In 1900, 8 of the 10 largest cities were northeastern or

midwestern cities. Among the largest cities, San

Francisco was the only western city, and Baltimore was

the only southern city (see Appendix Table 4). New

York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, the only cities with 

1 million or more population in 1900, also were the

only cities to rank among the 10 largest throughout

the century. 

Los Angeles and Detroit grew rapidly, and by 1930 had

crossed the 1-million-or-more population threshold.

By mid-century, Buffalo, San Francisco, and Cincinnati

had dropped out of the group of the ten largest cities,

and had been replaced by Los Angeles (ranked 4th),

Detroit (5th), and Washington, DC (9th). (Pittsburgh

ranked among the ten largest cities from 1910 to

1940.)

Over the last half of the century, the growth and

change in the ten largest cities reflected the growth of

the U.S. population in the Sunbelt. During this period,

St. Louis, Boston, Baltimore, Cleveland, and

Washington, DC, dropped out of the ten largest cities.

They were either replaced by cities in Texas (Houston,

Dallas, and San Antonio) or in the West (Phoenix and

San Diego). None of the cities that fell from the list of

the 10 largest ever reached 1 million population, while

all the cities that replaced them passed the 1 million

mark. In 2000, for the first time in U.S. history, a city

(Detroit) declined from a population above 1 million to

a population below 1 million. 

Throughout the century, New York’s population far

exceeded the population of any other city, ranging

from 3.4 million to 8.0 million. From 1900 to 2000,

its population was always at least double the population of the second largest city.

The percentage of the U.S. population living in the 

ten largest cities increased to a peak in 1930, then declined 

every following decade of the century.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 45

Figure 1-20.

Percent of Total Population Living in the 

Ten Largest Cities: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

12.5

13.5

14.5

15.5

15.1

14.4

12.1

10.8

9.2

8.8 8.5

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Chapter 2

AGE AND SEX COMPOSITION
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 49

National Trends

Past fertility trends exerted the strongest influence on

the U.S. age structure in the 20th century. Relatively

high fertility at the start of the century, lower fertility

in the late 1920s and during the 1930s, higher fertility of the baby-boom period, followed by lower fertility of the baby-bust period, all affected the country’s

age composition.

At the beginning of the century, half of the U.S. population was less than 22.9 years old. At the century’s

end, half of the population was less than 35.3 years

old, the country’s highest median age ever.

Children under age 5 represented the largest 5-year

age group in 1900 and again in 1950. By 2000, the

largest 5-year age groups were ages 35 to 39 years

and 40 to 44 years, a large segment of the baby-boom

generation. 

During the last half of the century, the baby-boom

generation’s entry into an age group had a major

impact on the growth of that age group. This effect on

the age distribution will continue into the 21st century. For example, rapid growth of the population age

65 and over will begin in 2011, when the first of the

baby-boom generation reaches age 65, and will continue for many years.

The population age 65 and over increased tenfold during the century, from 3.1 million in 1900 to 35.0 million in 2000, compared with a twofold increase for the

total population.

The proportion of the population age 65 and over

declined for the first time in the 1990s, due partly to

the relatively low number of births in the late 1920s

and early 1930s.

Prior to 1950, the male population outnumbered the

female population. From 1950 to 2000, the female

population outnumbered the male population.

The sex ratio (males per 100 females) declined every

decade from 1910 to 1980, then increased in the

1980s and the 1990s.

Central cities had lower sex ratios than suburban and

nonmetropolitan areas.

Throughout the century, women represented most of

the population age 85 and over, and their predominance in this age group greatly increased between

1900 and 2000.

Regional Trends

From 1900 to 1960, the South had the highest proportion of children under age 15 and the lowest proportion of people 65 and over, making it the

“youngest” region. The West had the highest percentage under age 15 in 1990 and 2000, and the lowest

percentage 65 and over from 1970 to 2000. 

Among the regions, the Northeast had the highest proportion age 65 and over for each census of the 20th

century, except from 1910 to 1950, when the

Midwest’s proportion age 65 and over ranked highest.

The West had the highest sex ratio, and the Northeast

had the lowest sex ratio among the regions for the

entire century. 

State Trends

From 1900 to 2000, only Mississippi and Utah ranked

among the ten states with the highest percentage of

the population under age 15 in every decade.

Florida’s rank in terms of percentage of the population

65 and over jumped from 42nd in 1900 to 1st by

1970, and remained 1st through 2000, while its rank

on percentage under age 15 fell from 14th in 1900 to

49th in 2000. 

In 1900, Arkansas ranked as the 4th youngest state,

but by the end of the century ranked as the 9th oldest.

California changed in the opposite direction, moving

from the 6th oldest state in 1900 to the 6th youngest

state in 2000. 

In 2000, only seven western states—Alaska, Colorado,

Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming—had a

larger male population than female population.

Chapter Highlights

AGE AND SEX COMPOSITION
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 51

The age and sex composition of the United States population changed considerably during the 20th century,

as a consequence of fluctuations in births, deaths, and

migration. Marriage patterns and changes in contraceptive use are among many factors affecting birth

trends. Medical advances affecting mortality rates,

especially infant mortality in the first part of the century and old age mortality in recent decades, also

shaped the country’s age structure. Laws and policies

influencing international migration further contributed

to U.S. age and sex composition in the past and continue to have an impact today. 

In 1900, the U.S. population had an age and sex composition similar to many of today’s developing countries. That is, the country was characterized by its

“youngness.” The median age (half of the population

younger and half older) was about 23 years. Although

the U.S. population aged during the century, with a

median age of about 35 years in 2000, the extended

length of the baby-boom period (1946 to 1964), plus

the continued infusion of migrants kept the country’s

age structure younger than that of most developed

countries of the world. Although the population in

each 5-year age group increased numerically, younger

age groups fell as a proportion of the total population,

while the proportion in older age groups rose. Apart

from these general trends, changes in age and sex

structure varied from one decade to the next. Past

U.S. fertility trends exerted the strongest influence on

age composition. Low fertility from the late 1920s

through the early 1940s, the post World War II baby

boom, and a subsequent return to low fertility altered

the composition of the U.S. population by age. The

effect of the baby boom on the age and sex structure

of the United States will extend several decades into

the 21st century as the baby boomers age through the

life cycle. 

Between 1900 and 2000, overall regional and state

trends followed the basic U.S. trend. Regionally, the

title of the “youngest” region shifted from the South to

the West during the century, while that of the “oldest”

region shifted from the Midwest to the Northeast.

States in the South and the West consistently ranked

among the youngest and those from the Midwest and

the Northeast among the oldest throughout the century. The relative changes in age structure were more

pronounced in some states. In terms of percentage of

population age 65 and over, Florida ranked 42nd in

1900, but has ranked 1st since 1970. Arkansas transformed from one of the ten youngest states in 1900 to

one of the ten oldest in 2000. Conversely, California

ranked among the ten oldest states at the beginning

of the century, but ranked among the ten youngest

states in 2000. 

The United States gender composition shifted from a

majority male population to a majority female population around midcentury. Larger gains for women than

men in life expectancy and attrition of the large number

of immigrants in decades prior to World War I (who were

predominantly male) accounted for this shift. The West

had the highest regional proportion of male population

and the Northeast the highest proportion of female population during every decade of the 20th century. Only

seven states, all in the West, still had a larger male than

female population at the end of the century.

The graphics and text in this chapter depict the evolution of the number and proportional distribution of

people in the United States by age and sex. These

changes are described for the total population,

regions, and states. Age trends focus on broad age

groups, with particular emphasis on the population

under age 15 and on the population age 65 and over.

Trends in sex composition are discussed with the age

distribution and separately by examining the trends in

the relative numbers of the male and female populations at each age by region, state, and metropolitan

status. Detailed data for each decade for the United

States for 5-year age groups by sex are provided in

Appendix Table 5. Detailed data for the United States,

regions, and states for the male and female population

and for broad age groups are provided in Appendix

Tables 6 and 7, respectively.

Chapter 2

AGE AND SEX COMPOSITION
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 53

The number of people in each age group grew during

the course of the 20th century, but some age groups

grew much more than others. The growth and the

changing age and sex composition of the U.S. population can be portrayed through the use of population

pyramids. The overall shape of the pyramid and the

size of the bars for each age group depict the changes. 

Both the male and female populations increased

between 1900 and 1950 and again between 1950 and

2000 for every 5-year age group. This is shown in the

superimposed population pyramids in Figure 2-1. 

Under age 5 represented the largest 5-year age group

in 1900, with a population of 9.2 million (4.6 million

males and 4.5 million females). As Figure 2-1 shows,

each successive age group in 1900 was smaller than

the preceding age group, creating the traditional pyramid shape or “broad-based” population. 

In 1920, the largest 5-year age group was still children

under age 5, with a population of 11.6 million (see

Appendix Table 5). The sizable decline in fertility

starting in the 1920s and continuing through the

Depression changed the age composition. By 1940,

the 15-to-19 year age group (corresponding essentially to people born from 1920 to 1924) was the largest

(12.3 million).

In 1950, as a result of the post-World War II baby boom

(1946 to 1964), the group under age 5 was again the

largest, with a population of 16.2 million. With each

passing decade since 1950, the largest 5-year age

group has fallen in the range of ages that included the

baby boomers. In 2000, the largest age groups were

the 35-to-39 and 40-to-44 age groups (corresponding

essentially to people born from 1960 to 1964 and

1955 to 1959, respectively).22

Further evidence of the impact of the baby boom on

the U.S. age structure is seen in the measure of total

population growth by age group from 1900 to 2000.

The age groups 35-to-39 years, 40-to-44 years, and

45-to-49 years experienced the largest increases in

population of any age group from the beginning to the

end of the century (17.7 million, 18.2 million, and

16.6 million, respectively).

At the beginning and the middle of the century, the most

populous 5-year age group was under age 5. In 2000, people age

35 to 39 years outnumbered all other age groups.

22 See U.S. Census Bureau. 2001a. Age: 2000, by Julie Meyer.

Figure 2-1.

Total Population by Age and Sex: 

1900, 1950, and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

2000

1950

1900

15 12 9 6 3 0

<5

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

3 6 9 12 15

Millions

Age Male Female
54 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Changes in the U.S. age structure over the century

may be illustrated by population pyramids where each

bar represents the percentage of the total population

in each age-sex group.23

The distribution of the population by age and sex in

1900 exhibits the classic pyramid shape, wider at the

bottom and narrower at the top (see Figure 2-2). This

broad-based shape characterizes a young, relatively

high fertility population. In 1900, children under age

5 accounted for 12 percent of the U.S. population.

The general shape of the pyramid remained essentially

the same into the 1920s, although declining fertility

rates led to smaller proportions of the total population

in the youngest age groups. By 1940, the base of the

pyramid had taken on a more rectangular look. Younger

age groups (under 5 through 29 years) still comprised a

relatively large proportion of the population, but each 5-

year age group was roughly equal in size at 8 or 9 percent of the population, rather than exhibiting the steadily declining proportions by age of the 1900 pyramid.

By 1950, the onset of the baby boom altered the bottom of the pyramid, as 11 percent of the population

was under age 5. Once again, the age-sex pyramid

had a large base of very young people. The low fertility of the Depression years is evidenced by the

“pinch” in the age structure, as people born during the

1930s were 10 to 19 years old. 

The aging of the U.S. population in the second half of

the 20th century is shown by the more rectangular

shape of the Census 2000 age-sex pyramid. The proportions do not begin to decline with each successive

age group until after ages 35 to 39 years. Some variability in the pyramid’s shape occurs in the 20-to-29

age group, where the slight “pinch” in the pyramid

results from a relatively low number of births during

the 1970s. Also, the baby-boom bulge appears in the

2000 pyramid in the 35-to-54-age range.

Another feature of the 2000 age-sex pyramid is the

less “cone-like” shape at the top of the pyramid compared with the 1900 and 1950 pyramids. The larger

proportions of the population in older age groups in

part result from sustained low fertility levels and from

relatively larger declines in mortality at older ages in

the latter part of the century. 

Over the century, the age distribution of the U.S. population

changed from relatively young to relatively old.

23 This method standardizes (to 100 percent) the total area of each

pyramid. In this representation, the shape of the pyramid is more

useful than the length of each bar when making pyramid-to-pyramid

comparisons.

Figure 2-2.

Age and Sex Distribution of the Total Population: 1900, 1950, and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

76543210

<5

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

1234567

Male

Female

1900

Percent

76543210 1234567

1950

Percent

76543210 1234567

2000

Percent

Age
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 55

The U.S. population in every age group at the end of

the 20th century was much larger than at the start of

the century. The decadal trends in specific broad age

groups show that for some groups, such as ages 25 to

44 years, 45 to 64 years, and 65 and over, population

increases occurred during every 10-year period (see

Figure 2-3). In contrast, the under-15 age group and

the 15-to-24-year age group experienced some population declines between censuses.

The population declines for people under age 15 from

1930 to 1940 and for people age 15 to 24 from 1940

to 1950 reflect the drop in fertility starting in the

1920s. Similarly, the population declines for those

under age 15 from 1970 to 1980 and for those 15 to

24 from 1980 to 1990 result from the drop in fertility

after the baby boom.

Large population increases from one decade to the

next also are closely related to these fluctuations in

fertility. This is especially evident in the rapid increases in the population under age 15 in the 1950s, 15 to

24 years in the 1960s, 25 to 44 years in the 1970s and

1980s, and 45 to 64 in the 1990s (see Appendix Table

5). The entry of the baby-boom generation into each

of these age groups yielded rapid population growth.

The population age 65 years and over will begin to

increase rapidly starting in 2011, when the first of the

baby-boom generation reaches age 65, and the rapid

growth of this age group will continue for two

decades. 

In 1900, the youngest broad age group (under 15

years) had the most members, and the oldest group

(65 years and over) had the least. In 2000, the oldest

group was still the smallest, but people age 25 to 44

and those age 45 to 64 outnumbered the population

under age 15 years.

Population growth in broad age groups varied 

throughout the century, with major fluctuations due 

to changing fertility.

Millions

Figure 2-3.

Total Population by Broad Age Group: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

15-24

25-44

<15

45-64

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

65+
56 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Although the populations in the five broad age groups

all increased in size over the course of the century,

their proportional shares of the total population

changed in different directions as a result of the different rates of growth for each group. In general, the

shares of the population of the older age groups

increased, while those of the younger age groups

declined (see Figure 2-4).

The proportion of the U.S. population that was under

age 15 declined more than the proportion of any other

broad age group. At the beginning of the century, 1

out of every 3 people was under age 15 years. By

2000, only 1 of every 5 people was under age 15.

The total population share represented by 15-to-24

year olds generally declined from 1900 onward, reaching a low of 13 percent in 1960. This was followed by

increases in the 1960s and 1970s, as the baby-boom

cohort passed through this age group, and by declines

as the baby-boom cohort moved out of the age group.

The share of the U.S. population represented by the

age group 25 to 44 reached its lowest level of any

census during the 20th century in 1970, and then

increased over the next two decades to its maximum

level in 1990. As with many of the changes in age

structure experienced in the second half of the century, this trend largely reflects the entrance of the babyboom cohort into this age group. 

Both the population age 45 to 64 years and the population age 65 years and over were at their lowest proportional levels of the U.S. total population at the

beginning of the century. Their shares of the total

population increased each decade until 1950 and

1990, respectively. After some fluctuation and

decline, the proportion age 45 to 64 increased sharply

in the 1990s, largely fueled by people born during the

first half of the baby boom, and reached its highest

level (22 percent) of the century in 2000. The decade

of the 1990s was the first to show a decline in the proportion of the population age 65 and over, reflecting

the relatively low number of births during the late

1920s and early 1930s.

The share of the population under age 15 declined more 

than the share of any other broad age group.

Figure 2-4.

Percent Distribution of the Total Population 

by Age: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

45-64

<15

15-24

25-44

4.1 4.3 4.7 5.4 6.8 8.1 9.2 9.9 11.3 12.6 12.4

13.7 14.6 16.1 17.5 19.8 20.3 20.1 20.6 19.6 18.6 22.0

28.1 29.2 29.6 29.5

30.1 30.0 26.2 23.6 27.7

32.5 30.2

19.6 19.7 17.7 18.3

18.2 14.7

13.4 17.4

18.8 14.8 13.9

34.5 32.1 31.8 29.4 25.0 26.9 31.1 28.5 22.6 21.5 21.4

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

65+
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 57

The median age24 of a population often is used to

describe a population as “young” or “old.”

Populations with a median age under 20 years may be

classified as relatively young, and those with a median age of 30 years or more as relatively old. The

United States population aged over the course of the

century, although not in each decade.

The median age rose gradually from 23 in 1900 to 26 in

1930 and then rose more rapidly to 29 in 1940 with the

relatively small number of births during the 1930s (see

Figure 2-5). After increasing to 30 in 1950, the median

age fell, as a result of the baby boom, to 28 in 1970. 

Beginning in the 1970s, lower fertility combined with

the aging of the baby boom generation (the oldest

turned age 30 in 1976), pushed the median age

sharply higher. It reached 30 in 1980—the same median age as in 1950—and continued to increase to a

record high of 35 in 2000. 

The median age rose from 23 in 1900 to 35 in 2000 

but declined between 1950 and 1970.

(Years)

Figure 2-5.

Median Age: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

22.9

24.1 25.3 26.5

29.0 30.2 29.5

28.1

30.0

32.9

35.3

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

24 The median age is the age that divides the population into two

equal-size groups. Half of the population is older than the median

age and the other half is younger. See the Glossary. 
58 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

As discussed earlier, the United States population aged

during the 20th century as the growth rate of the elderly25 population far exceeded the growth rate of the

total population. In this century, the total population

more than tripled, while the 65 years and over population grew more than tenfold, from 3.1 million in

1900 to 35.0 million in 2000 (see Figure 2-6).

The faster rate of growth of the elderly population

increased its share of the U.S. population from 4.1 percent in 1900 to 12.6 percent in 1990 (see Figure 2-7).

The 65-to-74 age group made up the majority of the

65 and over population throughout the century. In

most decades, this age group also accounted for the

largest share of the growth of the 65 and over population (see Appendix Table 5).

From 1900 to 1990, the elderly population grew faster

than the total population in each decade, but between

1990 and 2000, for the first time in the history of the

census, the 65 years and over population grew slower

than the total population.26 During the 1990s, the

total population increased by 13.2 percent, while the

population 65 years and over increased by only 

12.0 percent. As a result, people age 65 and over represented a slightly smaller share of the U.S. population

in 2000 (12.4 percent) than in 1990 (12.6 percent). 

The declining proportion of the 65 and over population from 1990 to 2000 is directly related to the low

fertility of the late 1920s and early 1930s. (People

born during this period entered the 65 and over age

group during the 1990s.) In particular, the population

65 to 69 years dropped from 10.1 million in 1990 to

9.5 million in 2000. The decline in the proportion of

elderly in the population is expected to reverse as the

baby boomers (born from 1946 to 1964) reach age 65,

starting in 2011.

Among the elderly population, growth of the population 85 years and over is particularly notable, increasing from 122,000 in 1900 to 4.2 million in 2000.

From 1940 to 2000, the 85 and over population

increased at a more rapid rate than 65-to-74 year olds

and 75-to-84 year olds in every decade.

The 85 and over age group also increased as a proportion of the elderly population, from 4 percent in

1900 to 12 percent in 2000, although they represented just 1.5 percent of the total U.S. population at the

end of the 20th century.

The population age 65 years and older increased more than

tenfold between 1900 and 2000.

25 In this report, the term elderly refers to individuals aged 65

years and over. 26 See U.S. Census Bureau. 2001h. The 65 Years and Over

Population, by Lisa Hetzel and Annetta Smith.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 59

(Millions)

Figure 2-6.

Population Age 65 and Over: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

1.5

2.2

3.1

4.2

1.0 1.3

1.6

2.3

3.3

4.6

6.1

7.7

10.1

12.4

2.2 2.8 3.5 4.7 6.4 8.4

11.0 12.4

15.6

18.1

18.4

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

65-74

85+

75-84

35.0

3.1 3.9

4.9

6.6

9.0

12.3

16.6

20.1

25.5

31.2

Figure 2-7.

Percent of Total Population Age 65 and Over: 

1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

0.4

0.5

0.7

1.0

1.2 1.5

1.0 1.1

1.2

1.3

1.7

2.2

2.6 3.0

3.4

4.0

4.4

2.9 3.0 3.3 3.8

4.8 5.6 6.1 6.1 6.9 7.3 6.5

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

65-74

85+

75-84

4.1

12.6 12.4

11.3

9.9

9.2

8.1

6.8

5.4

4.7

4.3
60 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The trends in the proportions of people under 15 years

old and those age 65 and over generally moved in opposite directions during the century. Every region’s proportion of people under age 15 in 2000 declined substantially from its level in 1900, while the proportion of

people 65 years and over increased (see Figure 2-8). 

The proportion under 15 years fell from regional highs

(in the Northeast, Midwest, and South) in the range of

30 percent to 40 percent in 1900 to lows of 20 percent

to 23 percent in 1990 and 2000. However, the highest

percentage under age 15 in the West occurred in 1960

rather than in 1900. The lowest regional percentage

under age 15 occurred in 1990 or 2000 in every region. 

Regional lows in the percentage 65 years and over

occurred in 1910 in the Northeast and in 1900 for the

other regions, and ranged from 3 percent in the South

to 5 percent in the Northeast. Regional highs occurred

in 2000 in the West and in 1990 for the other regions,

and ranged from 11 percent in the West to 14 percent

in the Northeast.

From 1900 through 1960, the South had the highest

proportion of people under age 15 and the lowest

proportion of people age 65 and over, making it the

“youngest” region (see Appendix Table 7). The highest

percentage under age 15 resided in the Midwest in

1970, the South in 1980, and the West since 1990.

The West had the lowest percentage 65 years and over

from 1970 to 2000. The relative “youngness” of the

South in the first half of the century was in part due to

relatively higher fertility among Blacks, who represented a larger proportion of the South’s population.

Similarly, the relative “youngness” of the West’s population in the latter part of the century is in part due to

relatively higher fertility among Hispanics, who constituted a larger share of the region’s population.

Although the West had the highest percentage under

age 15 since 1990, it had the lowest proportion of

people in this age group from 1910 to 1930. 

The Northeast had the highest regional proportion in

the elderly group in 1900 but was replaced by the

Midwest from 1910 to 1940. The Northeast returned

to having the highest proportion age 65 and over in

1950 and remained the “oldest” region throughout the

rest of the century.

The South had the youngest regional age structure in the first half of

the century but was replaced by the West by the end of the century.

The Midwest generally had the oldest population during the first half

of the century, and the Northeast had the oldest during the latter half.

Percent

Figure 2-8.

Percent Under Age 15 and Percent Age 65 and 

Over by Region: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

South

West

Midwest

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Northeast

West

Midwest

South

Northeast

Under age 15

Age 65 and over
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 61

While the U.S. population as a whole aged over the 20th

century, many states remained relatively "younger" or

"older" during the period. Still, every state and the

District of Columbia had a lower percentage under age

15 in 2000 than in 1900. Similarly, every state had a

much higher percentage age 65 and over in 2000 than

100 years earlier. 

All ten states with the highest percentage under age 15

in 1900, 1950, and 2000 were in the South and the West.

The regional composition of these youngest states shifted from nine in the South and one in the West in 1900 to

four in the South and six in the West in 2000. 

From 1900 to 2000, only Mississippi and Utah ranked

among the ten states with the highest percentage of people under age 15 every decade (see Appendix Table 7). In

1900, 42 percent of Mississippi's population and 41 percent of Utah's population were under age 15, ranking

them second and ninth, respectively (see Table 2-1). By

2000, the percentage under age 15 in Mississippi had

declined to 22 percent and in Utah to 27 percent. Even

so, Utah had become the youngest state. South Carolina

also ranked among the ten youngest states in the country for most of the century (1900 to 1980).

States in the Northeast and the Midwest tended to have

relatively higher proportions of elderly27 people over the

period 1900 to 2000. These regions accounted for eight

of the ten oldest states in 1900, all ten in 1950, and

seven of the ten oldest in 2000. Three northeastern

states, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont and one

midwestern state, Iowa, ranked among the ten states

with the highest percentage elderly for much of the century.

Florida's ranking in terms of percentage 65 and over

jumped from 42nd in 1900 to 1st since 1970.

Correspondingly, Florida's ranking of percentage under

age 15 fell from 14th in 1900 to 49th in 2000. Arkansas

and California also experienced marked changes in their

relative "youngness" or "oldness." At the beginning of the

century, Arkansas ranked as the fourth youngest state,

but by the end of the century ranked as the ninth oldest.

California changed in the opposite direction, moving

from the sixth oldest state in 1900 to the sixth youngest

state in 2000. 

Mississippi's and Utah's populations ranked among the ten

youngest in every decade of the 20th century.

Table 2-1.

Ten States With the Highest Percents Under Age 15 and Age 65 and Over:

1900, 1950, and 2000

Rank

1900 1950 2000

State Percent State Percent State Percent

Percent under age 15 years

1 South Carolina. . ........ 42.8 New Mexico ............ 34.8 Utah................... 26.6

2 Mississippi ............. 42.0 South Carolina.......... 34.8 Alaska................. 25.2

3 Texas.................. 41.8 Mississippi ............. 34.0 Texas.................. 23.5

4 Arkansas............... 41.6 Utah. . . ................ 33.5 Idaho .................. 23.4

5 Oklahoma .............. 41.5 Alabama ............... 32.7 New Mexico ............ 23.0

6 Georgia ................ 41.5 North Carolina .......... 32.3 California............... 23.0

7 North Carolina .......... 41.4 Arkansas. . ............. 31.9 Mississippi ............. 22.5

8 Alabama ............... 41.3 Arizona ................ 31.9 Arizona ................ 22.4

9 Utah................... 41.1 West Virginia ........... 31.7 Louisiana .............. 22.4

10 Louisiana . . . ........... 40.7 Idaho .................. 31.7 Georgia ................ 22.2

Percent age 65 years and over

1 Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1 New Hampshire......... 10.8 Florida ................. 17.6

2 Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 Vermont ............... 10.5 Pennsylvania ........... 15.6

3 New Hampshire. . . . . . . . . 7.9 Iowa. . . ................ 10.4 West Virginia ........... 15.3

4 Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 Missouri. . .............. 10.3 Iowa................... 14.9

5 Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 Maine.................. 10.2 North Dakota ........... 14.7

6 California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 Kansas ................ 10.2 Rhode Island ........... 14.5

7 Massachusetts. . . . . . . . . . 5.1 Massachusetts. ......... 10.0 Maine. . ................ 14.4

8 Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.8 South Dakota........... 14.3

9 Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2 Arkansas............... 14.0

10 Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 Minnesota. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.0 Connecticut ............ 13.8

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

27 For the purposes of this report, elderly refers to the population

65 years and over.
62 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

A frequently used measure to summarize the balance

between the male and female population is known as

the sex ratio.28 A sex ratio of 100 indicates a balance

between the male and female populations, ratios

above 100 indicate a larger male population, and

ratios below 100 indicate a larger female population.

Figure 2-9 shows the trend in the sex ratio for the

United States for every decade since 1900.

For each census from 1900 to 1940, the sex ratio was

above 100. Males outnumbered females by a high of

2.7 million in 1910 but by only about 0.5 million in

1940 (see Appendix Table 6).

Several demographic factors contributed to the excess

of males in the early part of the century. First, the

influx of male immigrants to the United States at the

turn of the century exceeded the influx of female

immigrants. Also, younger populations tend to have

higher sex ratios than older populations and the

United States, as discussed earlier, had a much

younger population in the early part of the century.29

By the 1950 census, the sex ratio had dropped below

100. Over the next several decades, the numeric difference between the sexes continued to grow. The

excess of the female population in the second half of

the century ranged from 1.0 million in 1950 to 6.4 million in 1980 (see Appendix Table 6). 

The sex ratio declined during every decade from 1910

to 1980. However, after declining to a low of 94.5 in

1980, the sex ratio increased in the following two

decades to 96.3 in 2000. This is due to the fact that the

male population increased at a more rapid rate than the

female population during both the 1980s and 1990s.

Higher net male than female immigration and relatively

greater declines in male mortality rates contributed to

this reversal of the downward trend in the sex ratio. 

Prior to 1950, the male population outnumbered the 

female population. Since then, the female population has

outnumbered the male population.

29 Differences in census coverage also affect the sex ratio. In the

United States, men generally have been less completely counted than

women. This implies that the census-based sex ratio is slightly lower

than if all people had been completely counted (see J. Gregory

Robinson, “Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation: Demographic Analysis

Results,” March 12, 2001.) 

28 Calculated as the male population divided by the female population, times 100. See the Glossary.

(Males per 100 females)

Figure 2-9.

Sex Ratio: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

104.4

96.3 95.1

94.5 94.8

97.1

98.6 

100.7

102.5 

104.0 

106.0 

100
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 63

While all four regions had similar trends in the sex

ratio to that of the United States, they differed in the

degree to which their male and female populations

counterbalanced throughout the century (see Figure 2-

10). The peak sex ratio for every region occurred in

1910, and the lowest ratio occurred in 1970 in the

West, 1980 in the Northeast and the South, and 1990

in the Midwest.

Every region had relatively higher sex ratios during

the first half of the century. The sex ratio in the

Northeast and the South dropped below 100 during

the 1930s, followed by the Midwest during the 1940s.

The West, which did not have a larger female population until the 1960s, had the highest sex ratio among

the regions for the entire century. 

The sex ratios in the West in 1900 (128.1) and 1910

(128.9) were the highest of the 100-year period. In

general, the high ratios in the West during the first

several decades of the century reflect the “frontier”

character of this region and both international and

internal migration starting in the late 19th century of

men who were attracted in part by employment opportunities in male-dominated industries, including mining and railroad construction. 

During the entire century, the Midwest consistently

had the second highest sex ratio (except for 1990),

followed by the South, with the third highest sex ratio.

The Northeast consistently had the lowest sex ratio of

all U.S. regions. 

The widest regional difference in the sex ratio

occurred in 1900, when the sex ratio ranged from

100.0 in the Northeast to 128.1 in the West. The

regional differences narrowed each decade, until

1970, when the sex ratio ranged from 92.5 in the

Northeast to 97.7 in the West. In 2000, the sex ratio

ranged from 93.5 in the Northeast to 99.6 in the West.

While the shift to a larger female than male population 

occurred in every region, the West maintained the highest sex

ratio of all U.S. regions throughout the century.

Males per 100 females

Figure 2-10.

Sex Ratio by Region: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

Midwest

West

South

Northeast

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
64 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

As the century progressed, an increasing number of

states had a larger female population than male population. In 1900, the female population exceeded the

male population in only 11 states (including the

District of Columbia), all in the Northeast or the South

(see Figure 2-11). 

By 1950, 27 states (including the District of Columbia)

had a sex ratio below 100. The trend had spread into

the Midwest as well as into more states in the

Northeast and the South. All states in the West still

had a sex ratio above 100. 

Between 1900 and 2000, the number of states with a

larger female than male population quadrupled to 44

(including the District of Columbia). In 2000, only

seven western states (Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho,

Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming) remained with a larger

male population.30

The sex ratio of every state was lower in 2000 than in

1900. In other words, the female population had

increased relatively more than the male population

over the 100-year period. Despite this shift among all

states toward a proportionately larger female population, Nevada and Wyoming maintained a sex ratio

above 100 throughout the century (see Appendix

Table 6). In addition, both Alaska and Hawaii have had

an excess of males in every decade since their inclusion as states in the census of 1960. Massachusetts,

North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the

District of Columbia had larger female populations

throughout the century.

Throughout the century, several states remained

among the highest or lowest ranking in terms of their

sex ratio. States consistently ranking among the highest included Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming.

Since the overwhelming majority of states had larger

female than male populations by 2000, even some of

the states with the highest-ranking sex ratios had proportionally larger female populations. Montana, for

example, had a sex ratio of 99.3 in 2000. Only

Massachusetts and the District of the Columbia

remained among the ten states (or equivalent) with

the lowest sex ratios for the entire century.

Prior to Alaska’s statehood, either Nevada or Wyoming had

the country’s highest sex ratio every decade from 1900 to

1950. Once Alaska became a state, it had the highest sex

ratio from 1960 through 2000. The sex ratio in Alaska

steadily declined from 132.3 in 1960 to 107.0 in 2000.

Among the 50 states, Massachusetts had the lowest

sex ratio every decade from 1900 through 1960.31 In

1970 and 1980, New York held this distinction. The

state with the lowest sex ratio changed to Mississippi

in 1990 and then to Rhode Island in 2000. 

The gap between the highest and the lowest state sex

ratios generally narrowed during the century. After

1910, the difference became smaller each decade until

1960, when the gap widened because Alaska was

included as a state. The gap then continued to narrow

each decade, reaching the smallest gap in the century

in 2000, when the sex ratio ranged from a low of 92.5

in Rhode Island (89.0 in the District of Columbia) to

107.0 in Alaska. 

The number of states with a larger female than male population

quadrupled from 11 in 1900 to 44 in 2000. 

30 See U.S. Census Bureau. 2001b. Gender: 2000, by Denise I.

Smith and Reneé E. Spraggins.

31 The District of Columbia, a state equivalent for statistical purposes, had the lowest sex ratio for every decade throughout the century.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 65

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT

CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT

CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT

CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

Figure 2-11.

Sex Ratio by State: 1900, 1950, and 2000

1950

2000

105 or more

100 to 105

95 to 100

Less than 95

Not applicable

Males per 100 females

1900
66 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Decennial data available by sex for metropolitan areas

from 1950 to 2000 indicate that the sex ratio trend for

metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas followed a

path similar to that of the United States as a whole.32

The sex ratio in both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan

areas declined steadily from 1950 to 1980 (see Figure

2-12). The nonmetropolitan sex ratio remained stable

from 1980 to 1990, whereas the metropolitan sex ratio

followed the U.S. pattern of increasing sex ratios from

1980 to 1990 and again from 1990 to 2000.

The nonmetropolitan sex ratio exceeded the metropolitan sex ratio for the entire period from 1950 to

2000, indicating a greater predominance of the female

population in metropolitan areas than in the nonmetropolitan population. In fact, in 1950 the male

population in nonmetropolitan areas still outnumbered the female population, although the sex ratio in

the United States had already fallen below 100. Over

the latter half of the century, the nonmetropolitan sex

ratio ranged from 96.0 to 101.6 (in 1990 and 1950,

respectively), and the metropolitan sex ratio ranged

from 93.9 to 96.4 (in 1980 and 1950, respectively, see

Appendix Table 16).

In 1950, there was a relatively large gap between the

metropolitan and nonmetropolitan sex ratios, which

steadily narrowed from 1950 to 1990. However, in the

1990s, the sex ratio in nonmetropolitan areas

increased more than in metropolitan areas, widening

the gap again.

Within metropolitan areas, sex ratios were much lower

in central cities than they were in the suburbs. In the

central cities, the sex ratio ranged from 90.7 in 1970

to 94.6 in 2000, which was its highest point in 40

years. In the suburbs, the sex ratio stayed within a

narrow range during the period, from a low of 96.0 in

1980 to a high of 98.6 in 1960. 

Central cities had relatively larger 

female than male populations compared with 

suburban and nonmetropolitan areas.

Males per 100 females

Figure 2-12.

Sex Ratio by Metropolitan Area Status: 1950 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000.

Suburban

Nonmetropolitan

Metropolitan

Central city

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

106

108

110

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

32 Metropolitan areas were formally defined beginning with the

1950 census.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 67

In the absence of migration, sex ratios tend to decrease

with age due to higher male mortality rates at each

age.33 The sex ratio at birth is about 105. Higher male

mortality decreases the sex ratio, and the age at which

the sex ratio drops below 100 (i.e., the female population exceeds the male population) depends on both the

level of mortality and differences in age-specific mortality rates by sex. The predominance of women is most

pronounced among the elderly and especially among

the population 85 years and over. 

While sex ratios in the United States for broad age

groups largely reflect the typical pattern (see Figure 

2-13), prior to 1960, U.S. sex ratios did not consistently decrease with age. In the early part of the century, the highest sex ratios occurred for the 45-to-64

age group, reflecting the predominantly male, 

large-scale immigration in preceding decades. This

age group had the century’s highest sex ratio (115.2 in

1920). Since 1960, sex ratios by age have followed

the expected pattern, with the highest sex ratio in the

under 15 age group and steadily decreasing ratios for

each subsequently older age group. 

From 1920 to 1980, the sex ratios of the 45 to 64, 65

to 84, and 85 and over age groups all steadily declined.

Generally, the declining sex ratios over time resulted

from greater improvements in female mortality rates

than in male mortality rates during these decades. The

sex ratio for the under 15 age group remained fairly stable during the century, although slight, steady increases occurred during most decades.

From 1980 to 2000, the sex ratio increased for most

age groups, except the 85-and-over group, which had

a declining sex ratio in the 1980s. In 1990, this group

had the century’s lowest sex ratio: 38.6, and during

both decades women outnumbered men by more than

2-to-1. 

Throughout the century, women represented most of the

population age 85 and over, and the predominance of women

greatly increased between 1900 and 2000.

33 In 1999, average life expectancy at birth (based on age-specific

mortality rates in 1999) was 73.9 years for males and 

79.4 years for females. See U.S. National Center for Health Statistics,

2002, United States Life Tables, 1999, Table A.

Males per 100 females

Figure 2-13.

Sex Ratio by Broad Age Group: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

<15

45-64

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

85+

65-84

15-44
Chapter 3

RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 71

RACE

National Trends

The United States population was much more racially

diverse in 2000 than in 1900. At the beginning of the

century, 1 out of 8 Americans was of a race other than

White; at the end of the century, the ratio was 1 out of 4.

The increased diversity in the United States was largely a phenomenon of the latter part of the century.

Both the White population and the Black population

represented a slightly smaller share of the U.S. total

population in 1970 than they did in 1900.

From 1970 to 2000, the population of races other than

White or Black grew considerably and, by 2000, was

comparable in size to the Black population. 

Among the races, the American Indian and Alaska

Native population had the highest percentage under

age 15 for most of the 20th century (peaking at 

42 percent in 1960). In 2000, the Two or more races

population (identified in Census 2000 for the first

time) had the highest proportion (36 percent).

Regional Trends

The Black population was concentrated in the South

and the Asian and Pacific Islander population in the

West from 1900 to 2000. However, these regional

concentrations declined during the century. 

The American Indian and Alaska Native population also

was heavily concentrated in the West, and this concentration remained relatively stable throughout the century.

The South had the highest percentage of races other

than White in every census from 1900 to 1980. The

West had the highest percentage of races other than

White in 1990 and 2000.

In the Northeast, the Midwest, and the South, Blacks

constituted the largest share of the population of races

other than White in every decade of the 20th century,

while in the West, each of the races other than White

represented the largest share during the century.

State Trends

Increased racial diversity characterized most states

during the 20th century. By 2000, 40 states and the

District of Columbia had populations with at least 

10 percent races other than White. The 10 states with

90 percent or more White in 2000 were: Idaho, Iowa,

Kentucky, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North

Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. 

Only five states—Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, South

Carolina, and West Virginia—had a lower percentage of

races other than White in 2000 than in 1950. 

HISPANIC ORIGIN

National, Regional, and State Trends

From 1980 to 2000, the Hispanic population (of any

race) more than doubled.

More than 40 percent of the Hispanic population lived

in the West from 1980 to 2000.

In every region, the percentage of Hispanics increased

during the 1980s and again during the 1990s.

New Mexico had the highest proportion of Hispanics

in its population of any state in 1980, 1990, and 2000.

By 2000, 42 percent of New Mexico’s population was

Hispanic.

MINORITY AND WHITE NON-HISPANIC

National, Regional, and State Trends

The aggregated Minority population (people of races

other than White or of Hispanic origin) increased by 

88 percent between 1980 and 2000, while the White

non-Hispanic population grew by only 7.9 percent during the 20-year period.

Younger age groups had a higher percentage of

Minority population than did older age groups. By

2000, the percentage of Minority population ranged

from 16 percent for people age 65 and over to 39 percent for those under age 25. 

In 1980, more than 50 percent of the population in

Hawaii and the District of Columbia was Minority. By

2000, California and New Mexico had also become more

than 50 percent Minority, and Texas was the only other

state with at least 40 percent Minority (48 percent).

Chapter Highlights

RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 73

Racial and ethnic diversity increasingly characterized

the population of the United States during the last half

of the 20th century, especially in the last three decades

of the century. Race and ethnicity are separate concepts as defined by the federal government. People of

a specific race may be of any ethnic origin, and people

of a specific ethnic origin may be of any race. Largescale immigration, primarily from Latin America and

Asia, underlies both increased racial and ethnic diversity. In just the last two decades of the century, the

Asian and Pacific Islander population tripled, and the

Hispanic population more than doubled. 

Every population census in the United States collected

data on race, beginning with the first national enumeration in 1790. The number of specific groups

identified in a census generally increased over time.

Census 2000 was the first U.S. census to allow individuals to identify themselves as being of more than

one race. The trends by race in this chapter cover the

following five groups: White, Black, American Indian

and Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander, and

Some other race. For additional detail on the data on

race included in this report, see Appendix C, Sources

and Quality of Data. 

The population of Hispanic origin is defined as another group for federal statistical purposes and may be of

any race. Prior to 1970, determinations of Hispanic

origin were only made indirectly, such as through

questions on Spanish surname, or tabulating people

who reported Spanish as their “mother tongue.” The

1970 census was the first to include a question on

Hispanic origin, but it was asked only for a 5-percent

sample of all households. Beginning with the 1980

census, information on Hispanic origin was collected

on a 100-percent basis. The analysis of trends in the

Hispanic population in this chapter covers the period

from 1980 to 2000. For additional detail on the data

on Hispanic origin included in this report, see

Appendix C, Sources and Quality of Data.

In general, Blacks, Asians and Pacific Islanders,

American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Hispanics

have represented increasing shares of the national

population and of each region’s population. The Black

share of the South’s population, which declined from

32 percent in 1900 to 19 percent in 2000, is a notable

exception. In 1900, only two non-Southern states

(Nevada and Arizona) had populations with at least 

10 percent races other than White but, by 2000, 26

non-Southern states had at least 10 percent races

other than White, reflecting the spread of diversity

across the country. By the end of the century, three

states—California, Hawaii, and New Mexico—and the

District of Columbia had more than 50 percent

Minority populations (including Hispanics). 

Data on age by race and Hispanic origin revealed

increased “aging” of every population, but also important differences among the groups, showing Whites

(and White non-Hispanics) and Asians and Pacific

Islanders as relatively older groups and Blacks,

Hispanics, and American Indians and Alaska Natives as

relatively younger groups. Also, younger age groups

consistently had higher levels of racial and ethnic

diversity than older age groups. 

The graphics and text in this chapter depict trends in

the number and proportional distribution of the U.S.

population by race from 1900 to 2000 and by Hispanic

origin from 1980 to 2000. Changes in racial and ethnic composition are described for the total population,

regions, and states. Trends in Hispanic origin, when

discussed irrespective of race, are compared with the

non-Hispanic population, and when discussed along

with race, include the White non-Hispanic population

trend for comparison. The chapter introduces data on

changes in an aggregate Minority population, which

pertains to the population of races other than White

and people who are Hispanic, regardless of their race.

In addition to examining trends in total size, proportional distribution, and geographic distribution by

race and Hispanic origin, this chapter also examines

age and sex composition trends and metropolitan concentration by race and Hispanic origin. Detailed data

for each decade for the United States, regions, and

states for individual race groups and for the population by Hispanic origin are provided in Appendix

Tables 8, 9, and 10, and detailed data by age, race,

and Hispanic origin for the United States are provided

in Appendix Table 11. 

Chapter 3

RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN
74 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The White population continues to be the largest race

group in the United States (see Figure 3-1). As recently as 1970, the U.S. population was nearly entirely

classified as either White or Black, and the population

of races other than White or Black was only 2.9 million, or 1.4 percent of the population. By 2000, the

number of people in the United States who were of

races other than White or Black had grown to 35 million, comparable in size to the Black population.

Numerically, the White population increased substantially in the 20th century. The White population grew

from 66.8 million in 1900, exceeded 100 million by

1930, and passed the 200 million mark by 2000. The

combined population of all races other than White in

2000 was comparable in size to the White population

at the beginning of the 20th century. 

The Black population increased steadily throughout

the century from 8.8 million in 1900 to about 4 times

larger in 2000 (34.7 million people reported Black

alone and 36.4 million people reported Black alone or

in combination with one or more other races).

Compared with the combined population of races

other than White or Black, the Black population in

1960 was more than 10 times larger, in 1980 was

slightly more than double, and in 2000 was of comparable size, reflecting the rapid growth of these other

races in the United States. 

Races other than White and Black include American

Indian and Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander,

and Some other race (see Figure 3-2).34 For the first

time, Census 2000 also included a count of the number of people reporting two or more races, which at

6.8 million exceeded the American Indian and Alaska

Native population.

The Asian and Pacific Islander and the Some other race

(who are primarily Hispanic) populations particularly

increased during the period from 1970 to 2000.

International migration and subsequent births to the

immigrant population contributed to this rapid population increase. 

Within the groups comprising the races other than

White or Black, Some other race was the smallest in

1970, but has been the largest group since the 1980

census. The size of this race group is greatly influenced by the overwhelming number of Hispanics who

answer the question on race by reporting themselves

as a specific Hispanic-origin group that is categorized

as Some other race. 

Figure 3-1 and Figure 3-2 show two values for the population of each race in Census 2000. The smaller

value represents the number of people who reported

belonging to that race alone and no other race, while

the larger value represents the number of people who

reported the specified race only, plus those who

reported the specified race and one or more other

races. These numbers may be thought of as representing the minimum-maximum range for the number

of people in the particular race group. The basic

trends in population size by race over the 20th century shown in Figure 3-1 and Figure 3-2 hold up, regardless of which value is used from Census 2000. 

Since 1970, the population of races other than 

White or Black has grown significantly; however, Whites 

remained the largest race group.

34 In Census 2000, the Asian and Pacific Islander group was split

into “Asian” and “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.” For

comparability throughout the century, this report combines these two

groups. Separate data for each group from Census 2000 are provided in Appendix Table 9.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 75

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

225

250

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Millions

Figure 3-1.

Total Population by Race: 1900 to 2000 

Note: For Census 2000, the lower value represents people reporting the specified race alone, while the 

higher value represents people reporting the specified race, whether or not they reported any other races.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

White

Races other than White or Black

Black

Millions

Figure 3-2.

Population of Races Other Than White or 

Black by Race: 1900 to 2000 

Note: For Census 2000, the lower value represents people reporting the specified race alone, while the 

higher value represents people reporting the specified race, whether or not they reported any other races.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

Asian and 

Pacific Islander

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

American Indian 

and Alaska Native

Two or more races

Some other race
76 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

While the White population grew in every decade

throughout the 20th century, its share of the total U.S.

population did not follow this same pattern (see Figure

3-3). Between 1900 and 1930, the percentage White

of the U.S. population increased, while the percentage

Black declined. Since then, the White share of the total

population has decreased every decade, while the

Black share has increased.35

People of races other than White or Black represented

less than 1 percent of the U.S. population between

1900 and 1960. In recent decades, the share this

group composed of the U.S. total increased greatly,

from 1.4 percent in 1970 to 12.5 percent by 2000.

Figure 3-4 illustrates the details of the rapid growth in

races other than White or Black over the course of the

century. Prior to 1950, all people in this broad grouping were reported as either American Indians and

Alaska Natives or as Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Beginning in 1950 and continuing for the remainder of

the century, people could also be identified as Some

other race. In 2000, the category Two or more races

was used for the first time. 

The American Indian and Alaska Native population and

its share of the U.S. total increased each decade in the

second half of the century, although its share represented about 1 percent in 2000. In contrast, the

growth of Asians and Pacific Islanders and people in

the Some other race category primarily accounted for

the large increase in the share of the U.S. population

comprised of people of races other than White or

Black. 

Comparing the beginning and the end of the century,

the United States in 2000 is clearly much more racially diverse than in 1900. At the beginning of the century, just 1 out of 8 Americans was of a race other than

White. At the end of the century, the proportion was

1 out of 4. The decade-to-decade trend shows that this

increasing diversity is largely a phenomenon of the

second half of the century. As recently as 1970, the

White population’s share of the U.S. total was slightly

smaller than at the beginning of the century. The

Black population also represented a slightly smaller

share of the U.S. total population in 1970 than in

1900, and even at the century’s close, its share was

less than 1 percentage point higher than in 1900. 

The significant decline since 1970 in the White share

of the U.S. population mainly resulted from the much

faster growth of the Asian and Pacific Islander and the

Some other race populations. The decline of 12.3 percentage points in the White share between 1970 and

2000 may be attributed to the following percentage

point increases: 5.1 for Some other race; 3.1 for Asian

and Pacific Islander; 2.4 for Two or more races (who

may be any combination of the individual races,

including combinations with White); 1.2 for Black; and

0.5 for American Indian and Alaska Native. 

As noted previously, the increased shares for Asians

and Pacific Islanders and Some other race may largely

be explained by large increases in international migration and subsequent births to the immigrants for these

groups. (The high immigration of Hispanics, who frequently are categorized as Some other race, and

changes in the reporting of race by Hispanics account

for much of the increase in the Some other race share

of the total population.) 

In 1900, about 1 out of 8 Americans was of a race 

other than White. By 2000, about 1 out of 4 Americans 

was of a race other than White.

35 In Figure 3-3 and all following graphics including a percentage

of the population for a specific race group, the percentage shown for

Census 2000 is based on the number of people reporting the specified race alone rather than the number reporting the specified race

alone or in combination with any other race. The use of the race alone

concept does not imply that it is a preferred method of presenting or

analyzing data. In general, either the alone population or the alone

or in combination population can be used, depending on the purpose

of the analysis. The Census Bureau uses both approaches. See U.S.

Census Bureau, 2001f, Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin, by

Elizabeth M. Grieco and Rachel C. Cassidy.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 77

(Percent)

(Percent of total population)

Figure 3-3.

Distribution of Total Population by Race:

1900 to 2000

Note: In 2000, the percent distribution is based on the reporting of race alone for Whites and Blacks.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

87.9 88.9 89.7 89.8 89.8 89.5 88.6 87.5 83.1 80.3

75.1

11.6 10.7 9.9 9.7 9.8 10.0 10.5 11.1

11.7

12.1

12.3

5.2 7.7 12.5

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Races other than 

White or Black

White

Black

Figure 3-4.

Percent Races Other Than White or Black 

by Race: 1900 to 2000

Note: In 2000, the percents are based on the reporting of the specified race alone.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

2.4

0.4

3.0

3.9

5.5

0.7

1.5

2.9

3.8

0.4 0.6 0.8 0.9

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

American Indian and 

Alaska Native

Some other race

Asian and Pacific Islander

12.5

Two or more races

0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.9

1.4

5.2

7.7
78 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The Hispanic population includes people who may be

of any race.36 As discussed earlier, the 1980 census

was the first to include a separate question on

Hispanic origin asked of every individual in the United

States.37

The Hispanic population more than doubled in size

from 1980 to 2000 (see Figure 3-5). In 1980, there

were 14.6 million Hispanics in the United States. From

1980 to 1990, they grew by 7.7 million people, or 

53 percent, to 22.4 million, and in the next decade the

growth rate was even higher. During the 1990s, the

Hispanic population increased by 13.0 million people,

or 58 percent, reaching a population of 35.3 million at

the century’s close.

Overall, the Hispanic population grew by 20.7 million

people from 1980 to 2000. High levels of immigration

contributed to this rapid growth, coupled with relatively high fertility levels.

The much more rapid growth of the Hispanic population relative to the non-Hispanic population increased

the Hispanic share of the total population in both

decades. In 1980, Hispanics constituted 6.4 percent of

the total population. By 1990, their share had

increased to 9.0 percent, and during the 1990s, their

share increased by an additional 3.5 percentage points,

so that by 2000, Hispanics represented 12.5 percent of

the U.S. population, nearly twice the proportion than

just 20 years earlier. 

The Hispanic population more than doubled 

in size from 1980 to 2000.

36 For a more detailed discussion about race and Hispanic origin,

see the Sources and Quality of Data section. 37 The 1970 census included a question on the Hispanic origin of

individuals asked of a 5-percent sample. In this report, data on

Hispanic origin are shown from 1980 to 2000. 

Figure 3-5.

Hispanic Population and Percent Hispanic 

of Total Population: 1980 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 to 2000.

Percent Hispanic

1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000

6.4

12.5

9.0

14.6

35.3

22.4 

Hispanic population (millions)
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 79

By the end of the 20th century, the fact that the U.S.

population had become increasingly diverse was generally well-known. However, when the century is split

into halves, this conventional wisdom does not entirely

hold true. The White population grew at a lower rate,

on average, than each of the other race groups for the

periods 1900-2000 and 1950-2000 (Figure 3-6), when

some groups grew many times faster. However, during

the first half of the century, the White population grew

at a faster rate than either the Black population or the

American Indian population. 

The trend in the average annual growth rates by race

moved in an opposite direction for Whites compared

with every other race. That is, the White population

had a higher average annual growth rate (1.4 percent)

during the first half of the century than during the second half (0.9 percent), while the 50-year average

annual growth rate for each of the other races was

higher in the second half of the century.

Among races with available data throughout the century, Asians and Pacific Islanders grew faster than the

other groups in both halves of the 100-year period. This

high growth rate resulted from a combination of considerable immigration and a relatively small population

size. American Indians and Alaska Natives increased at

the slowest rate of the groups in the first half of the century, but grew rapidly during the latter period, a statistical change that is partly due to changes in reporting.

The growth rate of the Black population, which is much

less influenced by immigration, increased from an average rate of 1.1 percent in the first half of the century to

1.7 percent in the second half.

The “other race” category (not shown) had the highest

growth rate during the century: an average annual

increase of 9.9 percent from 1950 to 2000. In part,

this high rate of growth resulted from the fact that the

Hispanic population increased rapidly during this period and a large proportion of the responses of

Hispanics to the question on race were categorized as

Some other race (beginning in 1980), since the number of Hispanics is determined from a separate question. Another contributing factor is the small population size of the “other race” category in 1950.38

The White population grew more slowly than 

every other race group in the second half of the 

20th century and for the century as a whole.

38 Since the write-in responses to race prior to 1950 were tabulated as specific races and were classifiable into one of the four specific

race groups, no fifth other race category is applicable for these censuses. As a result, growth rates are not available for this classification

for the 1900-1950 and 1900-2000 periods shown in Figure 3-6.

Figure 3-6.

Average Annual Growth Rate by Race: 1900-1950, 

1950-2000, and 1900-2000

1The rate excludes Alaska and Hawaii at the beginning date and includes Alaska and Hawaii at the ending date. 

This has the effect of increasing the rate, particularly for American Indians and Alaska Natives and for 

Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

White

Black

American Indian and Alaska Native

Asian and Pacific Islander

(Percent)

1900-1950 1950-20001 1900-20001

1.6

7.4

4.5

0.7

4.0

2.3

1.1

1.7 1.4 1.4

0.9 1.2
80 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Immigration and subsequent births to the new arrivals

during the last few decades of the century played a

major role in changing the racial and ethnic composition of the U.S. population. These influences are indicated by the very high percentage increases in the

Asian and Pacific Islander (204 percent) and the

Hispanic (142 percent) populations from 1980 to 2000

(see Figure 3-7). 

Considering race without regard to Hispanic origin,

the White population grew slower than every other

race. The rapid growth of the Some other race population was strongly influenced by the large number of

people in this group who are Hispanic. (For example,

Census 2000 results showed that 97 percent of the

population who reported Some other race alone were

Hispanic.)39 The high percentage change of the

American Indian and Alaska Native population in part

may be attributed to a higher tendency among

respondents to report as this race in Census 2000 than

in 1980, as well as changes in methodology and

improvements in coverage of this population. 

Considering Hispanic origin without regard to race,

Hispanics grew much faster than non-Hispanics.

Combining race and Hispanic origin, the White nonHispanic population grew by only 7.9 percent between

1980 and 2000, while the aggregated Minority population (people of races other than White and people of

every race who were of Hispanic origin) increased 11

times as fast (88 percent) during the 20-year period.

Among all the population groups shown in Figure 3-7,

only the White, the non-Hispanic, and the White nonHispanic populations grew more slowly than the total

population. The higher percentage increases for each

individual race other than White and for the Hispanic

population produced a high percentage growth for the

Minority population, resulting in an increase in the

Minority share of the U.S. population from 20 percent

in 1980 to 31 percent in 2000 and a corresponding

decrease in the White non-Hispanic share.

The Minority population grew 11 times 

as rapidly as the White non-Hispanic population 

between 1980 and 2000.

39 See U.S. Census Bureau. 2001f. Overview of Race and Hispanic

Origin, by Elizabeth M. Grieco and Rachel C. Cassidy.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 81

Figure 3-7.

Percent Change in Population Size by Race and 

Hispanic Origin: 1980-2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 and 2000.

24.2

12.3

30.8

74.3

204.0

127.3

141.7

16.1

7.9

87.7

White, Minority

NonHispanic

NonHispanicSome Hispanic

other

race

Asian

and

Pacific

Islander

American

Indian

and

Alaska

Native

Total White Black
82 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The population of each race was not evenly distributed

across the regions of the United States in the 20th century (see Figure 3-8). The trend in the distribution of the

White population by region most closely mirrored the

regional distribution of the total U.S. population. This,

of course, reflects the fact that the White population represents such a large percentage of the U.S. population.

The Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, and American

Indian and Alaska Native populations all exhibited

strong regional concentrations. Each race also followed quite different decade-to-decade trends in their

regional distributions.

The Black population was, and continues to be, concentrated in the South. However, the extent of this concentration diminished considerably during the 20th

century. For the first two decades of the century, nearly 9 out of 10 Blacks lived in the South. In 1940, over

three-fourths of the Black population lived in the South.

After World War II, the percentage of the Black population in the South declined more rapidly, reflecting the

effect of substantial Black migration, especially to large

metropolitan areas in the Midwest and Northeast. This

migration contributed to the corresponding rise in the

proportion of the Black population in these regions

through 1970. This trend generally reversed toward the

end of the century. By 2000, the Northeast’s and the

Midwest’s shares of the Black population had dropped

below their shares in 1970, while the South’s share had

increased. Throughout the century, the West had the

smallest share of the Black population Even though the

West’s share of the Black population increased every

decade from 1900 to 1990, by the end of the century

fewer than 10 percent of all Blacks lived in the West. 

The Asian and Pacific Islander population also had a

strong regional concentration, particularly in the first

half of the century. During the period 1900 to 1940,

about 4 out of 5 Asians and Pacific Islanders lived in

the West. The proportion in the West dropped significantly between 1940 and 1950, primarily due to a

decline in the Japanese population in California,

Washington, and Oregon and a corresponding increase

in the Japanese populations in Illinois (increasing the

Midwest’s share) and in New York, New Jersey, and

Pennsylvania (increasing the Northeast’s share). The

sharp increase in the West’s share from 1950 to 1960

resulted from the addition of Hawaii as the 50th state. 

As with the Black population, the regional concentration of Asians and Pacific Islanders diminished during

the century. The Northeast’s and the South’s shares of

Asians and Pacific Islanders increased rapidly during

this period, with the Northeast’s share ranking 2nd

among the regions and the South’s share surpassing

the Midwest’s, although the Midwest’s share also generally rose in the last half of the century. 

The American Indian and Alaska Native population

also was characterized by concentration in the West.

In contrast to the trends of other races, however, their

regional distribution remained fairly stable throughout

the century. Of the total U.S. population of American

Indians and Alaska Natives, the Northeast had the lowest proportion, and, with the exception of 1950, the

South had the 2nd highest share.

Blacks, along with Asians and Pacific Islanders, 

have been the most regionally concentrated races. More than 

half of Blacks still live in the South and, until 2000, more than

half of Asians and Pacific Islanders lived in the West.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 83

Percent

Figure 3-8.

Regional Distribution of Total Population 

by Race: 1900 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

30.9 31.0 30.5 30.1 29.2 27.7 26.1 24.9 22.5 21.1 19.6

38.6 35.8 35.0 33.8 32.7 31.2 30.2 29.1

27.7 26.0 25.5

24.7 25.1 25.5 25.7 26.8

27.3

27.4 28.4 31.3 32.8 34.4

5.8 8.0 9.0 10.4 11.3 13.8 16.3 17.7 18.5 20.0 20.5

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

White

Percent

13.3 9.3 9.5 9.8 11.1 14.0

9.4 13.6 16.0 18.4 20.1

3.5

4.2 5.2 5.5 4.6

11.3

6.4

8.0

11.1 10.6 11.5

3.4 3.4

5.2

5.0

7.1

13.4

15.4

18.5

79.8 83.8 82.3 82.0 80.9

69.4

79.2

71.3

59.4 55.7 49.9

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Asian and Pacific Islander

Percent

4.4 4.9 6.5 9.6 10.6 13.4 16.0 19.2 18.3 18.7 17.6 5.6 5.5

7.6

10.6 11.0

14.8

18.3

20.2 20.1 19.1 18.8

89.7 89.0 85.2

78.7 77.0 68.0 59.9 53.0 53.0 52.8 54.8

3.8 5.8 7.5 8.5 9.4 8.9

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Black

Percent

3.6 3.7 3.1 3.1 3.5 4.6 5.0 6.2 5.6 6.4 6.6

24.2 22.5 21.7 20.5 21.4 22.4 18.8 19.1 17.5 17.2 16.1

31.5 33.3 31.1 35.1

28.2 20.1 24.4 25.4 26.2 28.7 29.3

40.7 40.6 44.1 41.3 46.9

52.9 51.8 49.3 50.7 47.6 48.0

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

American Indian and Alaska Native

Northeast

Midwest

South

West
84 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

During the first half of the 20th century, the population of races other than White composed 5 percent or

less of the total population in the Northeast, the

Midwest, and the West (see Figure 3-9). In contrast,

the South had much higher percentages of races other

than White during this period, even though this percentage declined each decade, from a high of 33 percent in 1900 to 22 percent in 1950.

The South differed from the other regions in both the

level and trend of the percentage of races other than

White. In terms of the level, the South had the highest

percentage of races other than White during every

decade 1900 to 1980. During the second half of the

century, the rapid growth of races other than White in

the West made it the region with the highest percentage

of races other than White in 1990 and 2000. The percentage of people other than White in the Northeast’s

population increased every decade, as it did in the

Midwest (except from 1900 to 1910). The West experienced little change until 1940, but increased every

decade thereafter. The South’s share of its population

represented by races other than White declined every

decade from 1900 to 1970 and the percentage White

increased. From 1970 to 2000, the percentage of races

other than White increased in every region.

As the percentage of races other than White in the

South declined, the corresponding percentages in

other regions increased, narrowing the differences

between the regions. The widest gap occurred in

1900, when the percentage of races other than White

ranged from a low of 1.9 percent in the Northeast to

32.6 percent in the South. The gap narrowed each

succeeding decade, reaching the smallest regional difference in 1980, when the percentage of races other

than White ranged from 11.3 percent in the Midwest to

21.8 percent in the South. Since 1980 the gap

widened, as the increase in the percentage of races

other than White in the West exceeded the increase in

the other regions.

The specific racial composition of the population of

races other than White also differed by region. In the

Northeast, the Midwest, and the South, Blacks constituted the largest share of races other than White in

every decade of the 20th century. However, in the

West, American Indians and Alaska Natives represented the largest share in 1900, Asians and Pacific

Islanders the largest share from 1910 to 1940, Blacks

the largest share from 1950 to 1970, and Some other

race (which is nearly all Hispanic) represented the

largest share from 1980 to 2000. 

While Hispanics may be of any race, a sizable proportion are classified as Some other race. (The question

on race is separate from the question on Hispanic or

Latino origin). The high growth rate of the Hispanic

population since 1980 is reflected by the relatively

high share that the “Some other race” group represents

of the total percentage of races other than White.

Since 1980, the share of Some other race exceeded the

shares of Asians and Pacific Islanders and American

Indians and Alaska Natives in every region. 

Census 2000 was the first to include the option for

individuals to identify themselves as more than one

race. Among the regions, the percentage of the population categorized as Two or more races ranged from

1.6 percent in the Midwest to 4.3 percent in the West.

In Figure 3-9, the totals for the percentage in each specific race group for 2000 represent those people who

reported that specific race alone. Those who reported

any specific race in combination with any other race

(including people who reported White as one of the

races) are shown in the Two or more races category. In

every region, the percentage of the population of Two

or more races exceeded the percentage American

Indian and Alaska Native. 

The percentage of races other than White 

was highest in the South from 1900 to 1980 and 

highest in the West since 1990.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 85

Figure 3-9.

Percent Races Other Than White by Race and Region: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Northeast

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Midwest

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

South

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

West

Two or more races

Some other race

Asian and Pacific Islander

American Indian and Alaska Native

Black

2.3

2.7

3.3

4.5

2.6

4.0

1.8 1.9 2.3 3.3 3.8 5.1

6.8

8.9 9.9 11.0 11.4

1.6

1.2

1.4

2.2

1.3 1.9

1.9 1.8 2.3 3.3 3.5 5.0

6.7

8.1 9.1 9.6 10.1

1.8

2.0

2.8

3.9

1.3 2.0

32.3

29.8

26.9

24.7 23.8

21.7 20.6 19.1 18.6 18.5 18.9

2.2 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.5

2.5

2.8

4.8

7.7 8.4

2.4 1.6 1.2 1.2 1.1

1.0

1.1 1.7 1.8 1.9

1.0 1.2 2.9 3.9 4.9 5.2 5.4 4.9

1.9 2.0 2.4

3.4 3.9

5.3

7.1

9.6

13.9

17.2

22.5

2.1 2.0 2.5

3.5 3.7

5.3

7.0

8.7

11.3

12.8

16.4

32.6

30.1

27.1

25.1

24.0

21.9

20.9

19.7

21.8

23.2

27.4

5.3

4.1 3.8 4.0 3.8

5.0

7.9

9.8

19.2

24.2

31.5

4.3

12.1

9.4

7.5

(Percent of region's population)
86 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The regional distribution of the Hispanic population

remained relatively stable from 1980 to 2000. The

majority of Hispanics lived in the South and the West,

with smaller proportions living in the Northeast and

the Midwest, respectively.

More than 40 percent of the Hispanic population lived

in the West from 1980 to 2000 (see Figure 3-10). This

reflects the fact that all the states along the U.S.-

Mexico border (except Texas) are western states and

most of the Hispanic population is Mexican in origin.

From 1980 to 1990, the proportion of Hispanics living

in the West increased from 43 percent to 45 percent

and then declined to 43 percent in 2000.

A slightly higher proportion of Hispanics lived in the

South in 2000 (33 percent) than in 1980 (31 percent).

In 2000, more than three-quarters of the Hispanic population lived in the South or the West.40

The Northeast was the only region in the United States

with a steadily declining share of Hispanics, dropping

from 18 percent in 1980 to 15 percent in 2000. 

Hispanics were least likely to live in the Midwest.

Although their share increased from 1990 to 2000

after dropping during the 1980s, fewer than 1 of 10

Hispanics lived in the Midwest at the century’s close.

While the regional distribution of Hispanics did not

change very much between 1980 and 2000, their total

numbers and proportion of each region’s population

increased during both the 1980s and the 1990s in

every region (see Figure 3-11).

The West had the highest proportion of Hispanics of

any region from 1980 to 2000, rising rapidly from 

14 percent of the region’s population in 1980 to 

24 percent in 2000. The West was the only region in

which the proportion of Hispanics exceeded the

national level (see Appendix Table 10). 

The proportion of Hispanics in the South’s population

nearly doubled from 5.9 percent in 1980 to 11.6 percent in 2000. Although the South’s proportion of

Hispanics ranked 2nd among the regions, its proportion at the end of the century was less than half the

proportion Hispanic in the West. 

The Northeast and the Midwest had the smallest proportions of Hispanics in their populations, less than 

10 percent and less than 5 percent, respectively, in

2000. 

While the Hispanic population was concentrated in the West, 

the percentage Hispanic increased in every region 

from 1980 to 2000.

40 See U.S. Census Bureau, 2001c, The Hispanic Population: 2000,

by Betsy Guzmán.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 87

(Percent)

Figure 3-10.

Hispanic Population Distribution 

by Region: 1980 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 to 2000.

17.8 16.8 14.9

8.7 7.7 8.8

30.6 30.3 32.8

42.8 45.2 43.5

1980 1990 2000

West

Northeast

Midwest

South

Figure 3-11.

Percent Hispanic of Regional Population: 

1980 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 to 2000.

9.8

4.9

11.6

24.3

7.4

2.9

7.9

19.1

5.3

2.2

5.9

14.5

Northeast Midwest South West

1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000
88 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The increasing racial and ethnic diversity of the U.S.

population in the 20th century has largely been a post1970 development, with regional patterns generally

reflecting the trend of the United States as a whole.

From 1980 to 2000, the percentage Minority41 markedly increased in every region, and each region’s percentage-point increase was larger in the 1990s than in

the 1980s (see Figure 3-12). 

Each region’s rank according to its percentage of

Minority population remained the same from 1980 to

2000. At each census, the West had the highest percentage Minority, followed by the South, the

Northeast, and the Midwest. 

In 1980, the percentage Minority in the West (27 percent) narrowly exceeded the percentage Minority in the

South (26 percent). Since 1980, the West has experienced an especially rapid increase in its percentage

Minority, and the difference between the West and the

other regions widened. In 2000, the Minority population represented 42 percent of the total population of

the West and 34 percent of the population of the South.

The lack of data on Hispanic origin precludes calculating the percentage Minority for most of the century.

However, since the Black population represented, by

far, most of the Minority population during this period,

the South would have ranked as the region with the

highest percentage Minority during the first half of the

century.

From 1980 to 2000, percentage-point increases in the

percentage Minority in the Northeast exceeded those

of the Midwest. By 2000, the Minority population in

the Northeast had grown to 27 percent, comparable to

the West and the South two decades earlier. Although

the percentage Minority increased rapidly in the

Midwest in the 1990s, it remained less than half that

of the West in 2000 (19 percent and 42 percent,

respectively). 

The percentage Minority increased rapidly in every region 

since 1980, especially in the West.

41 In this report, the Minority population refers to the aggregate

number of people who are races other than White (and other than

White alone for Census 2000) or who are Hispanic.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 89

Figure 3-12.

Percent Minority by Region: 1980 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 to 2000.

26.6

18.6

34.2

41.6

20.6

14.2

28.2

33.3

16.6

12.5

25.7 26.5

Northeast Midwest South West

1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000
90 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

At the beginning of the century, less than 10 percent

of the people in most states were of races other than

White. Nevada and Arizona had the only populations

outside of the South with at least 10 percent races

other than White. In contrast, the population of every

Southern state, except West Virginia, had at least 

10 percent races other than White (see Figure 3-13).

The percentage of races other than White in the

Southern coastal states stretching from Virginia to

Louisiana exceeded 30 percent. In two of these states,

Mississippi and South Carolina, the majority of the

population was races other than White in 1900. 

By 1950, the state pattern of the percentage of races

other than White had changed little. Arizona was the

sole non-Southern state with more than 10 percent

races other than White. The number of Southern states

with less than 10 percent races other than White

increased to include Kentucky and Oklahoma, in addition to West Virginia. While the percentages in 1950

were still relatively high in the South, they had declined

in every Southern state except West Virginia.42

The increased diversity of the United States that

occurred between 1950 and 2000 is evident from the

state map for 2000 shown in Figure 3-13. By 2000,

only 10 states had populations with less than 10 percent races other than White: Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky,

Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota,

Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. In the other 40

states, the percentage ranged from 10 percent in

Nebraska to 76 percent in Hawaii. The District of

Columbia’s population had 69 percent races other than

White.

At the end of the century, states with relatively higher

percentages (20 percent or more) of races other than

White were generally coastal and U.S-Mexican border

states, extending south from New York and across the

southern and southwestern states to California. States

in the South still had relatively high percentages of

races other than White at the century’s close and were

joined by several states outside the region. In 1900

and 1950, no state outside the South had at least 

30 percent races other than White.43 In 2000, five nonSouthern states—Alaska, California, Hawaii, New

Mexico, and New York—each had over 30 percent

races other than White. 

Across the country and in most states, the proportions

of people other than White increased during the

course of the century. Although all Southern states

except West Virginia had a lower percentage of races

other than White in 1950 than in 1900, their proportions remained at a high level. In nearly all states, the

percentage of races other than White was higher in

2000 than in 1950. The five exceptions were:

Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, and

West Virginia, where the percentage of races other

than White was lower in 2000 than in 1950, so, their

percentage White was higher at the century’s end than

at midcentury. 

From 1900 to 2000, the number of non-Southern states 

with populations of at least 10 percent races other than White

increased from 2 to 26.

42 In addition to West Virginia, the percentage of races other than

White was also higher in 1950 than in 1900 in the District of

Columbia, considered a state equivalent for statistical purposes and

also part of the U.S. Census Bureau’s South region. 

43 Alaska and Hawaii were not included in the calculations prior to

statehood. If included from 1900 to 1950, Hawaii would have had

more than 30 percent races other than White in every census and

Alaska in each census from 1900 through 1940.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 91

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT

CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT

CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT

CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

Figure 3-13.

Percent Races Other Than White by State: 

1900, 1950, and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

1950

2000

30 or more

20 to 30

10 to 20

Less than 10

Not applicable

Percent races other than White

1900
92 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Previous discussion of the increased diversity of the

U.S. population as measured by the percentage of people who are races other than White showed that this

diversity is becoming widespread throughout the 50

states. At the same time, examination of the states

with the highest percentages of their populations in

specific race groups reveals that some groups

remained concentrated in particular states throughout

the century (see Table 3-1).

Among the 50 states, Mississippi had the highest percentage of Blacks in its population in every decade,

1900 to 2000. (The District of Columbia, treated as a

state equivalent for statistical purposes, has ranked first

in percentage Black since 1960.) In 1900, 1950, and

2000, all ten states (including the District of Columbia)

with the highest percentages Black were in the South. 

In 1900, Blacks constituted the majority in Mississippi

and South Carolina and remained more than 50 percent of the population in these states until 1930 and

1920, respectively (see Appendix Table 8). The population in the District of Columbia has been 50 percent

or more Black since 1960. The highest-ranking states

in percentage Black in 1950 were the same as in 1900,

although the ranking shifted among the states. In

2000, 8 of these 10 states were still among the top ten

in percentage Black, and Maryland and Delaware had

replaced Florida and Arkansas. 

The states with the highest percentage of American

Indians and Alaska Natives in their populations have

also generally remained the same throughout the

century. Eight of the ten states with the highest

percentage American Indian and Alaska Native in 1900

were also among the ten highest in 1950 and in 2000.

Washington dropped out of the ten highest-ranked

states by 1950, replaced by Utah. However, by 2000,

Utah dropped out of the ten highest-ranked states,

along with Nevada, and they were replaced by

Washington, which reentered the ten highest-ranked

states, and by Alaska, which was not ranked prior to

statehood. (If Alaska were included, it would have

ranked 1st among all states in the percentage of population American Indian and Alaska Native throughout

the century.) The Northeast was the only region without a state ranked among the 10 highest percentages

American Indian and Alaska Native during the century. 

The changes in the rankings of states according to their

percentage Asians and Pacific Islanders varied more than

the changes in rankings for Blacks and American Indians

and Alaska Natives. In 1900, the states with the ten

highest percentages of Asians and Pacific Islanders were

all in the West. Of these ten, only California, Nevada,

and Washington also were among the ten highest in

1950 and 2000. In 1950, 9 of the 10 highest-ranking

states were still in the West, with only the District of

Columbia outside the region. However, by the end of the

century, the number of Western states among the ten

highest had fallen to five, which were joined by the

southern states of Maryland and Virginia and by the

northeastern states of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and

New York. Alaska and Hawaii each ranked among the

ten highest states in percentage Asian and Pacific

Islander in 2000. (Neither state was ranked prior to

1960, the first census after they became the 49th and

50th states, respectively. However, Hawaii would have

ranked 1st among all states in the percentage of population Asian and Pacific Islander if it had been included.) 

The ten states with the highest percentage Black were all in the South in

1900, 1950, and 2000; no state in the Northeast ranked among the ten

highest in percentage American Indian and Alaska Native; and while the

ten states with the highest percentage Asian and Pacific Islander were

all in the West in 1900, every region was represented by 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 93

Table 3-1.

Ten States With the Highest Percents Black, American Indian and

Alaska Native, and Asian and Pacific Islander: 1900, 1950, and 2000

Rank

1900 1950 2000

State Percent State Percent State Percent

Black

1 Mississippi ............... 58.5 Mississippi ............... 45.3 District of Columbia ....... 60.0

2 South Carolina ........... 58.4 South Carolina ........... 38.8 Mississippi ............... 36.3

3 Louisiana ................ 47.1 District of Columbia ....... 35.0 Louisiana ................ 32.5

4 Georgia ................. 46.7 Louisiana ................ 32.9 South Carolina ........... 29.5

5 Alabama................. 45.2 Alabama. . . .............. 32.0 Georgia ................. 28.7

6 Florida .................. 43.7 Georgia ................. 30.9 Maryland . . .............. 27.9

7 Virginia .................. 35.6 North Carolina . .......... 25.8 Alabama................. 26.0

8 North Carolina ........... 33.0 Arkansas ................ 22.3 North Carolina ........... 21.6

9 District of Columbia ....... 31.1 Virginia .................. 22.1 Virginia .................. 19.6

10 Arkansas ................ 28.0 Florida . ................. 21.8 Delaware ................ 19.2

American Indian and Alaska Native

1 Arizona.................. 21.5 Arizona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.8 Alaska .................. 15.6

2 Nevada.................. 12.3 New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2 New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5

3 Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2 South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.3

4 New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 Nevada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.9

5 South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 Montana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.8 Montana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2

6 Montana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7 Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4 Arizona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0

7 Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.6 North Dakota. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.7 North Dakota. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9

8 North Dakota. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3

9 Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.6

10 Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8 Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4

Asian and Pacific Islander

1 California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.8 California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 Hawaii .................. 51.0

2 Nevada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7 Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.7 California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.3

3 Oregon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.9

4 Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8 Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.7

5 Montana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.7 Nevada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6

6 Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.7 Oregon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 Nevada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9

7 Arizona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5

8 Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 Arizona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.0

9 Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 District of Columbia . . . . . . . 0.3 Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . 3.8

10 New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.
94 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Census 2000 was the first time individuals were

allowed to identify themselves as more than one race

in the history of census-taking in the United States. Of

the total population (281.4 million) in 2000, 6.8 million people, or 2.4 percent, reported as more than one

race. Regionally, the West had the highest number

(2.7 million) and the highest proportion (4.3 percent)

of people of two or more races. 

Among the states, Hawaii had, by far, the largest percentage (21.4 percent) of its population reporting

more than one race. Only three other states—Alaska

(5.4 percent), California (4.7 percent) and Oklahoma

(4.5 percent)—had 4.0 percent or more of their populations reporting more than one race (see Figure 3-14).

In fourteen states, the percentage reporting more than

one race exceeded the U.S. level of 2.43 percent.44 In

addition to the four states already named, the other

ten were: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey,

New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas,

and Washington. 

Most states (36) and the District of Columbia had

lower percentages reporting as more than one race

than the overall United States percentage. Twenty-five

of these states were in the 1 percent to 2 percent

range, while 6 states and the District of Columbia

ranged from 2 percent up to the U.S. level (2.43 percent). In five states (four of which are in the South),

less than 1 percent of the population reported being

more than one race: Alabama, Maine, Mississippi,

South Carolina, and West Virginia. 

The three states with the largest populations,

California, Texas, and New York, were also the three

states with the largest numbers of people reporting

two or more races (1.6 million, 515,000 and 590,000,

respectively, see Appendix Table 9). 

Hawaii had the highest percentage (21 percent) of people 

who reported as more than one race in 2000.

44 See U.S. Census Bureau. 2001i. The Two or More Races

Population: 2000, by Nicholas A. Jones and Amy Symens Smith.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 95

Figure 3-14.

Percent Two or More Races by State: 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 1.

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

4 or more

3 to 4

2 to 3

Less than 2

Percent Two or more races
96 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

In every state except Hawaii, the percentage of the

population that was Hispanic increased during the 20-

year period from 1980 to 2000. The percentage

Hispanic in Hawaii decreased by less than 1 percentage point and Hawaii was among the top 20 states in

terms of its percentage of Hispanic population (see

Appendix Table 10).

The number of states with populations of at least 

10 percent Hispanic doubled from five to ten between

1980 and 2000. In 1980, only Arizona, California,

Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas had populations that

were at least 10 percent Hispanic (see Figure 3-15). By

1990, three more states, Florida, New York, and

Nevada, were added to the list. In 2000, the number

of states with populations that were at least 10 percent

Hispanic increased to ten, with the addition of Illinois

and New Jersey.

In 1980, New Mexico was the only state in which

Hispanics represented at least one-fourth of its population. By 2000, Hispanics made up at least 25 percent of the population in three additional states

(Arizona, California, and Texas). All four of these

states are on the U.S.-Mexico border.

In 1980, Colorado was the only state with a 10 percent

or greater Hispanic population that did not share a

border with Mexico. By 2000, Hispanics represented at

least 10 percent of the population in five additional

nonborder states: Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey,

and New York.

The states with the highest proportion of Hispanics

were concentrated primarily in the West. In 1980, 7 of

the 12 states that were at least 5 percent Hispanic

were in the West. Nearly all of the states in the

Midwest, the South, and the Northeast had less than 

5 percent Hispanic in their populations. However, four

states outside the West (Florida, New Jersey, New York,

and Texas) ranked among the ten states with the highest percentages of Hispanics from 1980 to 2000. By

2000, the proportions of Hispanics among the midwestern states remained relatively low. Illinois was

the only state in the Midwest with Hispanics representing at least 10 percent of its population.

New Mexico had the highest proportion of Hispanics

in its population of any state in 1980, 1990, and 2000

(see Appendix Table 10). More than one-third of New

Mexico’s population was Hispanic in 1980. By 2000,

42 percent of its population was Hispanic.

Following New Mexico in terms of percentage Hispanic

were Texas and California. In 1980, Hispanics represented 21 percent of Texas’ population and 19 percent

of California’s. In 1990, California surpassed Texas

with a slightly higher proportion of Hispanics. In

2000, California and Texas remained ranked second

and third, respectively, in terms of percentage

Hispanic, with Hispanics making up nearly a third of

their populations. 

In 1980, Colorado was the only state not bordering Mexico 

which had an Hispanic population of at least 10 percent. 

By 2000, five more nonborder states had populations 

which were at least 10 percent Hispanic.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 97

Figure 3-15.

Percent Hispanic by State: 1980 and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial census of population, 1980 and 2000.

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

2000

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

25 or more

10 to 25

5 to 10

Less than 5

Percent Hispanic

1980
98 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

As noted earlier, between 1980 and 2000 the White

non-Hispanic population of the United States increased

much less than the aggregated Minority (people of

races other than White or of Hispanic origin) population (7.9 percent and 88 percent, respectively). The

more rapid increase of the Minority population results

in this collective group representing a larger share of

the total population. The faster growth of the Minority

population occurred in all 50 states. Thus, the percentage Minority increased in each of the 50 states

between 1980 and 2000. (The percentage Minority in

the District of Columbia declined from 74 percent in

1980 to 72 percent in 2000).

Figure 3-16 illustrates the widespread shift to higher

proportions of Minority population throughout the

United States during the 20-year period, 1980 to

2000. In 1980, 21 states had populations with less

than 10 percent Minority. By 2000, the number of

such states had dwindled to 6—Iowa, Maine, New

Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.

The number of states with 30 percent or higher percentage Minority population doubled, from just 8

states (including the District of Columbia) in 1980 to

17 states in 2000. In 1980, all 8 states with 30 percent or more Minority populations were in the West or

the South. These two regions also accounted for 6 of

the 9 states added to this category in 2000, the

remaining being Illinois, New Jersey, and New York.

Over time, several state populations became “majority Minority.” In 1980, only Hawaii and the District of

Columbia had populations with more than 50 percent

Minority. By 2000, California and New Mexico had

also become majority Minority. Texas, with 48 percent

Minority in 2000, was the only other state with at least

40 percent Minority. 

Among the 50 states, the percentage-point increases

from 1980 to 2000 in the Minority population ranged

from 1 percentage point in West Virginia to 20 percentage points in California.45 The Minority population

share rose by 10 percentage points or more in 14

states. After California, the next largest increases

were in Nevada (18 percentage points), and Texas,

New Jersey, and New York (13 percentage points each).

The Minority population share in the remaining nine

states with substantial percentage-point increases—

Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts,

Maryland, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Washington—

all increased by 10 to 12 percentage points.

The large increases in the percentage Minority during

the period 1980 to 2000 occurred across all categories

in states with relatively low, moderate, and high initial

levels of percentage Minority in 1980. For example,

the Minority population shares in Massachusetts,

Rhode Island, and Washington each increased by at

least 10 percentage points, yet all had less than 

10 percent Minority in 1980. At the same time,

California and Texas also had large increases in their

Minority population shares, even though they already

ranked among the states with the highest shares in

1980. 

The District of Columbia had the highest percentage

Minority in 1980. In 2000, Hawaii (77 percent) had the

highest Minority population share. Among the 50

states, Hawaii, New Mexico, Mississippi, Texas, and

California had the 5 highest percentages Minority in

both 1980 and 2000. In 1980, the percentage

Minority in these states ranged from 33 percent in

California to 69 percent in Hawaii. At the end of the

century, the Minority share in these states ranged from

39 percent in Mississippi to 77 percent in Hawaii. In

1980, Vermont had the lowest Minority share (1.5 percent). At the century’s close, Maine had the lowest

percentage Minority (3.5 percent). 

Among the 50 states, Hawaii, New Mexico, Mississippi, 

Texas, and California had the 5 highest percentage 

Minority populations from 1980 to 2000.

45 The percentage Minority is equivalent to 100 minus the percentage White non-Hispanic (see Appendix Table 10).
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 99

Figure 3-16.

Percent Minority by State: 1980 and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 and 2000.

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

30 or more

20 to 30

10 to 20

Less than 10

Percent Minority

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

1980

2000
100 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The percentage of each race and Hispanic origin group

living in metropolitan areas increased every decade

from 1960 to 2000 (see Figure 3-17). This trend follows the U.S. pattern of an increasing share of the total

population living in metropolitan areas over the

course of the century. 

The percentage metropolitan for each group

increased, and every race and ethnic group maintained

its relative ranking every decade. For censuses with

available data, Asians and Pacific Islanders have been

most likely, and American Indians and Alaska Natives

least likely, to live in metropolitan areas. By 2000,

nearly 96 percent of all Asians and Pacific Islanders

lived in a metropolitan area (see Appendix Table 16).

In contrast, the American Indian and Alaska Native

population lived primarily in nonmetropolitan areas

before the 1990 census, when a majority (51 percent)

lived in metropolitan areas for the first time.

After Asians and Pacific Islanders, Hispanics had the

second highest proportion living in metropolitan areas.

From 1980 to 2000, the percentage of Hispanics living

in a metropolitan area increased from 88 to 91 percent.

In 1960, 65 percent of Blacks and 63 percent of Whites

lived in metropolitan areas. The shares of the Black

and the White populations living in metropolitan areas

increased every decade, 1960 to 2000, but the gap

grew wider every 10 years. By 2000, the difference

widened to 8 percentage points, with 86 percent of

Blacks and 78 percent of Whites living in a metropolitan area. 

Although American Indians and Alaska Natives consistently had the least likelihood of living in a metropolitan area from 1970 to 2000, their percentage metropolitan increased more than every other group during

the period. As a result, the range between the highest

and lowest percentages metropolitan declined

between 1970 and 2000.

Among people who reported being more than one

race, a choice available for the first time in Census

2000, a relatively high percentage (88 percent) lived in

metropolitan areas. They were slightly less likely than

Asians and Pacific Islanders and Hispanics, but more

likely than Blacks, Whites, and American Indians and

Alaska Natives to live in a metropolitan area. 

From 1970 to 2000, Asians and Pacific Islanders were 

most likely, and American Indians and Alaska Natives were 

least likely, to live in metropolitan areas.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 101

Percent

Figure 3-17.

Percent Metropolitan by Race and Hispanic 

Origin: 1960 to 2000 

Note: Data on Hispanic origin have been available on a 100-percent basis since 1980 only, and data on the 

population of Two or more races are available from Census 2000 only.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1960 to 2000.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Asian and Pacific Islander

White

Black

American Indian and Alaska Native

Two or more races

White Non-Hispanic

Hispanic
102 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

As Figure 3-18 shows, every race group’s age structure

changed considerably from 1900 to 2000. The White and

Black populations followed a somewhat similar pattern

while the changes among the American Indian and Alaska

Native population and the Asian and Pacific Islander population were more distinct. While fertility and mortality

trends have influenced the age structure changes in all

these populations, immigration trends have also been a

major factor underlying changes in the age structure of

the Asian and Pacific Islander population.

In 1900, the White, Black, and American Indian and

Alaska Native populations were all relatively young,

which can be seen by the pyramid shape of their age

structures. The under 5 age group was the largest for

all three races (see Appendix Table 11). On the other

hand, the Asian and Pacific Islander population in 1900

consisted largely of working-age men, as a result of the

heavy influx of Chinese and Japanese workers to the

United States during the late 19th century. The largest

5-year age group was 35-to-39 year olds, who made up

15 percent of the Asian and Pacific Islander population.

The absence of women in the population pyramid

reflects the effects of various exclusionary immigration

policies. As a result of the unique immigration patterns

of the Asian and Pacific Islander population, its age

pyramid in 1900 differed sharply from that of the other

races and this marked difference continued for

decades.

From 1900 to 1950, the White and Black populations

became older as fertility declined, but somewhat large

proportions of their populations were still under age

10. The largest 5-year age group for both Blacks and

Whites in 1950 was children under age 5. This reflects

the fertility during the start of the post World War II

baby boom.

The American Indian and Alaska Native population

remained a very young population in 1950, and the

base of its age pyramid had not narrowed since 1900

as it did in the White and Black populations. This was

due to the relatively high fertility of the American

Indian and Alaska Native population. Graphically, the

age structure generally remained in the classic pyramid shape of five decades earlier. The under 5 age

group among American Indians and Alaska Natives

was still proportionally larger (15 percent of the total)

than the rest of the other 5-year age groups.

By 2000, the age structures of the White, Black, and

American Indian and Alaska Native populations had

taken on a more rectangular shape, characteristic of

older populations. While all three groups had older

populations, the White population was the oldest. In

2000, 7.0 percent of the White population was 75

years or older compared with only 2.1 percent of the

American Indian and Alaska Native population and 

3.5 percent of the Black population.

The age structure of the Asian and Pacific Islander population changed significantly during both halves of the

century. From 1900 to 1950, it became much less

unbalanced among the different age groups and also

between the sexes. By 2000, the age structure of the

Asian and Pacific Islander population more closely

resembled the age structures of the White, Black, and

American Indian and Alaska Native populations, with a

more balanced sex ratio. However, the influence of international migration remained, as evidenced by the relatively high proportion in the young adult age groups. 

The White, Black, and American Indian and Alaska Native

populations all aged over the century.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 103

Figure 3-18.

Age and Sex Distribution of the Total Population by Race: 

1900, 1950, and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, 1950, and 2000.

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

<5

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75+

Male

Female

Percent

87654321 012345678

Percent

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 01234567 8

-87654321 0

<5

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75+

012345678 87654321 012345678 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 01234567 8

Percent

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0

<5

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75+

012345678 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 012345678 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 01234567 8

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0

<5

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75+

012345678

1900

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 012345678

1950

1950

1950

1950

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 01234567 8

2000

1900 2000

1900 2000

1900 2000

White

Black

American Indian and Alaska Native

Asian and Pacific Islander

012
104 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The age and sex distributions for the Hispanic and nonHispanic populations for 1980 and 2000 are shown by

the population pyramids in Figure 3-19. The shapes of

the pyramids reveal that Hispanics were much younger

than non-Hispanics in 1980 and 2000, although both

populations “aged” over the 20-year period.

The age and sex distributions of the Hispanic population in 1980 and 2000 show large proportions at

young ages and progressively smaller proportions at

older ages, indicating a relatively young population.

The wider base of the pyramid reflects relatively high

Hispanic fertility. Comparatively, the age and sex

pyramid of the non-Hispanic population has a much

more rectangular shape, indicative of an older population. The base of the non-Hispanic pyramid is narrower, and the proportion of the population in the

older age groups is much higher.

In 1980, children under age 5 represented the largest

5-year age group (11 percent) of the Hispanic population, compared with non-Hispanics, who had only 

7 percent of their population under age 5. In contrast

to Hispanics, 20-to-24-year olds represented the

largest 5-year age group for the non-Hispanic population in 1980 (see Appendix Table 11).

Two decades later, the Hispanic population had grown

older, but remained relatively young. In 2000, the

largest 5-year age group in the Hispanic population

was still children under age 5. Among non-Hispanics,

the largest 5-year age group in 2000 had shifted to the

40-to-44-year olds, reflecting the aging of the group

born during the peak years of the baby boom (1956 to

1960) over the period 1980 to 2000.

The Hispanic age and sex structure maintained a

“bulge” around the broad age range of 15 to 29 years

in both 1980 and 2000. While the individual 5-year

age groups within that range did not exceed the proportion of the population in the under 5 age group,

together they accounted for nearly one-third of the

Hispanic population (31 percent). This bulge resulted

primarily from the continued migration of Hispanics to

the United States. 

For non-Hispanics, the bulge in the 1980 age distribution was also concentrated around the younger age

groups, extending roughly from the ages of 15 to 34

years. However, the bulge in the non-Hispanic population in these ages coincides with the presence of the

baby-boom generation (roughly ages 16 to 34 in

1980). Unlike the Hispanic age distribution, the bulge

in the non-Hispanic population shifted to the age

range 35-to-54 years by 2000, again reflecting the

aging of the baby-boom generation.

The youthfulness of the Hispanic population compared with the non-Hispanic population is also apparent from the proportions of their populations at older

ages. While the age distributions of both populations

become progressively smaller with age, non-Hispanics

had much larger proportions in older age groups than

Hispanics. About 5 percent of the Hispanic population

was 65 years and over in both 1980 and 2000, whereas people age 65 and over represented 12 percent of

non-Hispanics in 1980 and 14 percent in 2000. 

In 1980 and 2000, Hispanics were much younger 

than non-Hispanics.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 105

Hispanic Non-Hispanic 2000

Figure 3-19.

Age and Sex Distribution of the Total Population 

by Hispanic Origin: 1980 and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 and 2000.

7654321

<5

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

01234567

Male

Female

Hispanic

Percent

7654321 01234567

Non-Hispanic

Percent

7654321

<5

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

01234567

Percent

7654321 01234567

Percent

1980
106 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The trends in median age by race and Hispanic origin

over the course of the century reveal some similarities

and some marked differences (see Figure 3-20). For

example, the White and the Black populations followed

similar patterns of change, with increasing median

ages every decade during the first half of the century,

declining median age in the 1950s and 1960s, and

increasing median ages throughout the remainder of

the century. 

In contrast, the American Indian and Alaska Native and

the Asian and Pacific Islander populations followed

quite different trends. From 1900 and for most of the

century, the median age for American Indians and

Alaska Natives changed little, and more than half of

this population was under 21 years old (see Appendix

Table 11). Asians and Pacific Islanders, on the other

hand, had their highest median age at the outset of

the century, and it generally declined until 1980. The

high median ages at the beginning of the century are

a by-product of predominantly adult male migration.

Apart from the general trends of each group, there

have been fairly consistent differences in the relative

levels of median ages across race and Hispanic origin.

Both Blacks and American Indians and Alaska Natives

had younger median ages throughout the century than

did other races. Hispanic origin data, first collected on

a 100-percent basis in 1980, show that Hispanics also

had a young median age. Furthermore, Census 2000

showed that people who reported more than one race

are another very young population group. By comparison, the White and the Asian and Pacific Islander

populations consistently had higher median ages.

Between the race and Hispanic-origin groups, the

White non-Hispanic population has had the “oldest”

median age, increasing from 31.7 in 1980 to 38.6 in

2000. 

The Black and the American Indian and Alaska Native populations

were younger than the White and the Asian and Pacific Islander

populations during the entire century.

Years

Figure 3-20.

Median Age by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1900 to 2000

Note: Data on Hispanic origin have been available on a 100-percent basis since 1980 only, and data on the 

population of Two or more races are available from Census 2000 only.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Asian and Pacific Islander

White

Black

American Indian and Alaska Native

Two or more races

White Non-Hispanic

Hispanic
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 107

The rapidly increasing diversity of the U.S. population

in the last two decades of the 20th century is indicated by the trend in the age distribution of the aggregate Minority population (see Figure 3-21).46 Each

broad age group increased in a consistent pattern over

the last 20 years of the century. 

Figure 3-21 demonstrates that younger age groups

have had a higher percentage Minority than older age

groups. In 1980, the percentage Minority ranged from

12 percent for the population age 65 and over to 

25 percent for people under age 25. By 2000, the percentage Minority ranged from 16 percent for the

population age 65 and over to 39 percent for people

under age 25. 

For every age group, the percentage-point increase in

the 1990s for the Minority population exceeded the

1980s increase. In addition to an overall higher percentage Minority, younger age groups experienced

greater percentage-point gains than older age groups

in both the 1980s and the 1990s. As a result, the difference between the youngest and the oldest age

groups in their percentage of Minority population

widened over the 20-year period. 

The trends in the percentage Minority for most age

groups reflect the relatively high levels of international migration of Asians and Hispanics in recent

decades. Since immigration is a less significant factor

for the population age 65 years and over, the increase

in the percentage Minority for this age group has been

less pronounced. 

Younger age groups had the highest percentage Minority, 

and older age groups had the lowest.

46 The aggregate Minority population as shown in this report represents people who are races other than White (and other than White

alone for Census 2000) or who are Hispanic. For more details, see the

Sources and Quality of Data section and the Glossary.

Figure 3-21.

Percent Minority by Broad Age Group: 1980 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 to 2000.

38.9

32.8

23.5

16.4

30.6

24.6

19.0

13.4

25.1

20.3

15.5

12.1

Under 25 25-44 45-64 65+

1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000

Age group
108 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

During the 20th century, race groups in the United

States had varying rates of fertility, the principal factor

determining the proportion of young people in a population. Even so, nearly every race group experienced

a general decline in their young populations.

The proportion under age 15 was lower in 1940 than

in 1900 for every race group, with the exception of the

Asian and Pacific Islander population (see Figure 3-22).

Asians and Pacific Islanders experienced a large

increase in their young population due to a combination of factors, including the increased immigration of

families and their natural increase.

The only period of increase in the under age 15 population for every race group occurred from 1940 to

1960. This period coincides with the majority of the

baby-boom years (1946 to 1964). However, from the

1960s onward, the proportion of young people in each

race group’s population continued to decline as fertility rates declined. Hispanics experienced a slight

increase in the proportion under age 15 years during

the 1990s. 

The Black and the American Indian and Alaska Native

populations had much higher proportions of people

under 15 years of age compared with the White and

the Asian and Pacific Islander populations. The

American Indian and Alaska Native population had the

highest percentage under age 15 for most of the 20th

century, and in 1960 had a higher proportion (42 percent) than any race or ethnic group during the entire

century (see Appendix Table 11). 

In 1980, when data first became available for the

Hispanic population at the 100-percent level, Hispanics

had the highest percentage under age 15 (32 percent)

among the groups considered, although just slightly

higher than the American Indian and Alaska Native

population. Relatively high fertility of the Hispanic

population mainly accounts for this high proportion.

On the other hand, White non-Hispanics had the lowest

percentage under age 15 from 1980 to 2000. In 2000,

the Two or more races population (available in Census

2000 for the first time) had the highest proportion of

people under age 15 (36 percent). 

American Indians and Alaska Natives had the highest 

percentage under age 15 and Blacks the second highest, 

for most of the 20th century.

Percent

Figure 3-22.

Percent Under Age 15 by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1900 to 2000 

Note: Data on Hispanic origin have been available on a 100-percent basis since 1980 only, and data on the 

population of Two or more races are available from Census 2000 only.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Asian and Pacific Islander

White

Black

American Indian and Alaska Native

Two or more 

races

White Non-Hispanic

Hispanic
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 109

The proportion of the population age 65 years and over

was higher in 2000 than in 1900 for every race (see

Figure 3-23), but different trends occurred among the

groups. For the Black and White populations, the proportion elderly grew steadily, in contrast to the fluctuation in

the proportion 65 years and over for the Asian and Pacific

Islander population. The proportion elderly for American

Indians and Alaska Natives fluctuated slightly, but

remained relatively stable over the course of the century.

The White population experienced the largest increase in

its proportion elderly, from 4 percent in 1900 to 14 percent in 2000. Conversely, the American Indian and

Alaska Native population experienced the least change

in its proportion elderly, varying from 4.6 percent in

1900 to 5.8 percent in 1990 (see Appendix Table 11).

The American Indian and Alaska Native population had

the highest proportion elderly from 1900 to 1920, but

then had one of the lowest proportions elderly by the

end of the century. By 1930, the proportion of the White

population that was 65 years and over had surpassed

that of the American Indian and Alaska Native population. Since then, the White, and since 1980, the White

non-Hispanic, populations have had, by far, the highest

percentage elderly. In 2000, the White non-Hispanic

population had the century’s highest proportion age 65

years and over of any race or ethnic group (15 percent).

This results primarily from the sustained lower fertility

levels of this population group. 

Over the decades, the group with the lowest proportion

of elderly shifted across race and ethnic groups. Asians

and Pacific Islanders had the lowest proportion elderly

from 1900 to 1940 (and the lowest of the century—

1.5 percent in 1900), followed by American Indians and

Alaska Natives from 1950 to 1970. Since 1980, when

data on the Hispanic population were first collected on a

100-percent basis, Hispanics have had the lowest proportion of elderly in each census. Relatively high levels

of fertility combined with large-scale immigration of

young adults have kept the proportion of elderly low

among Hispanics. Census 2000, the first census to allow

individuals to report themselves as more than one race,

found that the Two or more races population also had a

low proportion age 65 and over (5.0 percent), comparable to that of the Hispanic population (4.9 percent). 

Since 1930, the White (and since 1980 the White non-Hispanic)

population has had the highest percentage 

age 65 years and over.

Percent

Figure 3-23.

Percent Age 65 and Over by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1900 to 2000

Note: Data on Hispanic origin have been available on a 100-percent basis since 1980 only, and data on the

population of Two or more races are available from Census 2000 only.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Asian and Pacific Islander

White

Black

American Indian and 

Alaska Native

White Non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Two or more 

races
110 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The sex ratio trends of the Black and the White populations have been similar during the century, while the

Asian and Pacific Islander population and the

American Indian and Alaska Native population have

followed two distinct patterns (see Figure 3-24).

The sex ratios of the White and the Black populations

increased early in the century, steadily declined to

1980, then increased to 2000. The arrival of relatively more male immigrants at the beginning of the century contributed to the initial sex ratio increase for

Whites. Greater improvement in female than male

mortality rates generally explains the declining sex

ratios up to 1980 for the White and Black populations,

while greater improvement in male than female mortality rates in part explains the 1980 to 2000 increase.

The sex ratio for Asians and Pacific Islanders varied

much more than for other race groups. In 1900, Asian

and Pacific Islanders had the highest sex ratio (1,974)

of the century. This extreme excess of males originated because Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants

in the late 19th century were almost exclusively men.

As late as 1950, Asians and Pacific Islanders had a sex

ratio of 145 (see Appendix Table 16). The sex ratio

declined as family immigration and fertility among the

immigrants increased the representation of women

within the Asian and Pacific Islander population.

The sex ratio trend for the American Indian and Alaska

Native population also followed a unique path. In

general, the sex ratio rose from 1900 to 1950,

declined to 1970, and increased slightly for the

remainder of the century. Interpreting the factors contributing to this trend is problematic, as documentation of changes in the American Indian and Alaska

Native population have been affected by changes in

census procedures and changes in racial affiliation.47

Between the race and Hispanic-origin groups, Blacks

had the lowest sex ratio throughout the century. Black

females outnumbered Black males every decade, and

the Black population had the century’s lowest sex ratio

(89.6) in 1980. Differences in the census coverage of

Black males relative to Black females contributed to

overall lower sex ratios for the Black population, as

did a comparatively lower sex ratio at birth. 

Asians and Pacific Islanders had the highest sex ratio

of the race and ethnic groups from 1900 to 1970.

Hispanics maintained the highest sex ratio of these

groups from 1980 to 2000. 

At the end of the century, the male population exceeded the female population among Hispanics and (slightly) for the Two or more races population. For all other

race and ethnic groups, the female population outnumbered the male population. 

Black females outnumbered Black males in every 

decade of the century.

47 For further discussion of the history of population data on the

American Indian and Alaska Native population, see C. Matthew Snipp,

2000, “American Indians and Alaska Natives,” Encyclopedia of the U.S.

Census, Margo J. Anderson (ed.).
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 111

Males per 100 females

Note: Data on Hispanic origin have been available on a 100-percent basis since 1980 only, and data on the 

population of Two or more races are available from Census 2000 only. Data for the Asian and Pacific Islander

population by sex are available prior to 1960 but the sex ratios are not shown since the values far exceed the 

highest level shown in Figure 3-24. The sex ratios for the Asian and Pacific Islander population declined from 

1,974 in 1900 to 145 in 1950.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

115

120

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Asian and Pacific Islander

White

Black

American Indian and 

Alaska Native

White 

Non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Figure 3-24.

Sex Ratio by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1900 to 2000 

Two or more races
Chapter 4

HOUSING
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 115

National Trends

From 1940 to 2000, the number of housing units in

the United States more than tripled—from 37.3 million

to 115.9 million. 

From 1940 to 2000, the largest housing unit increase

(19.7 million) occurred in the 1970s, and the smallest

increase (8.7 million) took place in the 1940s. 

The number of vacant housing units increased in

every decade from 1940 to 2000, except for the

1960s, when they declined by 73,000. The lowest

housing vacancy rate (6.6 percent) occurred in 1940,

and the highest vacancy rate (10.1 percent) in 1990. 

Prior to 1950, over half of all occupied housing units

were rented. By 1950, homeownership became more

prevalent than renting. The homeownership rate continued to increase until 1980, decreased slightly in the

1980s, and then increased in the 1990s, reaching the

highest level of the century (66 percent) in Census 2000.

From 1960 to 2000, nonmetropolitan areas had higher homeownership rates than metropolitan areas.

Within metropolitan areas, the homeownership rate

was much higher in the suburbs than in central cities.

From 1960 to 2000, householders age 65 years and

over were more likely to own their homes than householders under age 65.

At the end of the 20th century, householders who

were Black, Hispanic, or of two or more races were

more likely to rent than own their homes.

From 1940 to 2000, householders living alone were

less likely to own their homes than householders living with other people.

Regional Trends

Every region experienced an increase in vacancy rates

during the 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s and a decrease in

vacancy rates during the 1960s and the 1990s.

From 1940 to 1960, the West had the highest vacancy

rate, then from 1970 to 2000, the South had the highest vacancy rate.

The 1930s was the only decade when the proportion

of owner-occupied housing units declined in every

region. The largest increase in homeownership rates

for each region then occurred in the following decade,

the 1940s, as the economy recovered from the

Depression and experienced post-World War II prosperity.

Each region’s highest homeownership rate of the century was recorded in 2000.

The Midwest had the highest homeownership rate for

every decade of the century, except in 1910, when the

West ranked first.

State Trends

Ohio and Illinois ranked among the ten states with the

lowest vacancy rates in every census from 1940 to

2000.

Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, and Vermont all

ranked among the ten states with the highest vacancy

rates every census from 1940 to 2000. 

South Carolina’s homeownership rate experienced the

largest percentage point increase (42 percentage

points) during the century, from 31 percent in 1900 to

72 percent in 2000. North Dakota experienced the

largest percentage point drop (14 percentage points)

in its homeownership rate, from 81 percent in 1900 to

67 percent in 2000.

Michigan and Minnesota were the only two states to

be among the ten states with the highest homeownership rates for every census. States with consistently

low homeownership rates included Alaska, Hawaii,

Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.

Chapter Highlights

HOUSING
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 117

Prior to 1940, the population census collected limited

information on the number of occupied housing units

in the United States. More detailed information on the

characteristics of housing units became available

when the first census of housing was conducted in

1940. Information on housing tenure (owner occupied or renter occupied) has been collected on a 100-

percent basis since 1900 and information on occupancy status (occupied or vacant) since 1940. Many other

characteristics of housing units were collected in

Census 2000, but only on a sample-basis. 

In the 20th century, a basic American dream of owning

a home became a reality for the majority of U.S.

households. In the censuses of 1900 to 1940, most

Americans reported renting their homes. By 1950,

most Americans owned their homes, and by 2000,

homeownership in the United States had reached its

highest level (66 percent) ever. Economic prosperity,

changes in the mortgage financing system, and corresponding increases in the proportion of households

that could afford to buy a home propelled these 20th

century trends. 

The number of housing units in the United States

tripled from 37.3 million in 1940 to 115.9 million in

2000. During the same period, the number of vacant

housing units increased from 2.5 million to 10.4 million, representing 9 percent of all U.S. housing units in

2000. Vacancy rates both nationally and in each

region fluctuated over the years. From 1970 to 2000,

the South had the highest proportion of vacant housing units. Most state vacancy rates were higher in

2000 than in 1940, and the 11 states whose vacancy

rates decreased were in either the Northeast or the

West. Only Ohio and Illinois consistently ranked

among the ten states with the lowest vacancy rates

from 1940 to 2000, while Maine, Montana, New

Hampshire, and Vermont all consistently ranked

among the ten states with the highest vacancy rates

during this period. These high vacancy rate states

have high proportions of “seasonal vacants.” 

While the homeownership rate in the United States

reached its highest level ever in Census 2000, important geographic differences and differences by the

characteristics of the householder remained.

Regionally, the Midwest (except for 1910) had the

highest rate of homeownership throughout the century. By the end of the century, homeowners represented the majority of householders in the 50 states. (In

the District of Columbia, a state equivalent for statistical purposes, renters continued to outnumber homeowners.) Census data reveal that from 1960 to 2000,

central city householders had lower levels of homeownership than suburban householders and nonmetropolitan householders throughout the period.

Considering householder characteristics, older householders, White and White non-Hispanic householders,

and householders living with at least one other person

were more likely to be homeowners than younger

householders, Hispanic or race-other-than-White

householders, or people living alone, respectively. 

The graphics and text in this chapter depict the trends

in the number and proportional distribution of total,

occupied, and vacant housing units and in the numbers and proportions of owner-occupied and renteroccupied housing units. Trends are shown for different periods of time depending on the availability of

data. Housing unit and homeownership trends are

examined for the United States, regions, and states

(and by metropolitan status for homeownership).

Additionally, the chapter discusses homeownership

trends by the age, race, and Hispanic origin of the

householder and by the size of the household.

Appendix Table 12 provides detailed data by occupancy and tenure. 

Chapter 4

HOUSING
118 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

In 1940, when the U.S. Census Bureau conducted the

first census of housing, there were 37.3 million housing units (see Figure 4-1).48 By 2000, the number of

housing units had more than tripled to 115.9 million.

The largest numerical census-to-census increase in

housing units (19.7 million) and the highest percentage increase (29 percent) occurred from 1970 to 1980.

While the smallest numerical increase in housing units

(8.7 million) took place in the 1940s, the lowest percentage increase (13 percent) occurred in the 1990s. 

As Figure 4-1 shows, housing units are classified as

either occupied or vacant. From 1940 to 2000, the

number of occupied housing units increased every

decade. In 1940, there were 34.9 million occupied

housing units. By 2000, the number of occupied

housing units had tripled to 105.5 million. As was

true for total housing units, both the largest numerical

and percentage increases in occupied units occurred

in the 1970s (16.9 million and 27 percent, respectively). The smallest numerical increase in occupied housing units (8.0 million) occurred in the 1940s and the

lowest percentage increase (14 percent) in the 1980s.

Vacant housing units increased every decade except

for the 1960s, when they declined by 1.4 percent, or

by 73,000 units (see Appendix Table 12). In 1940,

there were 2.5 million vacant housing units. By 2000,

there were 10.4 million vacant housing units. The

largest increase in vacant housing units (2.8 million)

coincided with the largest increase in occupied housing units from 1970 to 1980, while the highest percentage increase (68 percent) occurred in the 1950s.

From 1940 to 2000, the proportion of all housing

units that were occupied remained fairly stable (see

Figure 4-2). Vacant housing units exist for a number

of reasons, such as local economic conditions, seasonal housing units, or the result of people moving

from one residence to another.49

In 1940, only 6.6 percent of all housing units were

vacant, the lowest vacancy rate from 1940 to 2000.

Between 1940 and 1960, the proportion of vacant

housing units increased slightly, while from 1960

onward the proportion of vacant housing units fluctuated. The highest vacancy rate was in 1990, when

10.1 percent of all housing units in the United States

were vacant.

Between 1940 and 2000, about 90 percent of 

all housing units were occupied.

48 See the Glossary for the definition of a housing unit.

49 Census 2000 subdivided vacant housing units into six housing

market classifications: for rent; for sale only; rented or sold, not

occupied; for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use; for migrant

workers; and other vacant.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 119

(Millions)

Figure 4-1.

Total Housing Units by Occupancy Status: 1940 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of housing, 1940 to 2000.

Vacant housing units

Occupied housing units

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

34.9

42.8

53.0

63.4

80.4

91.9

105.5

37.3

46.0

58.3

68.7

88.4

102.3

115.9

10.4

10.3

8.0

5.2

5.3

(Percent)

Figure 4-2.

Distribution of Total Housing Units by Occupancy 

Status: 1940 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of housing, 1940 to 2000.

Vacant housing units

Occupied housing units

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

93.4 93.1 90.9 92.4 90.9 89.9 91.0

6.6 6.9 9.1 7.6 9.1 10.1 9.0

3.2

2.5
120 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The regions generally followed similar patterns in the

changes in their proportion of vacant housing units

from 1940 to 2000 (see Figure 4-3). Every region

experienced an increase in vacancy rates during the

1950s, 1970s, and 1980s and a decrease in vacancy

rates during the 1960s and the 1990s.

The Northeast, the Midwest, and the South had their

highest vacancy rate in 1990 (9.3 percent, 8.9 percent,

and 11.8 percent, respectively). The lowest vacancy

rate in the Midwest and the South occurred in 1940

(5.5 percent for both), and the Northeast’s lowest

vacancy rate occurred in 1950 (6.8 percent). The West

differed from the other regions, as its highest vacancy

rate was in 1960 (9.8 percent) and was followed by its

lowest vacancy rate in 1970 (7.1 percent). 

The regions experienced different ranges in their

vacancy rates over the 1940 to 2000 period. The

Northeast experienced the narrowest range (2.5 percentage points), and the South experienced the widest

gap (6.3 percentage points).

From 1940 to 1960, the West had the highest vacancy

rate among the regions. From 1970 to 2000, the

South recorded the highest vacancy rates in the country, including the highest vacancy rate of any region

during the period from 1940 to 2000 (11.8 percent in

1990). The Midwest or the Northeast had the lowest

vacancy rate in every census from 1940 to 1990. The

West had the lowest vacancy rate (7.9 percent) in

2000, becoming the only region to have had both the

lowest and the highest (from 1940 to 1960) vacancy

rates during the 1940 to 2000 period.

The difference in the vacancy rates between the region

with the highest rate and the region with the lowest

rate varied. The largest differential (3.5 percentage

points) occurred in 1940, when the West had a vacancy rate of 8.9 percent and the Midwest a vacancy rate

of 5.5 percent. By 1960, the difference in vacancy

rates decreased to 1.4 percentage points, the smallest

difference of the period. The difference increased to

2.9 percentage points in 1990 and then decreased to

2.4 percentage points in 2000.

From 1970 to 2000, the South had the highest 

housing vacancy rate.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 121

Percent of housing units vacant

Figure 4-3.

Vacancy Rate by Region: 1940 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of housing, 1940 to 2000.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Midwest

West

South

Northeast
122 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Most states had higher vacancy rates in 2000 than

they did in 1940, but only 11 states in the Northeast

or the West had lower rates: California, Colorado,

Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire,

New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and

Washington.

From 1940 to 2000, an increasing number of states

had a housing vacancy rate of 10 percent or more (see

Figure 4-4). In 1940, eight states (Arizona, Colorado,

Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New

Mexico, and Vermont) had vacancy rates of at least 

10 percent. In some cases, particularly in Florida and

Maine, higher vacancy rates result from a relatively

high proportion of housing units classified as “Vacant

for seasonal, recreational, and occasional use,” also

known as “vacation” homes.

By 2000, the number of states with a vacancy rate of

10 percent or more tripled to 24. Four states (Maine,

New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Vermont) maintained a vacancy rate of 10 percent or higher from

1940 through 2000 (see Appendix Table 12).

Ohio and Illinois were the only states to be among the

ten states with the lowest vacancy rates every decade

from 1940 to 2000. The vacancy rate remained below

7 percent for the entire period in Illinois, and from

1940 to 1990 in Ohio. 

The lowest vacancy rate during the period from 1940

to 2000 occurred in the District of Columbia in 1950,

when only 2.4 percent of its housing units were

vacant. Among the 50 states, West Virginia had the

lowest vacancy rate during the period: 3.2 percent in

1940. However, by 2000, the vacancy rate in West

Virginia had risen to 13 percent, a rate well above the

national average of 9 percent.

Maine had the highest vacancy rate from 1940 to

2000, at 24 percent in 1970. Even at its lowest level

of vacancy in 1940, 16 percent of the housing units in

Maine were vacant. Maine, Montana, New Hampshire,

and Vermont all ranked among the ten states with the

highest vacancy rates every decade from 1940 to

2000.

The six states which were below the national vacancy

rate every decade from 1940 to 2000 were Illinois,

Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. 

From 1940 to 2000, more states (25) experienced their

lowest vacancy rate in 1940 than in any other census

year. On the other hand, more states (22, including the

District of Columbia) experienced their highest vacancy rate in 1990 than in any other census year. 

From 1940 through 2000, Maine, New Hampshire, 

Vermont, and Montana ranked among the ten states with 

the highest vacancy rates.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 123

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

FL

CA

NY

TX

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ

NM

UT

CO

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

Figure 4-4.

Vacancy Rate by State: 1940 and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of housing, 1940 and 2000.

10 or more

7 to 10

Less than 7

Not applicable

Percent vacant housing units

2000

1940
124 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Occupied housing units are classified as either owned

or rented. Renter-occupied housing units outnumbered owner-occupied housing units from 1900 to

1940 (see Figure 4-5). In 1900, there were 8.2 million

renter-occupied housing units and 7.2 million owneroccupied housing units. Owner-occupied units

increased by only 1.2 million from 1930 to 1940,

while renter-occupied units increased by 4.3 million. 

As the U.S. economy improved during the 1940s, so

did the level of homeownership. From 1940 to 1950,

owner-occupied units increased by 8.4 million while

renter-occupied units decreased by about 400,000,

the only decrease in either owner- or renter-occupied

housing units to take place during the century.

From 1900 to 1950, the number of owner-occupied

housing units tripled to 23.6 million. The number of

renter-occupied units more than doubled to 19.3 million. By 1950, owner-occupied units outnumbered

renter-occupied units and continued to do so for the

remainder of the century. 

From 1950 to 2000, the increase in owner-occupied

units far outpaced the growth of renter-occupied units.

Owner-occupied units grew by 46.3 million, to a total

of 69.8 million in 2000, while renter-occupied units

increased by only 16.4 million, to a total of 35.7 million in 2000.

In 1900, 47 percent of housing units were owner occupied (see Figure 4-6), a proportion that remained fairly stable until the 1930s, when the depression lowered

homeownership rates. By 1940, only 44 percent of

housing units were owner occupied, the lowest proportion of owners during the entire century.

By 1950, more than half of all occupied housing units

were owned. Homeownership rates had surpassed

rental rates and continued to increase until 1980,

when 64 percent of housing units were owner occupied. The homeownership rate decreased slightly during the 1980s, but increased during the 1990s to

reach the highest homeownership rate of the century

in 2000 at 66 percent.

Since 1950, more than half of all occupied 

housing units have been owner occupied.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 125

(Millions)

Figure 4-5.

Occupied Housing Units by Tenure: 1900 to 2000

Note: Totals for 1900 to 1930 include occupied housing units with tenure unknown.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 1930, and decennial census of 

housing, 1940 to 2000.

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Renter occupied

Owner occupied

8.2 10.7 12.9 15.3

19.7

19.3

20.2

23.6

28.6

32.9

35.7

7.2 9.1 10.9 14.0 15.2 23.6

32.8

39.9

51.8 59.0

69.8

16.0

20.3

24.4

29.9

34.9

42.8

53.0

63.4

80.4

91.9

105.5

(Percent)

Figure 4-6.

Distribution of Occupied Housing Units 

by Tenure: 1900 to 2000 

Note: Percents for 1900 to 1930 are based on occupied housing units with tenure reported.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 1930, and decennial census of 

housing, 1940 to 2000.

Renter occupied

Owner occupied

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

53.3

46.7 45.9 45.6 47.8

43.6

55.0

61.9 62.9 64.4 64.2 66.2

54.1 54.4

52.2

56.4

45.0

38.1 37.1 35.6 35.8 33.8
126 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Every region followed a relatively similar pattern in

homeownership rates over the century and had a

higher homeownership rate in 2000 than in 1900 (see

Figure 4-7). Homeownership rates among the regions

ranged from 37 percent in the Northeast in 1910 to 

70 percent in the Midwest in 2000.

The period from 1930 to 1940 was the only decade in

which the proportion of owner-occupied housing units

declined in every region. Conversely, the largest percentage-point increase in homeownership rates for

every region took place during the following decade,

from 1940 to 1950, as the U.S. economy rebounded

and home building expanded after World War II.

Homeownership rates continued to increase during

the 1950s. By the 1960 census, the rate of homeownership was 50 percent or higher in every region

for the first time, and it remained above 50 percent

through the end of the century.

In 1940, the Midwest, the South, and the West recorded

their lowest homeownership rates of any decennial census during the century, while the Northeast experienced

its lowest rate in 1910. Each region’s highest homeownership rate of the century occurred in 2000.

Among the regions, the Midwest had the highest

homeownership rate for every decade of the century,

except in 1910, when the West ranked first. More than

half of all housing units in the Midwest and in the West

were owner occupied at every census, except in 1940,

when the homeownership rate declined to 49 percent.

During the first half of the century, the West ranked

behind the Midwest in terms of homeownership but

was replaced by the South from 1960 to 2000. The

Northeast had the lowest homeownership rate for

most of the century, except for the South in 1930 and

the West in 1990 and 2000.

Since 1910, the gap between the region with the highest homeownership rate and the region with the lowest homeownership rate narrowed each decade,

except in the 1940s. The widest differential was 

18.7 percentage points in 1910 (55 percent in the

West and 37 percent in the Northeast). The smallest

differential was 8.7 percentage points in 2000 (70 percent in the Midwest and 61 percent in the West).

For every decade, except the 1910s, the Midwest 

had the highest homeownership rate.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 127

Percent

Figure 4-7.

Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units by Region: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 1930, and decennial census of 

housing, 1940 to 2000.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Midwest

West

South

Northeast
128 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Overall, homeownership rates among the states and

the District of Columbia were higher in 2000 than they

were in 1900 (see Figure 4-8). Idaho, Nevada, North

Dakota, and South Dakota were the only states with

lower homeownership rates in 2000 than in 1900.

The lowest and the highest homeownership rates of

the century occurred in 1900 (24 percent in the

District of Columbia and 81 percent in North Dakota).

In 1900, 26 states had homeownership rates of 

50 percent or higher. Of those 26, only 3 states,

Idaho, South Dakota, and North Dakota, had homeownership rates of 70 percent or higher. By 2000, all

50 states had a homeownership rate of 50 percent or

higher and the number of states with a homeownership rate of 70 percent or more had increased to 17.

Several states experienced significant increases or

decreases in their homeownership rates from 1900 to

2000. South Carolina experienced the largest percentage-point increase, from 31 percent in 1900 to 72 percent in 2000 (an increase of 42 percentage points).

Other states that experienced increases of 30 percentage points or more were Alabama, Delaware, Georgia,

Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

North Dakota experienced the largest percentage-point

drop (14 percentage points) in its homeownership rate,

from 81 percent in 1900 to 67 percent in 2000.

Several states had consistently high (50 percent or more)

homeownership rates over the century (see Appendix

Table 12). These states are concentrated in the upper

Midwest and the West. For example, Michigan and

Minnesota were the only states that ranked among the

ten states with the highest homeownership rates at

every census. Idaho, Maine, and Utah were also among

the top ten, with the exception of a decade or two. Utah

was the only state in which the homeownership rate

never dropped below 60 percent.

On the other hand, states with consistently lower

homeownership rates included Alaska, Hawaii,

Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. In 1980,

New York was the only state with more renters than

homeowners, but by 1990, it reached a homeownership rate exceeding 50 percent. The District of

Columbia, a state equivalent for statistical purposes,

had the lowest homeownership rate for every census

but one (Georgia was lowest in 1930) and never

reached a homeownership rate of 50 percent. In

2000, it reached its highest homeownership rate at 

41 percent.

The ranking of the rate of homeownership by state

changed significantly during the century. Comparing

rankings in 1900 with those in 2000, Alabama,

Delaware, Mississippi, and South Carolina experienced

the largest increases, led by South Carolina’s jump

from 47th to 9th in 2000. Nevada, North Dakota,

Oregon, and South Dakota experienced the largest

decreases in their rank of homeownership, led by

Nevada’s drop from 6th in 1900 to 46th in 2000. 

Michigan and Minnesota were the only states to rank 

among the ten states with the highest homeownership rates

throughout the century.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 129

Figure 4-8.

Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units by State: 

1900, 1950, and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, and decennial 

census of housing, 1950 and 2000.

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

1950

2000

70 or more

60 to 70

50 to 60

Less than 50

Not applicable

Percent owner-occupied 

housing units 

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

1900
130 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

From 1960 to 2000, nonmetropolitan50 areas had

higher homeownership rates than metropolitan areas

(see Figure 4-9). Homeownership rates in nonmetropolitan areas ranged from 67 percent in 1960 to 

74 percent in 2000. Homeownership rates in metropolitan areas ranged from 59 percent in 1960 to 

64 percent in 2000. Even at its highest point, the

homeownership rate in metropolitan areas was still

below the lowest homeownership rate in nonmetropolitan areas (see Appendix Table 16).

Homeownership rates were higher in 2000 than in

1960 for both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan

areas. The homeownership rate increased every

decade from 1960 to 2000 for metropolitan areas,

while the rate in nonmetropolitan areas increased

from 1960 to 1980, declined during the 1980s, and

then increased again during the 1990s.

Within metropolitan areas, the homeownership rate in

the suburbs was much higher than in central cities.

During the period 1960 to 2000, the homeownership

rate ranged from 70 percent to 73 percent in the suburbs but from 47 percent to 51 percent in central

cities. In 1960, the homeownership rate in the suburbs was higher than in nonmetropolitan areas, but

from 1970 onward, nonmetropolitan areas have had a

higher homeownership rate than either suburban

areas or central cities.

Less than half of occupied housing units in central

cities were owner occupied from 1960 to 1990.

Owner-occupied units exceeded renter-occupied units

in central cities for the first time in Census 2000.

Residents in central cities have been much less 

likely to own their homes.

Percent

Figure 4-9.

Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units by 

Metropolitan Status: 1960 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of housing, 1960 to 2000.

Suburban

Nonmetropolitan

Metropolitan

Central city

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

50 See the Glossary for definitions of metropolitan areas, nonmetropolitan areas, suburbs, and central cities.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 131

As people age, they are more likely to have characteristics that make it easier to own a home, such as being

married and having a higher income. In general,

homeownership rates increase as age increases, peaking at 65-to-74 years of age and declining with age

thereafter.51 As Figure 4-10 shows, from 1960 to

2000, householders age 65 years and over were more

likely to own their homes than householders under

age 65.

The homeownership rate among householders age 65

and over declined between 1960 and 1970; among

householders under age 65 it declined between 1980

and 1990, but both groups attained their highest

homeownership rates in 2000, 78 percent and 63 percent, respectively.

In addition to having higher homeownership rates, elderly52 homeowners experienced a larger percentagepoint increase in their homeownership rate from 1960

to 2000, increasing by 6.2 percentage points, than

householders under age 65, who increased by 4.7 percentage points.

The difference between the homeownership rates of

householders age 65 and over and householders under

age 65 converged to its lowest point in 1970, 5.8 percentage points. From 1970 to 2000, the difference in

their homeownership rates steadily widened. The

homeownership rate among householders age 65 and

over steadily increased. The homeownership rate

among householders under age 65 increased during the

1970s, decreased during the 1980s, and then increased

again during the 1990s. In 2000, the differential

between their homeownership rates was the largest in

the 1960 to 2000 period: 15.1 percentage points.

Householders age 65 years and over 

were more likely to own a home than householders 

under age 65.

51 U.S. Census Bureau. 2001e. Housing Characteristics: 2000, by

Jeanne Woodward and Bonnie Damon.

52 In this report, “elderly” is defined as anyone 65 years old or

older. See the Glossary.

(Percent)

Figure 4-10.

Homeownership Rate by Age of Householder: 1960 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of housing, 1960 to 2000.

63.0

78.1

61.1

75.2

63.0

70.1

61.7

67.5

58.3

71.9

Householder under age 65 Householder age 65+

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
132 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Homeownership rates were higher in 2000 than in

1980 for all race groups and for Hispanics, however,

there were also distinct differences among these

groups (see Figure 4-11).

White non-Hispanic householders had the highest

homeownership rates in 1980 and 2000, 68 percent

and 72 percent, respectively, and White householders53

had only slightly lower rates. The homeownership

rates of all other races and of Hispanics were much

lower and below the national averages of 1980 and

2000 (64 percent and 66 percent, respectively).

Following White householders, American Indian and

Alaska Native householders and Asian and Pacific

Islander householders had the next highest homeownership rates, respectively. Their homeownership

rates were in the 52 percent to 56 percent range in

1980 and 2000.

Blacks and Hispanics had similar homeownership rates

in 1980 and 2000, below 50 percent. In 1980, the

rate for Blacks was 44 percent and for Hispanics it was

43 percent. In 2000, the homeownership rate for both

groups and for householders who reported themselves as more than one race was 46 percent. At the

end of the century, householders who were Black,

Hispanic, or of two or more races were more likely to

rent than to own their homes.

In addition to having the highest homeownership rate,

White non-Hispanic householders also had the largest

increase in their homeownership rate from 1980 to

2000 of any race group and Hispanics (4.0 percentage

points). Asian and Pacific Islander householders had

the smallest increase in their homeownership rate 

(0.7 percentage points). 

In 1980 and 2000, householders who were 

Black, Hispanic, or of two or more races were more likely 

to rent than to own their homes.

53 Including White Hispanic householders.

Figure 4-11.

Homeownership Rate by Race and Hispanic Origin 

of Householder: 1980 and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of housing, 1980 and 2000.

White

Black

American Indian and Alaska Native

Asian and Pacific Islander

Hispanic

White Non-Hispanic

Two or more races

(Percent)

46.3

68.5

72.4

43.4 45.7

52.5 53.4 53.2 55.5

44.4 46.3

67.8

71.3

1980 2000
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 133

From 1940 to 2000, householders living alone were

less likely to own their homes than householders living with other people (see Figure 4-12). In part, this

reflects higher mobility rates and the generally more

limited economic resources available for one-person

households. In addition, some one-person householders may prefer to rent, rather than own, their homes.

The homeownership rate of householders living with

other people rose from 44 percent in 1940 to 71 percent in 2000. The homeownership rate for householders living alone ranged from 39 percent in 1940

to 52 percent in 2000, the first time people living

alone became more likely to own, rather than rent,

their homes. Both groups experienced their lowest

homeownership rate in 1940 and their highest homeownership rate in 2000.

Both types of householders experienced one decade of

decline in their homeownership rate, during the 1950s

for one-person households and the 1980s for householders living with other people. The 1980s was also

the decade in which householders living alone experienced the largest increase in their homeownership rate. 

From 1940 to 1980, the differential between the

homeownership rates of householders living alone

and householders living with other people widened.

The difference in their homeownership rates increased

from 4.6 percentage points in 1940 to 27 percentage

points in 1980. From 1980 to 2000, the differential

converged.

People living alone were less likely to own their homes 

than householders living with other people.

(Percent)

Figure 4-12.

Homeownership Rate by Household Size:

1940 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of housing, 1940 to 2000.

52.1

71.1

48.7

69.2

43.5

70.6

42.4

67.2

40.8

65.1

42.1

56.3

39.4

43.9

1 person 2 or more people

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Chapter 5

HOUSEHOLDS
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 137

National Trends

In 1900, the most common household contained

seven or more people. From 1940 to 2000, households with two people represented the most common

household size.

Average household size declined from 4.60 in 1900 to

2.59 in 2000, or by 44 percent.

Householders age 45 and over represented the majority of all householders during the period 1950 to

2000.

Between 1950 and 2000, married-couple households

declined from more than three-fourths of all households (78 percent) to just over one-half (52 percent) of

all households.

The proportional share of one-person households

increased more than any other size. In 1950, one-person households represented 1 of every 10 households

(9.5 percent), but by 2000, they composed 1 of every

4 households (26 percent).

During the period 1960 to 2000, women age 65 and

over accounted for 27 percent to 33 percent of oneperson households, but just 5 percent to 8 percent of

the total population.

In every census from 1970 to 2000, approximately

three-fourths of all female householders age 65 and

over lived alone. 

The proportion of one-person households maintained

by women decreased in each census, 1970 to 2000,

although women still constituted the majority (57 percent) of one-person households in 2000.

In 1970, women represented about 1 of every 5 

(21 percent) householders in the United States. By

2000, the proportion had grown to more than 1 of

every 3 (36 percent) U.S. householders.

For total, married-couple, and other family households, the proportion of female householders among

Black householders exceeded the proportion of female

householders among householders of any other race

or Hispanics.

In 1960, 3 of every 5 (59 percent) married-couple

households included at least one of their own children

under age 18. By 1990 (and in 2000), less than half

(46 percent) of married-couple households had an own

child under age 18.

In 1950, only 1 of every 5 (19 percent) male family

households with no wife present had an own child

under age 18. By 2000, half (50 percent) of all male

family households with no wife present had at least

one own child under age 18. 

Regional Trends

The West’s share of all U.S. households increased during every decade of the century, while the slow growth

of households in the Midwest led to this region representing an ever-shrinking share of all households.

By 2000, one-person households represented about

one-fourth of all households in each region.

The West had the highest proportion of one-person

households for each census from 1940 to 1970. The

Northeast had the highest regional proportion from

1980 to 2000.

State Trends

In 1940, fewer than 20 percent of the households in

every state were one-person households. In 1970,

only California, the District of Columbia, and New York

had at least 20 percent one-person households. By

2000, every state, except Utah, had at least 20 percent

one-person households. 

Nevada, California, Arizona, and Idaho ranked among

the 10 states with the highest percentage of one-person households in 1900 and 1940, but ranked among

the 12 states with the lowest percentage of one-person households in 2000.

Chapter Highlights

HOUSEHOLDS
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 139

The number, size, types, and age, sex, and racial composition of households in the United States markedly

changed in the 20th century, particularly in the later

decades. Contributing factors included women having

fewer children, changes in age at first marriage,

increased mobility of the population, affordability of

homes, and the overall increase in the racial and ethnic

diversity of the U.S. population. A small proportion of

the U.S. population lives in group quarters: of the

281.4 million people counted in Census 2000, 273.6

million people lived in households, while 7.8 million

people lived in group quarters (such as correctional

institutions, nursing homes, and college dormitories). 

In 1900, nearly half of the U.S. population lived in

households of six or more people. By 2000, more

than half of the population lived in households of one,

two, or three people. The trends in the number and

proportion of householders by age through the last

half of the century followed the movement of the

baby-boom generation through the census years.

Married-couple households fell from over threefourths (78 percent) of all households in 1950 to just

over one-half (52 percent) of all households in 2000.

Other major household types increased, especially

one-person households. In the last several decades of

the century, the share of one-person households maintained by male householders increased and male

householders with no wife present became increasingly likely to have children in their households. 

Between 1900 and 2000, overall regional and state

trends in the number and distribution of households

followed the population trends for these areas.

Regionally, the South’s and the West’s shares of all

households increased during the century, while the

Northeast’s and the Midwest’s shares decreased. The

proportions of one-person households in all states and

regions increased rapidly in the latter part of the century. Notably, in the first half of the century, most

western states had much higher proportions of oneperson households than states in other regions, but

the ranking of some western states changed markedly during the century. For example, Arizona,

California, Idaho, and Nevada ranked among the

states with the highest proportions of one-person

households in 1900, but the lowest proportions in

2000. 

The graphics and text in this chapter depict the trends

in the number and proportional distribution of households, sizes of households, and various household

types by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin of the

householder. These changes are described for the

United States, regions, and states. Age of householder trends focus on broad age groups, and trends in the

gender of the householder are discussed for specific

family types and by race and Hispanic origin. Detailed

data by size and type of household are provided in

Appendix Tables 13, 14, and 15. 

Chapter 5

HOUSEHOLDS
140 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

While the total U.S. population increased greatly during the 20th century, the percentage increase in the

number of households was even greater, reflecting the

trend of higher proportions of people living in smaller

households. From 1900 to 2000, the total U.S. population increased from 76 million to 281 million, an

increase of 270 percent. By comparison, the total

number of U.S. households grew from 16 million in

1900 to 105 million in 2000, an increase of 561 percent (see Figure 5-1 and Appendix Table 13). 

Available data on the number of households by size

shows that, in absolute numbers, households with

one, two, three, or four members increased every

decade. Households with five or more people

declined in the 1940s, then increased until 1970,

declined again in the 1970s and 1980s, and increased

again in the 1990s. 

Most of the increase in the number of households

from 1900 to 2000 (89.5 million) occurred among

households having one or two members. These categories accounted for nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of

the total U.S. increase in the number of households

over the 100-year period, while households with 5 or

more members represented just 5 percent of the total

increase in U.S. households. 

In 1900, households with seven or more people represented the most common household size (see Appendix

Table 13), reflecting the high fertility in the United

States at that time, plus a greater tendency for people

to live in extended family households. Two-person

households became the most common household size

by 1940 and remained so for the rest of the century. 

The proportion of households with five or more people declined significantly from 1900 to 2000, from 

45 percent to just 11 percent (see Figure 5-2). The

share of households with four people, while generally

decreasing, remained in the range of 14 percent to 

18 percent of all households during the century.

Similarly, three-person households remained in the

range of 17 percent to 23 percent over the period.

Still, the shares of both three-person and four-person

households were at their lowest levels at the end of

the century. 

The shares of both one-person and two-person households greatly increased during the 20th century. In

1900, only 1 of every 5 (20 percent) U.S. households

had one or two people. Since 1980, households of one

or two people have represented an increasing majority

of households in the United States, reaching a combined 58 percent of all households by 2000. The

shares of one-person and two-person households

increased nearly every decade, and the share of each of

these household sizes was at its highest level at the

end of the century. In 2000, about 1 out of every 3 U.S.

households (33 percent) had two people, and 1 out of

every 4 households (26 percent) had one person.

The proportion of the household population living in

large households has, by definition, always been

much larger than the proportion of households that

are large. In 1900, the 45 percent of households with

five or more people accounted for 66 percent of the

household population, and the 30 percent of households with six or more people accounted for 50 percent of the household population. In 2000, the 

11 percent of households with five or more people

accounted for 24 percent of the household population,

and the 4 percent of households with six or more people accounted for 11 percent of the household population (see Appendix Table 13). 

The proportion of households with five or more people 

declined significantly from 1900 to 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 141

(Millions)

Figure 5-1.

Households by Size: 1900 and 1940 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, and decennial census of housing, 

1940 to 2000.

5-or-more-person

4-person

3-person

2-person

1-person

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

16.0

7.1

34.9

42.8

53.0

63.4

80.4

91.9

105.5

9.4

6.3

7.8

8.6

9.2

7.9

9.8

12.0

4.0

12.0

9.1

10.0

14.9

7.1

12.8

9.8

10.9

18.8

11.1

10.6

12.4

14.0

25.2

18.2

11.4

15.0

17.4

34.4

27.2

10.1

13.9

16.0

29.5

22.6

(Percent)

Figure 5-2.

Distribution of Households by Size: 

1900 and 1940 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, and decennial census of housing, 

1940 to 2000.

5-or-more-person

4-person

3-person

2-person

1-person

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

15.2

44.7

17.2

17.8

5.1

10.8

14.2

16.5

32.6

25.8

11.0

15.1

17.4

32.0

24.6

13.2

15.4

17.4

31.3

22.7

20.2

15.4

17.2

29.6

17.6

22.5

17.2

18.9

28.0

13.3

21.4

18.4

22.8

28.1

9.3

27.0

18.1

22.4

24.8

7.7

(Not available)

(Not available)
142 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The total population of the United States consists of

people who live in households and those who live in

group quarters.54 Average household size is determined by dividing the total household population (or

equivalently, the total population excluding the group

quarters population) by the total number of households. In the United States, as the proportion of the

population living in one-person and two-person

households grew, the average number of people per

household declined. 

Available data for each census year indicates a continuous decline in average household size during the

century (see Figure 5-3). Over the first four decades

of the 20th century, average household size declined

by an average of nearly 1 person, from 4.60 to 3.68

people per household. Then, over the next five

decades, average household size again dropped by 

another person, from 3.68 in 1940 to 2.63 in 1990.

Average household size declined the least in the

1990s, from just 2.63 to 2.59 people per household.

Over the century, average household size declined by

2 people per household, from 4.60 in 1900 to 2.59 in

2000.

Steep declines in average household size occurred in

the 1930s and 1940s, in part reflecting the low fertility through the end of World War II. The baby-boom

period (1946 to 1964) then had a leveling effect on

average household size for the 1950 to 1970 period.

The steepest decline in average household size

occurred in the 1970s, a period coinciding with the

baby-bust period, relatively low levels of immigration,

and increasing proportions of people living alone. 

As mentioned above, the smallest decline in average

household size occurred in the 1990s. Relatively

higher immigration levels and the tendency for immigrants to live in larger households may have kept

average household size relatively unchanged from

1990 to 2000. 

Average household size declined by 

2 people per household during the century, from 

4.6 people per household in 1900 

to 2.6 in 2000.

54 See Appendix Table 13. For definitions of households and group

quarters, see the Glossary. In Census 2000, 97.2 percent of the population lived in households and 2.8 percent in group quarters.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 143

(People per household)

Figure 5-3.

Average Household Size: 1900 and 1930 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 and 1930 to 2000, and decennial census 

of housing, 1940.

4.60

4.01

3.68

3.38 3.29

3.11

2.75 2.63 2.59

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

(Not available)
144 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The pattern of change in the total number of households by region mirrors the pattern of change in total

population size. The total number of households

increased every decade in each region, growing rapidly in the West throughout the century and sharply in

the South after 1960.

The Midwest had more households than any other

region throughout the period 1900 to 1950 (see

Figure 5-4). By 1960, the South had overtaken the

Midwest, and the gap between these two regions

widened with each decade. The West had far fewer

households than any other region until 1990, when it

surpassed the Northeast. 

Among the regions, the Midwest and the Northeast

had the most similar patterns of growth in their total

number of households during the 100-year period. In

the Midwest, the number of households was 4.4 times

larger in 2000 compared with 1900, and in the

Northeast it was 4.5 times larger. In contrast, in the

South, the number of households in 2000 was 7.8

times larger (38.0 million) than in 1900 (4.9 million),

and in the West, it was 25.3 times larger (see Appendix

Table 14).

The growth of households differed by region, altering

each region’s proportional share of the total number of

U.S. households. Rapid growth in the West increased

its share of all households during every decade of the

century to 21 percent by 2000 (see Figure 5-5).

Conversely, the slow growth of households in the

Midwest reduced its share of all households from 

35 percent in 1900 to 23 percent in 2000. The proportional share of U.S. households in the Northeast

also generally declined during the century, dropping

from 29 percent in 1900 to 19 percent by 2000. The

South’s share of households followed a more distinctive pattern, declining during the first part of the century, increasing in the 1930s, followed by a period of

stability from 1940 to 1960, and then greatly increasing from 1960 through the end of the century.

The Midwest’s proportional share of U.S. households

declined the most (12 percentage points) during the

period 1900 to 2000, from 35 percent in 1900 to 

23 percent in 2000. The Northeast experienced a 9-percentage-point loss in share during the century. The West

experienced the greatest gain (16 percentage points) in

share of all households over the 100-year period. 

As noted above, the South’s share of U.S. households

declined during the first three decades of the century.

From 1900 to 1930, its proportional share of all households fell by nearly 2 percentage points. After less

than a percentage point increase in the 1930s, followed by a stable period from 1940 to 1960, the

South’s proportional share of all households rose by 

7 percentage points from 1960 to 2000. Overall, the

South had the most stable proportional share of all

households, ranging from 29 percent to 36 percent.

Combined, the Northeast and Midwest regions represented the majority of all U.S. households during the

period 1900 to 1970. However, this majority became

smaller every decade, declining from 64 percent in

1900 to 52 percent in 1970. By 1980, the South and

West represented the majority (52 percent) of all U.S.

households. By 2000, the South and West together

accounted for 57 percent of all households. 

Throughout the century, the proportional shares of

households remained highly correlated with population

size, differing to the extent that the average number of

people per household varied by region. For example,

at the end of the century, the Northeast, the Midwest,

and the South had slightly higher proportional shares

of households than population, while the West held a

higher proportion of the population than households.

This occurs because the West had a relatively larger

average household size (2.75 people per household)

than the Northeast, the Midwest, and the South (2.56,

2.53, and 2.56 people per household, respectively).55

From 1900 to 1970, the majority of U.S. households 

were in the Northeast and Midwest, but since 1980, 

the majority were in the South and West.

55 See U.S. Census Bureau. 2001d. Households and Families: 2000,

by Tavia Simmons and Grace O’Neill.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 145

Millions

Figure 5-4.

Total Households by Region: 1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population 1900 to 1930, and decennial census 

of housing, 1940 to 2000.

Midwest

West

South

Northeast

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

(Percent)

Figure 5-5.

Distribution of Households by Region: 

1900 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population 1900 to 1930, and decennial census 

of housing, 1940 to 2000.

West

Northeast

Midwest

South

5.6 7.8 9.2 10.7 11.9 14.0 16.3 17.6 19.4 20.6 21.3

30.6 30.4 29.6 28.9 29.5 29.5 29.2 30.4

32.9 34.6 36.0

35.3 33.6 33.3 32.4 31.5 30.3 29.0

27.6

25.9 24.3 23.4

28.5 28.1 27.9 27.9 27.2 26.2 25.5 24.4 21.7 20.5 19.2

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
146 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The census-to-census growth from 1950 to 2000 in

the number of households in categories defined by the

age of the householder reflects the changing population by age during this period. The number of householders age 25 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years, and 65

years and over increased every census (see Figure 

5-6). Households maintained by a person under age

25 years increased until 1980, declined during the

1980s, then increased slightly in the 1990s. The

decline of 1.7 million householders under age 25 in

the 1980s coincides with a large decline (5.7 million

people) in the population age 15 to 24 years, as the

baby-boom generation moved out of this age group

during the decade.

As the baby-boom cohort became householders and

aged, it greatly affected the number of householders

in particular age groups. For example, the relatively

large increases in the number of households maintained by people under age 25 in the 1960s and

1970s, by people age 25 to 44 in the 1970s and

1980s, and by people age 45 to 64 in the 1990s all

occurred as the baby-boom cohort moved into these

age ranges during these decades.

The maximum increase in the number of householders

in the second half of the 20th century occurred in the

1970s for the total number of households and for

every broad age group, except householders age 45 to

64 years, who increased the most in the 1990s. The

decade with the minimum census-to-census change in

the number of households varied by age group.

During the 50-year period, the only decline in the

number of householders among the age groups considered occurred in the 1980s for householders under

age 25. 

Each of the four broad age groups had a decade in the

period 1950 to 2000 when it was the fastest-growing

group in terms of percentage change in the number of

households. Three of the four groups (all except

householders age 65 and over) also had at least one

decade when it was the slowest-growing group.

Householders age 25 to 44 years most often (in the

1950s, 1960s, and 1990s) grew by the least percentage. 

The shares that each age group represented of the

total number of households varied over the decades

(see Figure 5-7). These fluctuations particularly

occurred for householders age 25 to 44 years and 45

to 64 years. Householders under age 25 represented

an increasing proportion of all households from 1950

to 1980, then declined in the 1980s and 1990s.

Householders age 65 and over increased as a proportion of all householders from 1950 to 1990, then

declined in the 1990s. 

Householders age 45 and over represented the majority of all householders during the period 1950 to

2000. This group’s share increased from 1950 to

1970, declined from 1970 to 1990, then increased

again from 1990 to 2000. The share of all householders age 45 and over ranged from a low of 51 percent in 1990 to a high of 56 percent in 1970.

From 1950 to 2000, slightly more than half of 

all households were maintained by people 

age 45 years and over.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 147

(Percent)

Figure 5-7.

Distribution of Households by Age 

of Householder: 1950 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000.

15.2 17.5 19.3 20.1 21.7 21.0

36.7 36.9 36.5 31.4 29.0 33.7

43.3 40.5 36.9

40.2 43.8 40.1

4.8 5.1 7.3 8.3 5.5 5.2

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Under 25

65+

25 to 44

Figure 5-6.

Total Households by Age of Householder:

1950 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000.

45 to 64

Under 25

65+

25 to 44

45 to 64

(Millions)

105.5

91.9

80.4

63.4

53.0

42.3

6.4

9.3

12.2

16.1

20.0

22.1

15.5

19.6

23.2

25.2

26.7

35.5

18.3 21.5 23.4

32.3 40.2 42.3

4.6 6.7 5.0 5.5

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
148 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Households may be classified as either family households or nonfamily households. Within family households, married-couple households represent the most

common type. Within nonfamily households, oneperson households (people living alone) represent the

most common type.56

All types of households increased numerically

between each census 1950 to 2000 (see Figure 5-8).

The largest decadal increase in the number of households for 3 of the 4 major household types (all except

married-couple households) occurred in the 1970s.

The largest numerical increase of married-couple

households occurred in the 1950s.

Although married-couple households remain the most

common type of household, one-person households

increased more than any other type during the 50-year

period. Of the total increase of 63 million households,

one-person households accounted for 23 million, married couples for 21 million, other family households

for 13 million, and other nonfamily households for 6

million.

During each decade from 1950 to 2000, one of the

nonfamily household types grew fastest. Other nonfamily households had the highest percentage

increase every decade except for the 1960s, when

one-person households grew fastest. Conversely, one

of the family household types grew the slowest each

decade. Married-couple households increased by the

lowest percentage each decade except for the 1950s,

when other family households grew the slowest.

While all household types increased numerically from

decade to decade, the slower increase of married-couple households resulted in a continual shrinking of the

proportion of all U.S. households represented by married-couple households (see Figure 5-9). Between

1950 and 2000, married-couple households declined

from more than 3 out of every 4 households (78 percent) to just over one half (52 percent) of all households. 

Other family households declined as a proportion of

all households in the 1950s, but increased every

decade thereafter. By 2000, other family households

represented about 1 of every 6 U.S. households 

(16 percent).

The shares of all U.S. households represented by both

types of nonfamily households increased every

decade during the period 1950 to 2000. The proportional share of one-person households increased more

than any other type. In 1950, one-person households

represented about 1 of every 10 households (9.5 percent). By 2000, one-person households comprised 1

out of every 4 households (26 percent). The proportional share of other nonfamily households also

increased every decade. In 1950, other nonfamily

households represented only 1.1 percent of households in the United States. By 2000, this category still

represented the smallest share of the major household

types, but it had increased to 6.1 percent of all U.S.

households. 

Married-couple households declined from more than 

3 out of every 4 households (78 percent) in 1950 to just 

over one-half (52 percent) in 2000.

56 For definitions of households, householders, and various household types, see the Glossary.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 149

Figure 5-8.

Households by Type: 1950 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000, and decennial 

census of housing, 1950 and 1960.

Other nonfamily

0.5

0.9

1.3

3.3

4.8

6.5

4.0

7.1

11.1

18.2

22.6

27.2

4.8

5.4

6.9

10.5

13.8

17.3

33.0

39.7

44.1 48.4 50.7 54.5

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

One-person

Other family

Married-couple

(Millions)

Figure 5-9.

Distribution of Households by Type: 

1950 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000, and decennial 

census of housing, 1950 and 1960.

Other nonfamily

1.1 1.7 2.1

4.1 5.3 6.1 9.5

13.3

17.6

22.7 24.6 25.8

11.3

10.1

10.9

13.1

15.0

16.4

78.1 74.8 69.4

60.2 55.1 51.7

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

One-person

Other family

Married-couple

(Percent)

Nonfamily households

Family households

Nonfamily households

Family households
150 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

As noted previously, the proportional share of all U.S.

households represented by one-person households

increased more than any other major household type,

comprising one-fourth of all U.S. households (26 percent) by 2000. Similar regional trends occurred over

the decades, with one-person households also representing about one-fourth of the households in each

region by the end of the century (see Figure 5-10 and

Appendix Table 14).

During the century, the Northeast, the Midwest, and

the South all had similar proportions and patterns of

growth of one-person households. The West also had

an increasing proportion of one-person households

1900 to 2000, but its levels and pattern of change followed the most distinct trend of the regions. 

In 1900, the West’s proportion of one-person households (13 percent) far exceeded the proportions of the

other regions, and it maintained the highest proportion of one-person households for each census, 1940

to 1970. Since 1980, the Northeast ranked 1st among

the regions in the proportion of one-person households. 

The gap between the regions with the highest and the

lowest proportion of one-person households narrowed

with each census from 1900 to 1990, then became

slightly wider in the 1990s. Differences between the

Northeast’s, the Midwest’s, and the South’s proportions

of one-person households remained within a narrow

range throughout the century, from 0.9 percentage

points in 1900 to a maximum of 2.4 percentage points

in 1970.

Although the West held the highest regional proportion of one-person households through 1970, the gap

narrowed as every other region’s increase in their proportion of one-person households exceeded the West’s

increase. By 1990 and again in 2000, the West had the

smallest proportion of one-person households among

the regions. 

All regions had increasing proportions of 

one-person households, reaching around one-fourth 

of all households in 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 151

Percent

Figure 5-10.

Percent One-Person Households by Region:

1900 and 1940 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900, and decennial census of 

housing, 1940 to 2000.

Midwest

West

South

Northeast

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
152 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

The major growth in the proportion of one-person

households occurred in the second half of the century.

Data available from the population census of 1900

show that one-person households constituted at least

10 percent of all households in only 11 states, 10

western states, plus North Dakota (see Appendix Table

14). Although data are not available from the 1910

through 1930 censuses, data from the first census of

housing in 1940 show the number of states with at

least 10 percent one-person households remained

essentially unchanged: Nevada, Montana, Washington,

California, Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, and

Idaho (just nine states). All of them had been among

the 11 with at least 10 percent one-person households

in 1900, and all were in the West. Of the 11 states

with at least 10 percent one-person households in

1900, New Mexico’s and North Dakota’s proportions

declined below 10 percent by 1940 (to 8.4 percent

and 7.9 percent, respectively). The proportion of oneperson households increased in 34 states and the

District of Columbia between 1900 and 1940 and

declined in 14 states.

No state had at least 20 percent one-person households

in 1940. The only states with at least 15 percent oneperson households in 1940 were Nevada (18 percent)

and Montana (15 percent, see Figure 5-11).

While little growth occurred in the proportions of oneperson households in the first 40 years of the century,

30 years later, one-person households comprised at

least 10 percent of the total number of households in all

50 states and the District of Columbia. Most states in

1970 had proportions of one-person households ranging between 15 percent and 20 percent of all households. Only California, the District of Columbia, and

New York had at least 20 percent one-person households. All 11 states with less than 15 percent oneperson households were either in the South or the West. 

The proportion of one-person households was higher

in every state in 1970 than in 1940. Of the 48 states

in 1940, the proportions of one-person households in

the states with the 10 highest proportions increased

but did not double. However, in 35 of the remaining

38 states (all except New Hampshire, New Mexico, and

Utah), the proportion of one-person households more

than doubled from 1940 to 1970. 

Between 1970 and 2000, the proportions of one-person households again increased in every state and the

District of Columbia. While no state’s proportion of

one-person households doubled from 1970 to 2000,

one-person households represented at least 20 percent of all households in 49 of the 50 states by the end

of the century, when only Utah (18 percent) had less

than 20 percent one-person households. 

In 2000, one-person households represented at least

25 percent of all households in 36 of the 50 states,

where the proportion ranged narrowly from 25.0 percent to 29.3 percent, led by North Dakota. The next

highest-ranking states in percentage one-person

households were all in the Northeast—Rhode Island,

New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.57

Among the 14 states with the lowest percentage (less

than 25 percent) one-person households in 2000, four

of these states—Nevada, California, Arizona, and

Idaho—had ranked among the 10 states with the highest percentage one-person households in 1900 and

1940. Nevada and California also had ranked among

the states with the 10 highest percentage one-person

households as recently as 1980. 

No state had at least 20 percent one-person households 

in 1940, but all states except Utah exceeded 

this level in 2000.

57 One-person households represented 44 percent of all households in the District of Columbia in 2000.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 153

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT

CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT

CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

MI

IL

MT

NE

KS

OK

WI

IN

KY

TN

GA

OH

WV

NC

SC

RI

SD

VA

AR

DC

MS

ND

MN

DE

LA

MO

IA

AL

ME

HI

PA

WY

ID

OR

WA

AK

NV

AZ NM

UT

CO

FL

CA

NY

TX

MD

NJ

CT

MA

VT

NH

Figure 5-11.

Percent One-Person Households by State: 

1940, 1970, and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of housing, 1940, 1970, and 2000.

1970

2000

25 or more

20 to 25

15 to 20

Less than 15

Not applicable

Percent one-person households 

1940
154 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

From 1960 to 2000, the number of one-person households increased for both male and female householders and for householders both under age 65 and age

65 and over. Between 1960 and 2000, the number of

men under age 65 living alone increased by 7.6 million, women under age 65 living alone by 5.7 million,

men age 65 and over living alone by 1.5 million, and

women age 65 and over living alone by 5.3 million

(see Figure 5-12).

Of the four age-sex groups shown in Figure 5-12, the

number of women age 65 and over living alone

increased more than any other group in the 1960s, but

the number of men under age 65 living alone

increased the most for each decade thereafter.

The largest decadal increase in the number of one-person households for each group occurred in the 1970s,

with the exception of men age 65 and over, who

increased the most in the 1990s. The number of men

under age 65 living alone more than doubled in the

1970s, the highest proportional increase in any decade

during the period among the four groups considered.

In part, the increases in one-person households in the

1970s coincide with the influx of the baby-boom generation into new households and increasing levels of

divorce. Increases for women age 65 and over living

alone throughout the period 1960 to 2000 suggest that

growing numbers of women in this age group are living alone as a result of widowhood. 

In 1960, more women under age 65 lived alone than

did any of the other groups. In 1970, women age 65

and over living alone outnumbered people living alone

in the other groups. In each census, 1980 to 2000,

men under age 65 represented the age and sex group

with the most one-person households. Men age 65

and over had both the fewest one-person households

and the least increase in one-person households each

census, 1960 to 2000.

From 1970 to 2000, men under age 65 living alone

increased their share of the total number of one-person households (see Figure 5-13). From 1960 to

1990, the proportion of one-person households composed of women under age 65 decreased. 

Over the period 1960 to 2000, women under age 65

and men age 65 and over had their largest proportional shares of one-person households in 1960; women 65

and over in 1970, and men under age 65 in 2000. 

Although both men and women householders under

age 65 represented sizable proportions of all one-person households, these proportions were much less

than these age groups’ share of the total population.

For example, while men under age 65 represented a

range of 25 percent to 34 percent of all one-person

households over the years 1960 to 2000, this age

group represented 44 percent to 45 percent of the

population during this same period. Similarly, women

under age 65 represented from 29 percent to 34 percent of one-person households, but 44 percent to 

46 percent of the population.

In contrast, men, and especially women, age 65 and

over represented proportionally larger shares of oneperson households than they did of the total population. From 1960 to 2000, men age 65 and over represented just 4 percent to 5 percent of the total

population, but a range of 8 percent to 12 percent of

all one-person households. Women age 65 and over

represented just 5 percent to 8 percent of the total

population during this period, but a disproportionately higher range (27 percent to 33 percent) of the total

number of one-person households. 

The number of one-person households increased every 

census, 1960 to 2000, for men, women, younger householders,

and older householders. 
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 155

Figure 5-12.

One-Person Households by Age and Sex 

of Householder: 1960 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1960 to 2000.

(Millions)

9.4

8.1

2.4

7.3 7.3

6.5

1.9

6.9

5.6 5.5

1.4

5.6

2.7

3.4

1.2

3.7

1.8

2.4

0.9

2.0

Males under 65 Females under 65 Males 65+ Females 65+

(Percent)

Figure 5-13.

Distribution of One-Person Households by Age and Sex 

of Householder: 1960 to 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1960 to 2000.

29.0 33.3 30.9 30.7 26.9

12.1

11.0

7.9 8.4

8.8

33.8 31.0

30.3 28.6 29.8

25.1 24.7

30.9 32.3 34.5

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Males under 65

Females 65+

Females under 65

Males 65+

'60 '70 '80 '90 '00 '60 '70 '80 '90 '00 '60 '70 '80 '90 '00 '60 '70 '80 '90 '00
156 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Older female householders had a much greater likelihood of living alone than did younger female householders or male householders, regardless of age (see

Figure 5-14). In every census from 1970 to 2000,

between 73 to 77 percent of all female householders

age 65 and over lived alone. 

Younger female householders were also more likely to

live alone than both younger male householders and

older male householders. In 1960 and 1970, 40 percent

and 41 percent, respectively, of all female householders

under age 65 lived alone, however, this proportion

declined each census after 1970 to 29 percent in 2000. 

From 1960 to 2000, the proportion of all male householders under age 65 living alone increased each census, from 4.7 percent to 16.9 percent, but this group

was the least likely to be living alone. This fact

derives from the very high proportion of men who are

identified as the householder among married-couple

households.58

The proportion of all male householders age 65 and

over living alone also generally increased during the

period 1960 to 2000, with a slight decline occurring in

the 1970s. A higher proportion of male householders

age 65 and over lived alone than male householders

under age 65 at each census during the period,

although the gap between these two groups reached

its narrowest point at the end of the century. By 2000,

1 out of every 5 male householders age 65 and over

lived alone.

The generally declining proportions of female householders under age 65 who lived alone, combined with

increasing proportions of both under-65 and 65-andover male householders who lived alone, reduced the

gap between these three groups to its narrowest point

by 2000. However, the gap between the proportion of

women householders under age 65 and those age 65

and over who lived alone widened, except in the

1990s. 

Older female householders were far more likely to 

live alone than younger female householders and than 

younger and older male householders.

58 Prior to 1980, men were identified as the householder for all

married-couple households.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 157

Percent

Figure 5-14.

Percent One-Person Households Within Specific 

Age-Sex Groups: 1960 to 2000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1960 to 2000.

Male householders age 65 and over

Female householders under age 65

Male householders under age 65

Female householders age 65 and over

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
158 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Female-maintained households represented an

increasing proportion of all U.S. households from

1970 to 2000 (see Figure 5-15). In 1970, women represented about 1 of every 5 (21 percent) householders

in the United States; by 2000, the proportion was

more than 1 of every 3 (36 percent). However, different trends occurred among the major household types

during the last 30 years of the century. 

As noted earlier, all households may be broadly classified as either family households or nonfamily households. Family households may be further broken

down into married-couple households and other family households. Similarly, nonfamily households may

be separated into one-person households and other

nonfamily households.

Prior to 1980, every U.S. population census automatically designated the husband as the householder of all

married-couple families. Since then, either the husband or the wife may be the householder, depending

on which one lists himself or herself as the first person on the questionnaire. From 1980 to 2000, the

proportion of female householders in married-couple

households increased, from 3.7 percent in 1980 to

12.9 percent in 2000. In contrast, the proportion of

female householders in each of the other major household types was lower in 2000 than in 1970.

Among the major household types, women represented

the largest proportion of other family householders

each census, 1970 to 2000. Female-maintained other

family households declined as a proportion of all other

family households, but still represented 75 percent of

all such households in 2000. (This decline implies that

male-maintained other family households increased as

a percentage of all other family households.) 

The proportion of one-person households maintained by

women declined each census, 1970 to 2000, but

remained the majority (57 percent) of all one-person

households in 2000. Among other nonfamily households,

women represented the majority of householders in 1970.

However, this proportion fell substantially by 1980, then

increased to the point that females maintained 42 percent

of other nonfamily households in 2000. 

The proportion of all family households with a female

householder increased each census, from 11 percent in

1970 to 28 percent in 2000. In contrast, the proportion

of female householders among all nonfamily households decreased each census, from 63 percent in 1970

to 54 percent in 2000. Furthermore, although the share

of female householders among married-couple households increased, the share of female householders of all

households other than married couples declined, from

69 percent in 1970 to 61 percent in 2000. 

Female householders increased as a proportion 

of total householders.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 159

Figure 5-15.

Percent of Households With a Female Householder 

by Type of Household: 1970 to 2000

(x) Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1970 to 2000.

36.1

12.9

74.6

56.7

41.6

32.3

7.3

77.2

59.2

39.5

28.0

3.7

80.0

61.1

36.1

21.0

79.7

64.3

51.3

Total Married-couple Other family One-person Other nonfamily

1970

1980

1990

2000

Family households Nonfamily households

(x)
160 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Between 1980 and 2000, an increasing trend occurred

in the proportion of householders who were women for

every race and Hispanic-origin group (see Figure 5-16).

However, while strong similarities occurred in the patterns of change from census to census, important differences among the groups in 1980 remained in 2000.

The proportion of all householders who were female

increased for each race and Hispanic group from 1980

to 2000. Women consistently represented the highest

proportion of householders among Blacks, followed

by American Indians and Alaska Natives. Among all

Black householders, women have been more likely

than men to be identified as the householder since

1990. Throughout the 20-year period, the lowest proportion of female householders was found among

Asian and Pacific Islander households.

Women also represented an increasing proportion of

all married-couple householders for every race and

Hispanic-origin group since 1980, when women first

became eligible to be identified as the householder of

a married-couple household. Black women householders accounted for a higher proportion of marriedcouple households than women of any other race or

Hispanic origin for each census, 1980 to 2000. White

(and White non-Hispanic) women and Asian and Pacific

Islander women were least likely to be identified as

the householder within married-couple households. 

Women were listed as the householder in the vast

majority of other-family households for every race and

Hispanic-origin group between 1980 and 2000. In

1980, females represented at least three-fourths of all

other-family householders for every race and Hispanicorigin group, except for Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Although Asian and Pacific Islander other-family

households had the lowest proportion of female

householders throughout the period, they still represented around two-thirds of these households. Blacks

had the highest proportion of female-maintained

other-family households, with women maintaining 

84 percent to 86 percent of Black other-family households throughout the period. 

Among nonfamily households, the direction of change

between 1980 and 2000 in the proportion of female

householders varied by group. Female householders

represented a slightly declining proportion of nonfamily householders between 1980 and 2000 among

White, American Indian and Alaska Native, and

Hispanic householders, and a slightly increasing proportion among Black and Asian and Pacific Islander

householders. 

In 1980 and 2000, White female householders and

Black female householders (and in 2000, White nonHispanic female householders) represented slightly

over one-half of all nonfamily householders. In contrast, male householders represented the majority of

nonfamily householders for every other group.

Among the groups, Black female householders represented the highest proportion of married-couple

householders and other-family householders, while

White (and White non-Hispanic) female householders

represented the highest proportion of nonfamily

householders.

For total, married-couple, and other family households, 

the proportion of female householders among Black householders

exceeded the proportion of female householders among

householders of any other race or of Hispanic householders.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 161

Figure 5-16.

Percent Female Householders of Total Householders by Type of Household 

and Race and Hispanic Origin of the Householder: 1980 and 2000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 and 2000.

Two or more

races

White

Non-Hispanic

Asian and Pacific Hispanic

Islander

American Indian

and Alaska Native

White Black

Two or more

races

White

Non-Hispanic

Asian and Pacific Hispanic

Islander

American Indian

and Alaska Native

White Black

Two or more

races

White

Non-Hispanic

Asian and Pacific Hispanic

Islander

American Indian

and Alaska Native

White Black

Two or more

races

White

Non-Hispanic

Asian and Pacific Hispanic

Islander

American Indian

and Alaska Native

White Black

(Percent)

Total households

Nonfamily households

Other family households

Married-couple households

1980

2000

33.6

55.0

42.2

28.7 34.6 33.6

39.6

26.1

44.6

31.5

20.9 27.0

54.6 53.7

45.7 47.1 43.5

55.0

47.0

58.5

52.0 47.3 45.1 44.6

71.9

84.2

73.2

65.7 68.3 72.3 71.3

78.1

86.1

79.6

69.0

78.2 78.2

11.9

22.1 20.1

12.2 15.0 11.8

18.1

3.4 7.1 4.9 3.2 3.9
162 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

Family households consist of married-couple households and other family households. Other family

households include those maintained by a man with no

wife present or by a woman with no husband present.

Family households also may be characterized by the

presence or absence of one or more of the householders’ own children.59 The trend in the proportion of family households with their own children under age 18

varied considerably by family type during the period

1950 to 2000 (see Figure 5-17 and Appendix Table 15). 

Among married-couple households, the proportion

with their own children under age 18 has declined

since 1960. In 1960, 3 out of every 5 married-couple

households (59 percent) had at least one own child

under age 18. By 1990 (and in 2000), less than half 

(46 percent) of married-couple households had any

own children under age 18.

Among female family households with no husband

present, the proportion with their own children under

age 18 increased from 1 out of every 3 (34 percent)

households in 1950 to 3 out of every 5 households 

(60 percent) by 1980. This proportion declined slightly in the 1980s, then increased slightly in the 1990s,

while remaining fairly stable.

Among male family households with no wife present,

the proportion with their own children under age 18

increased in every decade from 1950 to 2000. In

1950, only 1 out of every 5 (19 percent) male family

households with no wife present had own children

under age 18. By 2000, half (50 percent) of these

households had own children under age 18. 

In addition to the overall differences among family

types, the trends in the age composition of the children

within each type also display some important differences. For example, among male family households

with no wife present, the proportions of these households including their own children under age 6 (and no

other own children) increased in every census from

1960 to 2000. In fact, by the end of the century, male

family households with no wife present were more likely to have children under age 6 only than either married-couple households or female family households

with no husband present. In contrast, the trend in the

proportion of married-couple households with children

under age 6 only went in the opposite direction, declining from 15 percent in 1960 to 11 percent in 2000. 

The trends in the proportions of households with their

own children only within the ages 6 to 17 years fluctuated for each family type. Among married-couple

households, the proportion remained within a narrow

range during the period 1960 to 2000, from 24 percent to 28 percent. For female family households with

no husband present, the proportion with children only

within the ages 6 to 17 increased to a peak of 39 percent in 1980, declined during the 1980s to 34 percent

in 1990, then increased in the 1990s to 37 percent in

2000. Among the family types, female family households with no husband present were the most likely to

have children ages 6 to 17 years only in the household. For male family households with no wife present, the proportion generally increased from 1960 to

2000, with one slight decline in the 1980s.

The proportion of married-couple households with children under age 6 and children age 6 to 17 generally

declined, from about one-fifth (18 percent) of marriedcouple households in 1960 to just one-tenth (10 percent) in 2000. In comparison, the proportion of female

family households with no husband present and with

their own children under age 6 and age 6 to 17

remained steady at around one-tenth during the 40-year

period. The percentage of male family households with

no wife present and with children under age 6 and age

6 to 17 generally increased during the period, although

they remained the family type least likely to have children of both age groups in the household.

Each decade from 1960 to 2000, married-couple households were

less likely to include children under age 18, while male family

households with no wife present were more likely 

to include children under age 18.

59 See the Glossary for a definition of own children.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century 163

Figure 5-17.

Percent of Family Households With Own Children Under 18 

by Family Type and Age of Children: 1950 to 2000 

Note: Data for 1950 on own children under 18 are not available in the detailed age categories shown.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000.

18.1 13.9

10.0

10.1 9.8

26.1 28.3 27.3 23.9 25.0

15.1 13.5 12.8 12.3 10.8

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

10.2

11.8

9.7

10.2

9.9

28.5

33.9

39.3 34.4 36.9

6.4 8.9 11.3 11.9 11.9

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

3.7

4.3

3.8

5.6

6.5

16.3

21.9

25.9

25.2

29.8

3.2 3.9 8.7 12.3 13.5

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Married-couple

Female householder, no spouse present 

Male householder, no spouse present

Under 6 years and 

6 to 17 years

Under 6 years only

6 to 17 years only

Under 6 years and 

6 to 17 years

Under 6 years only

6 to 17 years only

Under 6 years and 

6 to 17 years

Under 6 years only

6 to 17 years only

55.1

59.3

55.7

50.2

46.3 45.6

34.0

45.1

54.6

60.2

56.5 58.6

19.3

23.3

30.0

38.5

43.1

49.9
Appendix A.

DETAILED TABLES

Table 1. Total Population for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States1 . 75,994,575 91,972,266 105,710,620 122,775,046 131,669,275 150,697,361 179,323,175 203,211,926 226,545,805 248,709,873 281,421,906

Region

Northeast......... 21,046,695 25,868,573 29,662,053 34,427,091 35,976,777 39,477,986 44,677,819 49,040,703 49,135,283 50,809,229 53,594,378

Midwest .......... 26,333,004 29,888,542 34,019,792 38,594,100 40,143,332 44,460,762 51,619,139 56,571,663 58,865,670 59,668,632 64,392,776

South............ 24,523,527 29,389,330 33,125,803 37,857,633 41,665,901 47,197,088 54,973,113 62,795,367 75,372,362 85,445,930 100,236,820

West1

............ 4,091,349 6,825,821 8,902,972 11,896,222 13,883,265 19,561,525 28,053,104 34,804,193 43,172,490 52,786,082 63,197,932

State

Alabama ......... 1,828,697 2,138,093 2,348,174 2,646,248 2,832,961 3,061,743 3,266,740 3,444,165 3,893,888 4,040,587 4,447,100

Alaska1 .......... 63,592 64,356 55,036 59,278 72,524 128,643 226,167 300,382 401,851 550,043 626,932

Arizona .......... 122,931 204,354 334,162 435,573 499,261 749,587 1,302,161 1,770,900 2,718,215 3,665,228 5,130,632

Arkansas ......... 1,311,564 1,574,449 1,752,204 1,854,482 1,949,387 1,909,511 1,786,272 1,923,295 2,286,435 2,350,725 2,673,400

California ......... 1,485,053 2,377,549 3,426,861 5,677,251 6,907,387 10,586,223 15,717,204 19,953,134 23,667,902 29,760,021 33,871,648

Colorado ......... 539,700 799,024 939,629 1,035,791 1,123,296 1,325,089 1,753,947 2,207,259 2,889,964 3,294,394 4,301,261

Connecticut ....... 908,420 1,114,756 1,380,631 1,606,903 1,709,242 2,007,280 2,535,234 3,031,709 3,107,576 3,287,116 3,405,565

Delaware ......... 184,735 202,322 223,003 238,380 266,505 318,085 446,292 548,104 594,338 666,168 783,600

District of Columbia . 278,718 331,069 437,571 486,869 663,091 802,178 763,956 756,510 638,333 606,900 572,059

Florida ........... 528,542 752,619 968,470 1,468,211 1,897,414 2,771,305 4,951,560 6,789,443 9,746,324 12,937,926 15,982,378

Georgia .......... 2,216,331 2,609,121 2,895,832 2,908,506 3,123,723 3,444,578 3,943,116 4,589,575 5,463,105 6,478,216 8,186,453

Hawaii1 .......... 154,001 191,909 255,912 368,336 423,330 499,794 632,772 768,561 964,691 1,108,229 1,211,537

Idaho ............ 161,772 325,594 431,866 445,032 524,873 588,637 667,191 712,567 943,935 1,006,749 1,293,953

Illinois ........... 4,821,550 5,638,591 6,485,280 7,630,654 7,897,241 8,712,176 10,081,158 11,113,976 11,426,518 11,430,602 12,419,293

Indiana........... 2,516,462 2,700,876 2,930,390 3,238,503 3,427,796 3,934,224 4,662,498 5,193,669 5,490,224 5,544,159 6,080,485

Iowa............. 2,231,853 2,224,771 2,404,021 2,470,939 2,538,268 2,621,073 2,757,537 2,824,376 2,913,808 2,776,755 2,926,324

Kansas .......... 1,470,495 1,690,949 1,769,257 1,880,999 1,801,028 1,905,299 2,178,611 2,246,578 2,363,679 2,477,574 2,688,418

Kentucky ......... 2,147,174 2,289,905 2,416,630 2,614,589 2,845,627 2,944,806 3,038,156 3,218,706 3,660,777 3,685,296 4,041,769

Louisiana ......... 1,381,625 1,656,388 1,798,509 2,101,593 2,363,880 2,683,516 3,257,022 3,641,306 4,205,900 4,219,973 4,468,976

Maine............ 694,466 742,371 768,014 797,423 847,226 913,774 969,265 992,048 1,124,660 1,227,928 1,274,923

Maryland ......... 1,188,044 1,295,346 1,449,661 1,631,526 1,821,244 2,343,001 3,100,689 3,922,399 4,216,975 4,781,468 5,296,486

Massachusetts..... 2,805,346 3,366,416 3,852,356 4,249,614 4,316,721 4,690,514 5,148,578 5,689,170 5,737,037 6,016,425 6,349,097

Michigan ......... 2,420,982 2,810,173 3,668,412 4,842,325 5,256,106 6,371,766 7,823,194 8,875,083 9,262,078 9,295,297 9,938,444

Minnesota ........ 1,751,394 2,075,708 2,387,125 2,563,953 2,792,300 2,982,483 3,413,864 3,804,971 4,075,970 4,375,099 4,919,479

Mississippi ........ 1,551,270 1,797,114 1,790,618 2,009,821 2,183,796 2,178,914 2,178,141 2,216,912 2,520,638 2,573,216 2,844,658

Missouri .......... 3,106,665 3,293,335 3,404,055 3,629,367 3,784,664 3,954,653 4,319,813 4,676,501 4,916,686 5,117,073 5,595,211

Montana ......... 243,329 376,053 548,889 537,606 559,456 591,024 674,767 694,409 786,690 799,065 902,195

Nebraska ......... 1,066,300 1,192,214 1,296,372 1,377,963 1,315,834 1,325,510 1,411,330 1,483,493 1,569,825 1,578,385 1,711,263

Nevada .......... 42,335 81,875 77,407 91,058 110,247 160,083 285,278 488,738 800,493 1,201,833 1,998,257

New Hampshire. . . . 411,588 430,572 443,083 465,293 491,524 533,242 606,921 737,681 920,610 1,109,252 1,235,786

New Jersey ....... 1,883,669 2,537,167 3,155,900 4,041,334 4,160,165 4,835,329 6,066,782 7,168,164 7,364,823 7,730,188 8,414,350

New Mexico....... 195,310 327,301 360,350 423,317 531,818 681,187 951,023 1,016,000 1,302,894 1,515,069 1,819,046

New York . . . . . . . . . 7,268,894 9,113,614 10,385,227 12,588,066 13,479,142 14,830,192 16,782,304 18,236,967 17,558,072 17,990,455 18,976,457

North Carolina ..... 1,893,810 2,206,287 2,559,123 3,170,276 3,571,623 4,061,929 4,556,155 5,082,059 5,881,766 6,628,637 8,049,313

North Dakota ...... 319,146 577,056 646,872 680,845 641,935 619,636 632,446 617,761 652,717 638,800 642,200

Ohio............. 4,157,545 4,767,121 5,759,394 6,646,697 6,907,612 7,946,627 9,706,397 10,652,017 10,797,630 10,847,115 11,353,140

Oklahoma ........ 790,391 1,657,155 2,028,283 2,396,040 2,336,434 2,233,351 2,328,284 2,559,229 3,025,290 3,145,585 3,450,654

Oregon .......... 413,536 672,765 783,389 953,786 1,089,684 1,521,341 1,768,687 2,091,385 2,633,105 2,842,321 3,421,399

Pennsylvania ...... 6,302,115 7,665,111 8,720,017 9,631,350 9,900,180 10,498,012 11,319,366 11,793,909 11,863,895 11,881,643 12,281,054

Rhode Island ...... 428,556 542,610 604,397 687,497 713,346 791,896 859,488 946,725 947,154 1,003,464 1,048,319

South Carolina..... 1,340,316 1,515,400 1,683,724 1,738,765 1,899,804 2,117,027 2,382,594 2,590,516 3,121,820 3,486,703 4,012,012

South Dakota...... 401,570 583,888 636,547 692,849 642,961 652,740 680,514 665,507 690,768 696,004 754,844

Tennessee ........ 2,020,616 2,184,789 2,337,885 2,616,556 2,915,841 3,291,718 3,567,089 3,923,687 4,591,120 4,877,185 5,689,283

Texas............ 3,048,710 3,896,542 4,663,228 5,824,715 6,414,824 7,711,194 9,579,677 11,196,730 14,229,191 16,986,510 20,851,820

Utah............. 276,749 373,351 449,396 507,847 550,310 688,862 890,627 1,059,273 1,461,037 1,722,850 2,233,169

Vermont .......... 343,641 355,956 352,428 359,611 359,231 377,747 389,881 444,330 511,456 562,758 608,827

Virginia .......... 1,854,184 2,061,612 2,309,187 2,421,851 2,677,773 3,318,680 3,966,949 4,648,494 5,346,818 6,187,358 7,078,515

Washington ....... 518,103 1,141,990 1,356,621 1,563,396 1,736,191 2,378,963 2,853,214 3,409,169 4,132,156 4,866,692 5,894,121

West Virginia ...... 958,800 1,221,119 1,463,701 1,729,205 1,901,974 2,005,552 1,860,421 1,744,237 1,949,644 1,793,477 1,808,344

Wisconsin ........ 2,069,042 2,333,860 2,632,067 2,939,006 3,137,587 3,434,575 3,951,777 4,417,731 4,705,767 4,891,769 5,363,675

Wyoming ......... 92,531 145,965 194,402 225,565 250,742 290,529 330,066 332,416 469,557 453,588 493,782

1 Population totals for the United States and the West region exclude Alaska and Hawaii for 1900 through 1950. Data for Alaska and Hawaii prior to 1960 were collected for these territories in each decennial census of population.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-1
Table 2. Population Density for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States1 . . 25.7 31.1 35.7 41.5 44.5 50.9 50.7 57.4 64.0 70.3 79.6

Region

Northeast......... 129.7 159.4 182.8 212.2 221.7 243.3 275.4 302.2 302.8 313.1 330.3

Midwest ......... 35.0 39.8 45.3 51.4 53.4 59.2 68.7 75.3 78.3 79.4 85.7

South............ 28.2 33.7 38.0 43.5 47.8 54.2 63.1 72.1 86.6 98.1 115.1

West1. . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 5.8 7.6 10.1 11.8 16.7 16.0 19.9 24.6 30.1 36.1

State

Alabama ......... 36.0 42.1 46.3 52.1 55.8 60.3 64.4 67.9 76.7 79.6 87.6

Alaska1 . . . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.1

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 1.8 2.9 3.8 4.4 6.6 11.5 15.6 23.9 32.3 45.2

Arkansas ......... 25.2 30.2 33.7 35.6 37.4 36.7 34.3 36.9 43.9 45.1 51.3

California . . . . . . . . . 9.5 15.2 22.0 36.4 44.3 67.9 100.8 127.9 151.8 190.8 217.2

Colorado . . . . . . . . . 5.2 7.7 9.1 10.0 10.8 12.8 16.9 21.3 27.9 31.8 41.5

Connecticut ....... 187.5 230.1 285.0 331.7 352.8 414.3 523.3 625.8 641.4 678.5 702.9

Delaware ......... 94.6 103.6 114.2 122.0 136.4 162.8 228.5 280.6 304.2 341.0 401.1

District of Columbia . 4,539.2 5,391.7 7,126.2 7,929.1 10,799.0 13,064.1 12,441.7 12,320.4 10,395.8 9,883.9 9,316.5

Florida . . . . . . . . . . 9.8 14.0 18.0 27.2 35.2 51.4 91.8 125.9 180.7 239.9 296.4

Georgia ......... 38.3 45.1 50.0 50.2 53.9 59.5 68.1 79.3 94.3 111.9 141.4

Hawaii1 .......... 24.0 29.9 39.8 57.3 65.9 77.8 98.5 119.7 150.2 172.6 188.6

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 3.9 5.2 5.4 6.3 7.1 8.1 8.6 11.4 12.2 15.6

Illinois ........... 86.7 101.4 116.7 137.3 142.1 156.7 181.4 200.0 205.6 205.6 223.4

Indiana........... 70.2 75.3 81.7 90.3 95.6 109.7 130.0 144.8 153.1 154.6 169.5

Iowa............. 39.9 39.8 43.0 44.2 45.4 46.9 49.4 50.6 52.2 49.7 52.4

Kansas .......... 18.0 20.7 21.6 23.0 22.0 23.3 26.6 27.5 28.9 30.3 32.9

Kentucky ......... 54.0 57.6 60.8 65.8 71.6 74.1 76.5 81.0 92.1 92.8 101.7

Louisiana ......... 31.7 38.0 41.3 48.2 54.3 61.6 74.8 83.6 96.6 96.9 102.6

Maine............ 22.5 24.1 24.9 25.8 27.5 29.6 31.4 32.1 36.4 39.8 41.3

Maryland ......... 121.6 132.5 148.3 166.9 186.3 239.7 317.2 401.3 431.5 489.2 541.9

Massachusetts..... 357.8 429.4 491.4 542.0 550.6 598.3 656.7 725.7 731.8 767.4 809.8

Michigan ......... 42.6 49.5 64.6 85.2 92.5 112.2 137.7 156.2 163.1 163.6 175.0

Minnesota ........ 22.0 26.1 30.0 32.2 35.1 37.5 42.9 47.8 51.2 55.0 61.8

Mississippi ........ 33.1 38.3 38.2 42.8 46.6 46.5 46.4 47.3 53.7 54.9 60.6

Missouri .......... 45.1 47.8 49.4 52.7 54.9 57.4 62.7 67.9 71.4 74.3 81.2

Montana . . . . . . . . . 1.7 2.6 3.8 3.7 3.8 4.1 4.6 4.8 5.4 5.5 6.2

Nebraska ......... 13.9 15.5 16.9 17.9 17.1 17.2 18.4 19.3 20.4 20.5 22.3

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.7 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.5 2.6 4.5 7.3 10.9 18.2

New Hampshire.... 45.9 48.0 49.4 51.9 54.8 59.5 67.7 82.3 102.7 123.7 137.8

New Jersey ....... 254.0 342.1 425.5 544.8 560.9 651.9 817.9 966.4 992.9 1,042.2 1,134.4

New Mexico. . . . . . . 1.6 2.7 3.0 3.5 4.4 5.6 7.8 8.4 10.7 12.5 15.0

New York . . . . . . . . . 154.0 193.0 220.0 266.6 285.5 314.1 355.5 386.3 371.9 381.0 401.9

North Carolina ..... 38.9 45.3 52.5 65.1 73.3 83.4 93.5 104.3 120.7 136.1 165.2

North Dakota . . . . . . 4.6 8.4 9.4 9.9 9.3 9.0 9.2 9.0 9.5 9.3 9.3

Ohio............. 101.5 116.4 140.7 162.3 168.7 194.1 237.0 260.1 263.7 264.9 277.3

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . 11.5 24.1 29.5 34.9 34.0 32.5 33.9 37.3 44.1 45.8 50.3

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . 4.3 7.0 8.2 9.9 11.4 15.8 18.4 21.8 27.4 29.6 35.6

Pennsylvania ...... 140.6 171.0 194.6 214.9 220.9 234.2 252.6 263.2 264.7 265.1 274.0

Rhode Island ...... 410.1 519.3 578.4 657.9 682.7 757.8 822.5 906.0 906.4 960.3 1,003.2

South Carolina..... 44.5 50.3 55.9 57.7 63.1 70.3 79.1 86.0 103.7 115.8 133.2

South Dakota. . . . . . 5.3 7.7 8.4 9.1 8.5 8.6 9.0 8.8 9.1 9.2 9.9

Tennessee ........ 49.0 53.0 56.7 63.5 70.7 79.9 86.5 95.2 111.4 118.3 138.0

Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . 11.6 14.9 17.8 22.2 24.5 29.5 36.6 42.8 54.4 64.9 79.6

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.4 4.5 5.5 6.2 6.7 8.4 10.8 12.9 17.8 21.0 27.2

Vermont .......... 37.2 38.5 38.1 38.9 38.8 40.8 42.2 48.0 55.3 60.8 65.8

Virginia .......... 46.8 52.1 58.3 61.2 67.6 83.8 100.2 117.4 135.0 156.3 178.8

Washington . . . . . . . 7.8 17.2 20.4 23.5 26.1 35.8 42.9 51.2 62.1 73.1 88.6

West Virginia ...... 39.8 50.7 60.8 71.8 79.0 83.3 77.3 72.4 81.0 74.5 75.1

Wisconsin ........ 38.1 43.0 48.5 54.1 57.8 63.2 72.8 81.3 86.6 90.1 98.8

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.3 2.6 3.0 3.4 3.4 4.8 4.7 5.1

1 Density levels for the United States and the West region exclude Alaska and Hawaii for 1900 through 1950. Data for Alaska and Hawaii prior to 1960 were collected

for these territories in each decennial census of population.

Note: Density levels are based on Census 2000 land area measurements.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division; decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

A-2 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 3. Population by Metropolitan Status for the United States, Regions, and States:

1900 to 2000

Part A. Metropolitan

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . (NA) 26,090,616 35,937,000 54,753,645 62,965,773 84,500,680 113,462,947 140,200,996 169,430,623 192,725,741 225,981,679

Region

Northeast......... (NA) 14,164,293 17,977,558 25,508,184 26,915,502 31,053,322 35,924,274 39,970,513 41,741,946 44,791,229 47,999,309

Midwest .......... (NA) 7,351,758 10,614,010 16,123,402 18,355,666 24,170,135 30,959,961 37,658,273 41,712,781 42,688,503 47,505,299

South............ (NA) 2,650,997 4,375,325 7,511,824 10,710,749 17,360,208 26,447,395 35,199,352 50,366,992 60,588,078 75,601,214

West . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 1,923,568 2,970,107 5,610,235 6,983,856 11,917,015 20,131,317 27,372,858 35,608,904 44,657,931 54,875,857

State

Alabama ......... (NA) 211,961 290,884 382,792 635,591 1,063,254 1,488,101 1,801,095 2,415,083 2,723,265 3,108,959

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 174,431 226,338 260,283

Arizona .......... (NA) - - - 121,828 331,770 929,170 1,319,189 2,040,495 2,895,876 4,527,000

Arkansas ......... (NA) 5,789 7,295 115,253 132,010 196,685 341,351 595,030 896,382 942,502 1,321,019

California ......... (NA) 1,125,099 1,770,485 4,020,063 5,054,696 8,492,080 13,590,821 18,500,006 22,468,714 28,493,466 32,750,394

Colorado ......... (NA) 219,314 264,232 330,761 446,411 654,020 1,191,832 1,581,739 2,336,954 2,686,341 3,607,656

Connecticut ....... (NA) 381,666 772,757 1,261,160 1,337,441 1,393,966 1,966,427 2,504,802 2,744,452 3,037,511 3,256,900

Delaware ......... (NA) - 171,703 150,021 168,009 218,879 307,446 385,856 398,115 441,946 626,962

District of Columbia . (NA) 331,069 437,571 486,869 663,091 802,178 763,956 756,510 638,333 606,900 572,059

Florida ........... (NA) - - 449,912 655,849 1,323,206 3,246,826 4,656,993 8,567,726 11,754,090 14,837,497

Georgia .......... (NA) 208,284 249,226 492,021 805,163 1,235,572 1,814,069 2,280,230 3,276,015 4,212,096 5,666,664

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 500,409 629,176 762,565 836,231 876,156

Idaho ............ (NA) - - - - - -112,230 173,036 205,775 507,910

Illinois ........... (NA) 2,464,135 3,138,622 4,710,681 5,022,536 6,282,306 7,754,932 8,903,065 9,250,525 9,449,910 10,541,708

Indiana........... (NA) 345,283 522,169 1,106,187 1,280,582 1,756,828 2,241,307 3,213,598 3,831,984 3,795,923 4,389,903

Iowa............. (NA) 35,263 195,967 273,043 524,440 705,029 915,762 1,005,569 1,168,713 1,222,711 1,326,133

Kansas .......... (NA) 92,065 117,923 262,780 367,529 555,809 813,804 949,181 1,106,999 1,332,928 1,521,063

Kentucky ......... (NA) 361,112 398,386 572,438 601,353 815,760 1,036,038 1,288,024 1,628,312 1,713,911 1,973,102

Louisiana ......... (NA) 348,109 397,915 494,877 652,255 1,020,188 1,627,157 1,996,197 2,666,400 2,934,884 3,370,210

Maine............ (NA) - - - 106,566 119,942 190,950 214,099 370,844 441,103 466,606

Maryland ......... (NA) 669,955 822,664 1,024,130 1,182,717 1,695,956 2,425,346 3,307,337 3,744,962 4,438,887 4,911,040

Massachusetts..... (NA) 2,275,717 2,960,400 3,656,797 3,698,765 3,831,364 4,387,101 4,817,915 4,892,199 5,437,976 6,101,425

Michigan ......... (NA) 651,990 1,336,357 2,491,857 3,035,251 4,225,001 5,720,692 6,806,151 7,664,486 7,445,598 8,169,466

Minnesota ........ (NA) 526,256 629,216 949,999 1,031,377 1,322,571 1,752,698 2,165,029 2,631,933 2,959,899 3,463,360

Mississippi ........ (NA) - 4,631 - 88,003 142,164 187,045 393,488 684,288 775,674 1,023,662

Missouri .......... (NA) 993,557 1,210,223 1,504,403 1,728,760 2,080,884 2,499,968 2,997,071 3,210,467 3,387,465 3,794,801

Montana ......... (NA) ----- 152,434 169,171 188,731 191,110 305,511

Nebraska ......... (NA) 171,486 208,263 226,810 334,080 416,455 530,043 634,260 692,510 766,017 899,838

Nevada .......... (NA) - - - - - 211,759 394,356 656,710 996,126 1,747,736

New Hampshire.... (NA) 28,175 34,168 - 81,932 88,370 107,637 201,693 466,794 622,104 739,699

New Jersey ....... (NA) 1,649,270 2,333,736 3,580,356 3,673,197 4,350,493 5,365,373 6,293,515 6,733,039 7,730,188 8,414,350

New Mexico....... (NA) ---- 145,673 262,199 315,774 550,839 733,130 1,035,055

New York . . . . . . . . . (NA) 6,278,180 7,533,438 10,058,426 10,857,550 12,457,974 14,352,693 15,771,192 15,828,423 16,385,792 17,473,058

North Carolina ..... (NA) - - - 441,881 896,736 1,119,210 1,896,423 3,098,286 3,757,589 5,437,056

North Dakota ...... (NA) ----- 66,947 73,653 234,335 257,388 283,966

Ohio............. (NA) 1,644,548 2,717,533 3,683,116 3,989,682 5,384,086 6,748,362 8,272,512 8,666,492 8,567,105 9,213,776

Oklahoma ........ (NA) - - 385,370 409,791 577,038 1,021,610 1,281,485 1,770,245 1,869,842 2,098,362

Oregon .......... (NA) 215,048 287,245 362,136 386,190 619,522 890,978 1,280,691 1,707,944 1,947,167 2,502,366

Pennsylvania ...... (NA) 3,147,324 3,890,958 6,313,751 6,501,929 8,136,636 8,813,274 9,365,552 9,718,995 10,077,002 10,391,529

Rhode Island ...... (NA) 403,961 452,101 637,694 658,122 674,577 740,819 801,745 873,130 928,114 986,351

South Carolina..... (NA) - - - 200,011 528,710 768,024 1,017,254 1,865,359 2,113,044 2,806,962

South Dakota...... (NA) - - - 871 70,910 86,575 95,209 109,435 205,152 260,977

Tennessee ........ (NA) 320,304 371,437 772,065 893,340 1,349,511 1,632,747 1,917,695 2,884,209 3,300,009 3,862,144

Texas............ (NA) - 680,717 1,221,181 2,041,165 3,644,726 6,072,706 8,234,458 11,389,599 13,867,055 17,691,880

Utah............. (NA) - 150,066 184,451 204,488 358,214 600,770 821,689 1,154,361 1,335,817 1,708,496

Vermont .......... (NA) - - - - - - -114,070 131,439 169,391

Virginia .......... (NA) 194,414 542,896 656,173 795,363 1,210,985 2,020,626 2,846,034 3,720,891 4,483,403 5,528,068

Washington ....... (NA) 364,107 498,079 712,824 770,243 1,315,736 1,800,945 2,248,837 3,322,268 3,976,186 4,899,154

West Virginia ...... (NA) - - 308,722 345,157 638,660 575,137 545,243 722,787 652,981 765,568

Wisconsin ........ (NA) 427,175 537,737 914,526 1,040,558 1,370,256 1,828,871 2,542,975 3,144,902 3,298,407 3,640,308

Wyoming ......... (NA) ------- 71,856 134,368 148,140

See notes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-3
Table 3. Population by Metropolitan Status for the United States, Regions, and States:

1900 to 2000—Con.

Part B. Nonmetropolitan

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . (NA) 65,881,650 69,773,620 68,021,401 68,703,502 66,196,681 65,860,228 63,010,930 57,115,182 55,984,132 55,440,227

Region

Northeast......... (NA) 11,704,280 11,684,495 8,918,907 9,061,275 8,424,664 8,753,545 9,070,190 7,393,337 6,018,000 5,595,069

Midwest .......... (NA) 22,536,784 23,405,782 22,470,698 21,787,666 20,290,627 20,659,178 18,913,390 17,152,889 16,980,129 16,887,477

South............ (NA) 26,738,333 28,750,478 30,345,809 30,955,152 29,836,880 28,525,718 27,596,015 25,005,370 24,857,852 24,635,606

West . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 4,902,253 5,932,865 6,285,987 6,899,409 7,644,510 7,921,787 7,431,335 7,563,586 8,128,151 8,322,075

State

Alabama ......... (NA) 1,926,132 2,057,290 2,263,456 2,197,370 1,998,489 1,778,639 1,643,070 1,478,805 1,317,322 1,338,141

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 226,167 300,382 227,420 323,705 366,649

Arizona .......... (NA) 204,354 334,162 435,573 377,433 417,817 372,991 451,711 677,720 769,352 603,632

Arkansas ......... (NA) 1,568,660 1,744,909 1,739,229 1,817,377 1,712,826 1,444,921 1,328,265 1,390,053 1,408,223 1,352,381

California ......... (NA) 1,252,450 1,656,376 1,657,188 1,852,691 2,094,143 2,126,383 1,453,128 1,199,188 1,266,555 1,121,254

Colorado ......... (NA) 579,710 675,397 705,030 676,885 671,069 562,115 625,520 553,010 608,053 693,605

Connecticut ....... (NA) 733,090 607,874 345,743 371,801 613,314 568,807 526,907 363,124 249,605 148,665

Delaware ......... (NA) 202,322 51,300 88,359 98,496 99,206 138,846 162,248 196,223 224,222 156,638

District of Columbia . (NA) --------- -

Florida ........... (NA) 752,619 968,470 1,018,299 1,241,565 1,448,099 1,704,734 2,132,450 1,178,598 1,183,836 1,144,881

Georgia .......... (NA) 2,400,837 2,646,606 2,416,485 2,318,560 2,209,006 2,129,047 2,309,345 2,187,090 2,266,120 2,519,789

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 132,363 139,385 202,126 271,998 335,381

Idaho ............ (NA) 325,594 431,866 445,032 524,873 588,637 667,191 600,337 770,899 800,974 786,043

Illinois ........... (NA) 3,174,456 3,346,658 2,919,973 2,874,705 2,429,870 2,326,226 2,210,911 2,175,993 1,980,692 1,877,585

Indiana........... (NA) 2,355,593 2,408,221 2,132,316 2,147,214 2,177,396 2,421,191 1,980,071 1,658,240 1,748,236 1,690,582

Iowa............. (NA) 2,189,508 2,208,054 2,197,896 2,013,828 1,916,044 1,841,775 1,818,807 1,745,095 1,554,044 1,600,191

Kansas .......... (NA) 1,598,884 1,651,334 1,618,219 1,433,499 1,349,490 1,364,807 1,297,397 1,256,680 1,144,646 1,167,355

Kentucky ......... (NA) 1,928,793 2,018,244 2,042,151 2,244,274 2,129,046 2,002,118 1,930,682 2,032,465 1,971,385 2,068,667

Louisiana ......... (NA) 1,308,279 1,400,594 1,606,716 1,711,625 1,663,328 1,629,865 1,645,109 1,539,500 1,285,089 1,098,766

Maine............ (NA) 742,371 768,014 797,423 740,660 793,832 778,315 777,949 753,816 786,825 808,317

Maryland ......... (NA) 625,391 626,997 607,396 638,527 647,045 675,343 615,062 472,013 342,581 385,446

Massachusetts..... (NA) 1,090,699 891,956 592,817 617,956 859,150 761,477 871,255 844,838 578,449 247,672

Michigan ......... (NA) 2,158,183 2,332,055 2,350,468 2,220,855 2,146,765 2,102,502 2,068,932 1,597,592 1,849,699 1,768,978

Minnesota ........ (NA) 1,549,452 1,757,909 1,613,954 1,760,923 1,659,912 1,661,166 1,639,942 1,444,037 1,415,200 1,456,119

Mississippi ........ (NA) 1,797,114 1,785,987 2,009,821 2,095,793 2,036,750 1,991,096 1,823,424 1,836,350 1,797,542 1,820,996

Missouri .......... (NA) 2,299,778 2,193,832 2,124,964 2,055,904 1,873,769 1,819,845 1,679,430 1,706,219 1,729,608 1,800,410

Montana ......... (NA) 376,053 548,889 537,606 559,456 591,024 522,333 525,238 597,959 607,955 596,684

Nebraska ......... (NA) 1,020,728 1,088,109 1,151,153 981,754 909,055 881,287 849,233 877,315 812,368 811,425

Nevada .......... (NA) 81,875 77,407 91,058 110,247 160,083 73,519 94,382 143,783 205,707 250,521

New Hampshire.... (NA) 402,397 408,915 465,293 409,592 444,872 499,284 535,988 453,816 487,148 496,087

New Jersey ....... (NA) 887,897 822,164 460,978 486,968 484,836 701,409 874,649 631,784 - -

New Mexico....... (NA) 327,301 360,350 423,317 531,818 535,514 688,824 700,226 752,055 781,939 783,991

New York . . . . . . . . . (NA) 2,835,434 2,851,789 2,529,640 2,621,592 2,372,218 2,429,611 2,465,775 1,729,649 1,604,663 1,503,399

North Carolina ..... (NA) 2,206,287 2,559,123 3,170,276 3,129,742 3,165,193 3,436,945 3,185,636 2,783,480 2,871,048 2,612,257

North Dakota ...... (NA) 577,056 646,872 680,845 641,935 619,636 565,499 544,108 418,382 381,412 358,234

Ohio............. (NA) 3,122,573 3,041,861 2,963,581 2,917,930 2,562,541 2,958,035 2,379,505 2,131,138 2,280,010 2,139,364

Oklahoma ........ (NA) 1,657,155 2,028,283 2,010,670 1,926,643 1,656,313 1,306,674 1,277,744 1,255,045 1,275,743 1,352,292

Oregon .......... (NA) 457,717 496,144 591,650 703,494 901,819 877,709 810,694 925,161 895,154 919,033

Pennsylvania ...... (NA) 4,517,787 4,829,059 3,317,599 3,398,251 2,361,376 2,506,092 2,428,357 2,144,900 1,804,641 1,889,525

Rhode Island ...... (NA) 138,649 152,296 49,803 55,224 117,319 118,669 144,980 74,024 75,350 61,968

South Carolina..... (NA) 1,515,400 1,683,724 1,738,765 1,699,793 1,588,317 1,614,570 1,573,262 1,256,461 1,373,659 1,205,050

South Dakota...... (NA) 583,888 636,547 692,849 642,090 581,830 593,939 570,298 581,333 490,852 493,867

Tennessee ........ (NA) 1,864,485 1,966,448 1,844,491 2,022,501 1,942,207 1,934,342 2,005,992 1,706,911 1,577,176 1,827,139

Texas............ (NA) 3,896,542 3,982,511 4,603,534 4,373,659 4,066,468 3,506,971 2,962,272 2,839,592 3,119,455 3,159,940

Utah............. (NA) 373,351 299,330 323,396 345,822 330,648 289,857 237,584 306,676 387,033 524,673

Vermont .......... (NA) 355,956 352,428 359,611 359,231 377,747 389,881 444,330 397,386 431,319 439,436

Virginia .......... (NA) 1,867,198 1,766,291 1,765,678 1,882,410 2,107,695 1,946,323 1,802,460 1,625,927 1,703,955 1,550,447

Washington ....... (NA) 777,883 858,542 850,572 965,948 1,063,227 1,052,269 1,160,332 809,888 890,506 994,967

West Virginia ...... (NA) 1,221,119 1,463,701 1,420,483 1,556,817 1,366,892 1,285,284 1,198,994 1,226,857 1,140,496 1,042,776

Wisconsin ........ (NA) 1,906,685 2,094,330 2,024,480 2,097,029 2,064,319 2,122,906 1,874,756 1,560,865 1,593,362 1,723,367

Wyoming ......... (NA) 145,965 194,402 225,565 250,742 290,529 330,066 332,416 397,701 319,220 345,642

See notes at end of table.

A-4 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 3. Population by Metropolitan Status for the United States, Regions, and States:

1900 to 2000—Con.

Part C. Percent Metropolitan

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . (NA) 28.4 34.0 44.6 47.8 56.1 63.3 69.0 74.8 77.5 80.3

Region

Northeast......... (NA) 54.8 60.6 74.1 74.8 78.7 80.4 81.5 85.0 88.2 89.6

Midwest .......... (NA) 24.6 31.2 41.8 45.7 54.4 60.0 66.6 70.9 71.5 73.8

South............ (NA) 9.0 13.2 19.8 25.7 36.8 48.1 56.1 66.8 70.9 75.4

West . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) 28.2 33.4 47.2 50.3 60.9 71.8 78.6 82.5 84.6 86.8

State

Alabama ......... (NA) 9.9 12.4 14.5 22.4 34.7 45.6 52.3 62.0 67.4 69.9

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 43.4 41.1 41.5

Arizona .......... (NA) - - - 24.4 44.3 71.4 74.5 75.1 79.0 88.2

Arkansas ......... (NA) 0.4 0.4 6.2 6.8 10.3 19.1 30.9 39.2 40.1 49.4

California ......... (NA) 47.3 51.7 70.8 73.2 80.2 86.5 92.7 94.9 95.7 96.7

Colorado ......... (NA) 27.4 28.1 31.9 39.7 49.4 68.0 71.7 80.9 81.5 83.9

Connecticut ....... (NA) 34.2 56.0 78.5 78.2 69.4 77.6 82.6 88.3 92.4 95.6

Delaware ......... (NA) - 77.0 62.9 63.0 68.8 68.9 70.4 67.0 66.3 80.0

District of Columbia . (NA) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Florida ........... (NA) - - 30.6 34.6 47.7 65.6 68.6 87.9 90.8 92.8

Georgia .......... (NA) 8.0 8.6 16.9 25.8 35.9 46.0 49.7 60.0 65.0 69.2

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 79.1 81.9 79.0 75.5 72.3

Idaho ............ (NA) ------ 15.8 18.3 20.4 39.3

Illinois ........... (NA) 43.7 48.4 61.7 63.6 72.1 76.9 80.1 81.0 82.7 84.9

Indiana........... (NA) 12.8 17.8 34.2 37.4 44.7 48.1 61.9 69.8 68.5 72.2

Iowa............. (NA) 1.6 8.2 11.1 20.7 26.9 33.2 35.6 40.1 44.0 45.3

Kansas .......... (NA) 5.4 6.7 14.0 20.4 29.2 37.4 42.3 46.8 53.8 56.6

Kentucky ......... (NA) 15.8 16.5 21.9 21.1 27.7 34.1 40.0 44.5 46.5 48.8

Louisiana ......... (NA) 21.0 22.1 23.5 27.6 38.0 50.0 54.8 63.4 69.5 75.4

Maine............ (NA) - - - 12.6 13.1 19.7 21.6 33.0 35.9 36.6

Maryland ......... (NA) 51.7 56.7 62.8 64.9 72.4 78.2 84.3 88.8 92.8 92.7

Massachusetts..... (NA) 67.6 76.8 86.1 85.7 81.7 85.2 84.7 85.3 90.4 96.1

Michigan ......... (NA) 23.2 36.4 51.5 57.7 66.3 73.1 76.7 82.8 80.1 82.2

Minnesota ........ (NA) 25.4 26.4 37.1 36.9 44.3 51.3 56.9 64.6 67.7 70.4

Mississippi ........ (NA) - 0.3 - 4.0 6.5 8.6 17.7 27.1 30.1 36.0

Missouri .......... (NA) 30.2 35.6 41.5 45.7 52.6 57.9 64.1 65.3 66.2 67.8

Montana ......... (NA) ----- 22.6 24.4 24.0 23.9 33.9

Nebraska ......... (NA) 14.4 16.1 16.5 25.4 31.4 37.6 42.8 44.1 48.5 52.6

Nevada .......... (NA) ----- 74.2 80.7 82.0 82.9 87.5

New Hampshire.... (NA) 6.5 7.7 - 16.7 16.6 17.7 27.3 50.7 56.1 59.9

New Jersey ....... (NA) 65.0 73.9 88.6 88.3 90.0 88.4 87.8 91.4 100.0 100.0

New Mexico....... (NA) ---- 21.4 27.6 31.1 42.3 48.4 56.9

New York . . . . . . . . . (NA) 68.9 72.5 79.9 80.6 84.0 85.5 86.5 90.1 91.1 92.1

North Carolina ..... (NA) - - - 12.4 22.1 24.6 37.3 52.7 56.7 67.5

North Dakota ...... (NA) ----- 10.6 11.9 35.9 40.3 44.2

Ohio............. (NA) 34.5 47.2 55.4 57.8 67.8 69.5 77.7 80.3 79.0 81.2

Oklahoma ........ (NA) - - 16.1 17.5 25.8 43.9 50.1 58.5 59.4 60.8

Oregon .......... (NA) 32.0 36.7 38.0 35.4 40.7 50.4 61.2 64.9 68.5 73.1

Pennsylvania ...... (NA) 41.1 44.6 65.6 65.7 77.5 77.9 79.4 81.9 84.8 84.6

Rhode Island ...... (NA) 74.4 74.8 92.8 92.3 85.2 86.2 84.7 92.2 92.5 94.1

South Carolina..... (NA) - - - 10.5 25.0 32.2 39.3 59.8 60.6 70.0

South Dakota...... (NA) - - - 0.1 10.9 12.7 14.3 15.8 29.5 34.6

Tennessee ........ (NA) 14.7 15.9 29.5 30.6 41.0 45.8 48.9 62.8 67.7 67.9

Texas............ (NA) - 14.6 21.0 31.8 47.3 63.4 73.5 80.0 81.6 84.8

Utah............. (NA) - 33.4 36.3 37.2 52.0 67.5 77.6 79.0 77.5 76.5

Vermont .......... (NA) ------- 22.3 23.4 27.8

Virginia .......... (NA) 9.4 23.5 27.1 29.7 36.5 50.9 61.2 69.6 72.5 78.1

Washington ....... (NA) 31.9 36.7 45.6 44.4 55.3 63.1 66.0 80.4 81.7 83.1

West Virginia ...... (NA) - - 17.9 18.1 31.8 30.9 31.3 37.1 36.4 42.3

Wisconsin ........ (NA) 18.3 20.4 31.1 33.2 39.9 46.3 57.6 66.8 67.4 67.9

Wyoming ......... (NA) ------- 15.3 29.6 30.0

- Represents zero or rounds to zero. NA Not available. X Not applicable.

Note: Data for 1910 to 1940 are based on the metropolitan district concept and data for 1950 to 2000 are based on the metropolitan area concept. For a discussion of

these concepts, see Appendix C, Sources and Quality of Data.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1910 to 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-5
Table 4. Total Population, Population Change, and Population Ranking for the Ten Largest Cities

in the United States: 1900 to 2000

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . . . 75,994,575 91,972,266 105,710,620 122,775,046 131,669,275 150,697,361 179,323,175 203,211,926 226,545,805 248,709,873 281,421,906

Total population,

10 largest cities . . . 9,477,400 12,401,322 15,355,850 19,042,823 19,906,825 21,729,384 21,751,334 22,028,346 20,886,343 21,872,554 23,899,236

Percent .......... 12.5 13.5 14.5 15.5 15.1 14.4 12.1 10.8 9.2 8.8 8.5

Number

New York . . . . . . . . . 3,437,202 4,766,883 5,620,048 6,930,446 7,454,995 7,891,957 7,781,984 7,894,862 7,071,639 7,322,564 8,008,278

Chicago .......... 1,698,575 2,185,283 2,701,705 3,376,438 3,396,808 3,620,962 3,550,404 3,366,957 3,005,072 2,783,726 2,896,016

Philadelphia....... 1,293,697 1,549,008 1,823,779 1,950,961 1,931,334 2,071,605 2,002,512 1,948,609 1,688,210 1,585,577 1,517,550

St. Louis ......... 575,238 687,029 772,897 821,960 816,048 856,796 750,026 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Boston ........... 560,892 670,585 748,060 781,188 770,816 801,444 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Baltimore ......... 508,957 558,485 733,826 804,874 859,100 949,708 939,024 905,759 786,775 (X) (X)

Cleveland ........ 381,768 560,663 796,841 900,429 878,336 914,808 876,050 750,903 (X) (X) (X)

Buffalo ........... 352,387 423,715 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

San Francisco ..... 342,782 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Cincinnati......... 325,902 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . (X) 533,905 588,343 669,817 671,659 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . (X) 465,766 993,678 1,568,662 1,623,452 1,849,568 1,670,144 1,511,482 1,203,339 1,027,974 951,270

Los Angeles. . . . . . . (X) (X) 576,673 1,238,048 1,504,277 1,970,358 2,479,015 2,816,061 2,966,850 3,485,398 3,694,820

Washington, DC . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 802,178 763,956 756,510 (X) (X) (X)

Houston . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 938,219 1,232,802 1,595,138 1,630,553 1,953,631

Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 844,401 904,078 1,006,877 1,188,580

San Diego . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 875,538 1,110,549 1,223,400

Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 789,704 983,403 1,321,045

San Antonio. . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 935,933 1,144,646

Change From

Previous Decade

New York . . . . . . . . . (X) 1,329,681 853,165 1,310,398 524,549 436,962 -109,973 112,878 -823,223 250,925 685,714

Chicago . . . . . . . . . . (X) 486,708 516,422 674,733 20,370 224,154 -70,558 -183,447 -361,885 -221,346 112,290

Philadelphia. . . . . . . (X) 255,311 274,771 127,182 -19,627 140,271 -69,093 -53,903 -260,399 -102,633 -68,027

St. Louis . . . . . . . . . (X) 111,791 85,868 49,063 -5,912 40,748 -106,770 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Boston . . . . . . . . . . . (X) 109,693 77,475 33,128 -10,372 30,628 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Baltimore . . . . . . . . . (X) 49,528 175,341 71,048 54,226 90,608 -10,684 -33,265 -118,984 (X) (X)

Cleveland . . . . . . . . (X) 178,895 236,178 103,588 -22,093 36,472 -38,758 -125,147 (X) (X) (X)

Buffalo . . . . . . . . . . . (X) 71,328 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

San Francisco . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Cincinnati. . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . (X) (X) 54,438 81,474 1,842 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) 527,912 574,984 54,790 226,116 -179,424 -158,662 -308,143 -175,365 -76,704

Los Angeles. . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) 661,375 266,229 466,081 508,657 337,046 150,789 518,548 209,422

Washington, DC . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) -38,222 -7,446 (X) (X) (X)

Houston . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 294,583 362,336 35,415 323,078

Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 59,677 102,799 181,703

San Diego . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 235,011 112,851

Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 193,699 337,642

San Antonio. . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 208,713

Rank

New York . . . . . . . . . 1111111111 1

Chicago .......... 2222222223 3

Philadelphia....... 3333334445 5

St. Louis ......... 4 4 6 7 8 8 10 (X) (X) (X) (X)

Boston ........... 5 5 7 9 9 10 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Baltimore ......... 6 7 8 8 7 6 6 7 10 (X) (X)

Cleveland ........ 7 6 5 6 6 7 8 10 (X) (X) (X)

Buffalo . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

San Francisco . . . . . 9 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Cincinnati. . . . . . . . . 10 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . (X) 8 9 10 10 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . (X) 9 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 7 10

Los Angeles. . . . . . . (X) (X) 10 5543332 2

Washington, DC . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 9 9 9 (X) (X) (X)

Houston . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 7654 4

Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 8 7 8 8

San Diego . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 8 6 7

Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 9 9 6

San Antonio. . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 10 9

X Not applicable.

Note: Population, change from previous decade, and ranking shown only for censuses when the city ranked among the ten largest in the United States.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

A-6 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 5. Population by Age and Sex for the United States: 1900 to 2000

Part A. Number

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Sex and age 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Total......... 75,994,575 91,972,266 105,710,620 122,775,046 131,669,275 150,697,361 179,323,175 203,211,926 226,545,805 248,709,873 281,421,906

0 to 4 years ....... 9,170,628 10,631,364 11,573,230 11,444,390 10,541,524 16,163,571 20,320,901 17,154,337 16,348,254 18,354,443 19,175,798

5 to 9 years ....... 8,874,123 9,760,632 11,398,075 12,607,609 10,684,622 13,199,685 18,691,780 19,956,247 16,699,956 18,099,179 20,549,505

10 to 14 years ..... 8,080,234 9,107,140 10,641,137 12,004,877 11,745,935 11,119,268 16,773,492 20,789,468 18,242,129 17,114,249 20,528,072

15 to 19 years ..... 7,556,089 9,063,603 9,430,556 11,552,115 12,333,523 10,616,598 13,219,243 19,070,348 21,168,124 17,754,015 20,219,890

20 to 24 years ..... 7,335,016 9,056,984 9,277,021 10,870,378 11,587,835 11,481,828 10,800,761 16,371,021 21,318,704 19,020,312 18,964,001

25 to 29 years ..... 6,529,441 8,180,003 9,086,491 9,833,608 11,096,638 12,242,260 10,869,124 13,476,993 19,520,919 21,313,045 19,381,336

30 to 34 years ..... 5,556,039 6,972,185 8,071,193 9,120,421 10,242,388 11,517,007 11,949,186 11,430,436 17,560,920 21,862,887 20,510,388

35 to 39 years ..... 4,964,781 6,396,100 7,775,281 9,208,645 9,545,377 11,246,386 12,481,109 11,106,851 13,965,302 19,963,117 22,706,664

40 to 44 years ..... 4,247,166 5,261,587 6,345,557 7,990,195 8,787,843 10,203,973 11,600,243 11,980,954 11,669,408 17,615,786 22,441,863

45 to 49 years ..... 3,454,612 4,469,197 5,763,620 7,042,279 8,255,225 9,070,465 10,879,485 12,115,939 11,089,755 13,872,573 20,092,404

50 to 54 years ..... 2,942,829 3,900,791 4,734,873 5,975,804 7,256,846 8,272,188 9,605,954 11,104,018 11,710,032 11,350,513 17,585,548

55 to 59 years ..... 2,211,172 2,786,951 3,549,124 4,645,677 5,843,865 7,235,120 8,429,865 9,973,028 11,615,254 10,531,756 13,469,237

60 to 64 years ..... 1,791,363 2,267,150 2,982,548 3,751,221 4,728,340 6,059,475 7,142,452 8,616,784 10,087,621 10,616,167 10,805,447

65 to 69 years ..... 1,302,926 1,679,503 2,068,475 2,770,605 3,806,657 5,002,936 6,257,910 6,991,625 8,782,481 10,111,735 9,533,545

70 to 74 years ..... 883,841 1,113,728 1,395,036 1,950,004 2,569,532 3,411,949 4,738,932 5,443,831 6,798,124 7,994,823 8,857,441

75 to 79 years1 .... 519,857 667,302 856,560 1,106,390 1,503,982 2,152,407 3,053,559 3,834,834 4,793,722 6,121,369 7,415,813

80 to 84 years1 .... 251,512 321,754 402,779 534,676 774,391 1,125,344 1,579,927 2,284,311 2,935,033 3,933,739 4,945,367

85 years and over . . 122,362 167,237 210,365 272,130 364,752 576,901 929,252 1,510,901 2,240,067 3,080,165 4,239,587

Age unknown...... 200,584 169,055 148,699 94,022 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Median age ....... 22.9 24.1 25.3 26.5 29.0 30.2 29.5 28.1 30.0 32.9 35.3

Male........... 38,816,448 47,332,277 53,900,431 62,137,080 66,061,592 74,833,239 88,331,494 98,912,192 110,053,161 121,239,418 138,053,563

0 to 4 years ....... 4,633,612 5,380,596 5,857,461 5,806,174 5,354,808 8,236,164 10,329,729 8,745,499 8,362,009 9,392,409 9,810,733

5 to 9 years ....... 4,479,396 4,924,123 5,753,001 6,381,108 5,418,823 6,714,555 9,504,368 10,168,496 8,539,080 9,262,527 10,523,277

10 to 14 years ..... 4,083,041 4,601,753 5,369,306 6,068,777 5,952,329 5,660,399 8,524,289 10,590,737 9,316,221 8,767,167 10,520,197

15 to 19 years ..... 3,750,451 4,527,282 4,673,792 5,757,825 6,180,153 5,311,342 6,633,661 9,633,847 10,755,409 9,102,698 10,391,004

20 to 24 years ..... 3,624,580 4,580,290 4,527,045 5,336,815 5,692,392 5,606,293 5,272,340 7,917,269 10,663,231 9,675,596 9,687,814

25 to 29 years ..... 3,323,543 4,244,348 4,538,233 4,860,180 5,450,662 5,972,078 5,333,075 6,621,567 9,705,107 10,695,936 9,798,760

30 to 34 years ..... 2,901,321 3,656,768 4,130,783 4,561,786 5,070,312 5,624,723 5,846,224 5,595,790 8,676,796 10,876,933 10,321,769

35 to 39 years ..... 2,616,865 3,367,016 4,074,361 4,679,860 4,745,659 5,517,544 6,079,512 5,412,423 6,861,509 9,902,243 11,318,696

40 to 44 years ..... 2,255,916 2,786,350 3,285,543 4,136,459 4,419,135 5,070,269 5,675,881 5,818,813 5,708,210 8,691,984 11,129,102

45 to 49 years ..... 1,837,836 2,378,916 3,117,550 3,671,924 4,209,269 4,526,366 5,357,925 5,851,334 5,388,249 6,810,597 9,889,506

50 to 54 years ..... 1,564,622 2,110,013 2,535,545 3,131,645 3,752,750 4,128,648 4,734,829 5,347,916 5,620,670 5,514,738 8,607,724

55 to 59 years ..... 1,145,257 1,488,437 1,880,065 2,425,992 3,011,364 3,630,046 4,127,245 4,765,821 5,481,863 5,034,370 6,508,729

60 to 64 years ..... 917,167 1,185,966 1,581,800 1,941,508 2,397,816 3,037,838 3,409,319 4,026,972 4,669,892 4,947,047 5,136,627

65 to 69 years ..... 667,669 863,994 1,079,817 1,417,812 1,896,088 2,424,561 2,931,088 3,122,084 3,902,955 4,532,307 4,400,362

70 to 74 years ..... 449,609 561,644 706,301 991,647 1,270,967 1,628,829 2,185,216 2,315,000 2,853,547 3,409,306 3,902,912

75 to 79 years1 .... 261,579 331,280 419,965 547,604 723,680 1,001,798 1,359,424 1,560,661 1,847,661 2,399,768 3,044,456

80 to 84 years1 .... 122,273 153,745 185,903 251,138 359,011 504,958 665,093 875,584 1,019,227 1,366,094 1,834,897

85 years and over . . 54,288 75,313 91,085 117,010 156,374 236,828 362,276 542,379 681,525 857,698 1,226,998

Age unknown...... 127,423 114,443 92,875 51,816 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Median age ....... 23.3 24.6 25.8 26.7 29.1 29.9 28.7 26.8 28.8 31.7 34.0

Female ........ 37,178,127 44,639,989 51,810,189 60,637,966 65,607,683 75,864,122 90,991,681 104,299,734 116,492,644 127,470,455 143,368,343

0 to 4 years ....... 4,537,016 5,250,768 5,715,769 5,638,216 5,186,716 7,927,407 9,991,172 8,408,838 7,986,245 8,962,034 9,365,065

5 to 9 years ....... 4,394,727 4,836,509 5,645,074 6,226,501 5,265,799 6,485,130 9,187,412 9,787,751 8,160,876 8,836,652 10,026,228

10 to 14 years ..... 3,997,193 4,505,387 5,271,831 5,936,100 5,793,606 5,458,869 8,249,203 10,198,731 8,925,908 8,347,082 10,007,875

15 to 19 years ..... 3,805,638 4,536,321 4,756,764 5,794,290 6,153,370 5,305,256 6,585,582 9,436,501 10,412,715 8,651,317 9,828,886

20 to 24 years ..... 3,710,436 4,476,694 4,749,976 5,533,563 5,895,443 5,875,535 5,528,421 8,453,752 10,655,473 9,344,716 9,276,187

25 to 29 years ..... 3,205,898 3,935,655 4,548,258 4,973,428 5,645,976 6,270,182 5,536,049 6,855,426 9,815,812 10,617,109 9,582,576

30 to 34 years ..... 2,654,718 3,315,417 3,940,410 4,558,635 5,172,076 5,892,284 6,102,962 5,834,646 8,884,124 10,985,954 10,188,619

35 to 39 years ..... 2,347,916 3,029,084 3,700,920 4,528,785 4,799,718 5,728,842 6,401,597 5,694,428 7,103,793 10,060,874 11,387,968

40 to 44 years ..... 1,991,250 2,475,237 3,060,014 3,853,736 4,368,708 5,133,704 5,924,362 6,162,141 5,961,198 8,923,802 11,312,761

45 to 49 years ..... 1,616,776 2,090,281 2,646,070 3,370,355 4,045,956 4,544,099 5,521,560 6,264,605 5,701,506 7,061,976 10,202,898

50 to 54 years ..... 1,378,207 1,790,778 2,199,328 2,844,159 3,504,096 4,143,540 4,871,125 5,756,102 6,089,362 5,835,775 8,977,824

55 to 59 years ..... 1,065,915 1,298,514 1,669,059 2,219,685 2,832,501 3,605,074 4,302,620 5,207,207 6,133,391 5,497,386 6,960,508

60 to 64 years ..... 874,196 1,081,184 1,400,748 1,809,713 2,330,524 3,021,637 3,733,133 4,589,812 5,417,729 5,669,120 5,668,820

65 to 69 years ..... 635,257 815,509 988,658 1,352,793 1,910,569 2,578,375 3,326,822 3,869,541 4,879,526 5,579,428 5,133,183

70 to 74 years ..... 434,232 552,084 688,735 958,357 1,298,565 1,783,120 2,553,716 3,128,831 3,944,577 4,585,517 4,954,529

75 to 79 years1 .... 258,278 336,022 436,595 558,786 780,302 1,150,609 1,694,135 2,274,173 2,946,061 3,721,601 4,371,357

80 to 84 years1 .... 129,239 168,009 216,876 283,538 415,380 620,386 914,834 1,408,727 1,915,806 2,567,645 3,110,470

85 years and over . . 68,074 91,924 119,280 155,120 208,378 340,073 566,976 968,522 1,558,542 2,222,467 3,012,589

Age unknown...... 73,161 54,612 55,824 42,206 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Median age ....... 22.4 23.5 24.7 26.2 29.0 30.5 30.3 29.3 31.2 34.1 36.5

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-7
Table 5. Population by Age and Sex for the United States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part B. Percent Distribution2

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Sex and age 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Total......... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

0 to 4 years ....... 12.1 11.6 11.0 9.3 8.0 10.7 11.3 8.4 7.2 7.4 6.8

5 to 9 years . . . . . . . 11.7 10.6 10.8 10.3 8.1 8.8 10.4 9.8 7.4 7.3 7.3

10 to 14 years ..... 10.7 9.9 10.1 9.8 8.9 7.4 9.4 10.2 8.1 6.9 7.3

15 to 19 years ..... 10.0 9.9 8.9 9.4 9.4 7.0 7.4 9.4 9.3 7.1 7.2

20 to 24 years . . . . . 9.7 9.9 8.8 8.9 8.8 7.6 6.0 8.1 9.4 7.6 6.7

25 to 29 years . . . . . 8.6 8.9 8.6 8.0 8.4 8.1 6.1 6.6 8.6 8.6 6.9

30 to 34 years . . . . . 7.3 7.6 7.6 7.4 7.8 7.6 6.7 5.6 7.8 8.8 7.3

35 to 39 years . . . . . 6.6 7.0 7.4 7.5 7.2 7.5 7.0 5.5 6.2 8.0 8.1

40 to 44 years . . . . . 5.6 5.7 6.0 6.5 6.7 6.8 6.5 5.9 5.2 7.1 8.0

45 to 49 years . . . . . 4.6 4.9 5.5 5.7 6.3 6.0 6.1 6.0 4.9 5.6 7.1

50 to 54 years . . . . . 3.9 4.2 4.5 4.9 5.5 5.5 5.4 5.5 5.2 4.6 6.2

55 to 59 years . . . . . 2.9 3.0 3.4 3.8 4.4 4.8 4.7 4.9 5.1 4.2 4.8

60 to 64 years . . . . . 2.4 2.5 2.8 3.1 3.6 4.0 4.0 4.2 4.5 4.3 3.8

65 to 69 years . . . . . 1.7 1.8 2.0 2.3 2.9 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.9 4.1 3.4

70 to 74 years . . . . . 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.6 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.7 3.0 3.2 3.1

75 to 79 years1 . . . . 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.5 2.6

80 to 84 years1 . . . . 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.8

85 years and over . . 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.2 1.5

Age unknown. . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Male........... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

0 to 4 years ....... 12.0 11.4 10.9 9.4 8.1 11.0 11.7 8.8 7.6 7.7 7.1

5 to 9 years . . . . . . . 11.6 10.4 10.7 10.3 8.2 9.0 10.8 10.3 7.8 7.6 7.6

10 to 14 years ..... 10.6 9.7 10.0 9.8 9.0 7.6 9.7 10.7 8.5 7.2 7.6

15 to 19 years . . . . . 9.7 9.6 8.7 9.3 9.4 7.1 7.5 9.7 9.8 7.5 7.5

20 to 24 years . . . . . 9.4 9.7 8.4 8.6 8.6 7.5 6.0 8.0 9.7 8.0 7.0

25 to 29 years . . . . . 8.6 9.0 8.4 7.8 8.3 8.0 6.0 6.7 8.8 8.8 7.1

30 to 34 years . . . . . 7.5 7.7 7.7 7.3 7.7 7.5 6.6 5.7 7.9 9.0 7.5

35 to 39 years . . . . . 6.8 7.1 7.6 7.5 7.2 7.4 6.9 5.5 6.2 8.2 8.2

40 to 44 years . . . . . 5.8 5.9 6.1 6.7 6.7 6.8 6.4 5.9 5.2 7.2 8.1

45 to 49 years . . . . . 4.8 5.0 5.8 5.9 6.4 6.0 6.1 5.9 4.9 5.6 7.2

50 to 54 years . . . . . 4.0 4.5 4.7 5.0 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.1 4.5 6.2

55 to 59 years . . . . . 3.0 3.2 3.5 3.9 4.6 4.9 4.7 4.8 5.0 4.2 4.7

60 to 64 years . . . . . 2.4 2.5 2.9 3.1 3.6 4.1 3.9 4.1 4.2 4.1 3.7

65 to 69 years . . . . . 1.7 1.8 2.0 2.3 2.9 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.7 3.2

70 to 74 years . . . . . 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.2 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.8 2.8

75 to 79 years1 . . . . 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.0 2.2

80 to 84 years1 . . . . 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.3

85 years and over . . 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.9

Age unknown. . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Female ........ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

0 to 4 years ....... 12.2 11.8 11.0 9.3 7.9 10.4 11.0 8.1 6.9 7.0 6.5

5 to 9 years . . . . . . . 11.8 10.8 10.9 10.3 8.0 8.5 10.1 9.4 7.0 6.9 7.0

10 to 14 years ..... 10.8 10.1 10.2 9.8 8.8 7.2 9.1 9.8 7.7 6.5 7.0

15 to 19 years ..... 10.3 10.2 9.2 9.6 9.4 7.0 7.2 9.0 8.9 6.8 6.9

20 to 24 years ..... 10.0 10.0 9.2 9.1 9.0 7.7 6.1 8.1 9.1 7.3 6.5

25 to 29 years . . . . . 8.6 8.8 8.8 8.2 8.6 8.3 6.1 6.6 8.4 8.3 6.7

30 to 34 years . . . . . 7.2 7.4 7.6 7.5 7.9 7.8 6.7 5.6 7.6 8.6 7.1

35 to 39 years . . . . . 6.3 6.8 7.2 7.5 7.3 7.6 7.0 5.5 6.1 7.9 7.9

40 to 44 years . . . . . 5.4 5.6 5.9 6.4 6.7 6.8 6.5 5.9 5.1 7.0 7.9

45 to 49 years . . . . . 4.4 4.7 5.1 5.6 6.2 6.0 6.1 6.0 4.9 5.5 7.1

50 to 54 years . . . . . 3.7 4.0 4.2 4.7 5.3 5.5 5.4 5.5 5.2 4.6 6.3

55 to 59 years . . . . . 2.9 2.9 3.2 3.7 4.3 4.8 4.7 5.0 5.3 4.3 4.9

60 to 64 years . . . . . 2.4 2.4 2.7 3.0 3.6 4.0 4.1 4.4 4.7 4.4 4.0

65 to 69 years . . . . . 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.2 2.9 3.4 3.7 3.7 4.2 4.4 3.6

70 to 74 years . . . . . 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.0 3.4 3.6 3.5

75 to 79 years1 . . . . 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.9 2.2 2.5 2.9 3.0

80 to 84 years1 . . . . 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.4 1.6 2.0 2.2

85 years and over . . 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.9 1.3 1.7 2.1

Age unknown. . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

See footnotes at end of table.

A-8 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 5. Population by Age and Sex for the United States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part C. Selected Age Groups

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Sex and age 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Total ......... 75,994,575 91,972,266 105,710,620 122,775,046 131,669,275 150,697,361 179,323,175 203,211,926 226,545,805 248,709,873 281,421,906

Under 15 years..... 26,124,985 29,499,136 33,612,442 36,056,876 32,972,081 40,482,524 55,786,173 57,900,052 51,290,339 53,567,871 60,253,375

Under 5 years .... 9,170,628 10,631,364 11,573,230 11,444,390 10,541,524 16,163,571 20,320,901 17,154,337 16,348,254 18,354,443 19,175,798

5 to 14 years..... 16,954,357 18,867,772 22,039,212 24,612,486 22,430,557 24,318,953 35,465,272 40,745,715 34,942,085 35,213,428 41,077,577

15 to 64 years ..... 46,588,508 58,354,551 67,016,264 79,990,343 89,677,880 97,945,300 106,977,422 125,246,372 149,706,039 163,900,171 186,176,778

15 to 24 years.... 14,891,105 18,120,587 18,707,577 22,422,493 23,921,358 22,098,426 24,020,004 35,441,369 42,486,828 36,774,327 39,183,891

25 to 44 years.... 21,297,427 26,809,875 31,278,522 36,152,869 39,672,246 45,209,626 46,899,662 47,995,234 62,716,549 80,754,835 85,040,251

25 to 34 years . . 12,085,480 15,152,188 17,157,684 18,954,029 21,339,026 23,759,267 22,818,310 24,907,429 37,081,839 43,175,932 39,891,724

35 to 44 years . . 9,211,947 11,657,687 14,120,838 17,198,840 18,333,220 21,450,359 24,081,352 23,087,805 25,634,710 37,578,903 45,148,527

45 to 64 years.... 10,399,976 13,424,089 17,030,165 21,414,981 26,084,276 30,637,248 36,057,756 41,809,769 44,502,662 46,371,009 61,952,636

45 to 54 years . . 6,397,441 8,369,988 10,498,493 13,018,083 15,512,071 17,342,653 20,485,439 23,219,957 22,799,787 25,223,086 37,677,952

55 to 64 years . . 4,002,535 5,054,101 6,531,672 8,396,898 10,572,205 13,294,595 15,572,317 18,589,812 21,702,875 21,147,923 24,274,684

65 years and over . . 3,080,498 3,949,524 4,933,215 6,633,805 9,019,314 12,269,537 16,559,580 20,065,502 25,549,427 31,241,831 34,991,753

65 to 74 years.... 2,186,767 2,793,231 3,463,511 4,720,609 6,376,189 8,414,885 10,996,842 12,435,456 15,580,605 18,106,558 18,390,986

75 to 84 years.... 771,369 989,056 1,259,339 1,641,066 2,278,373 3,277,751 4,633,486 6,119,145 7,728,755 10,055,108 12,361,180

85 years and over. 122,362 167,237 210,365 272,130 364,752 576,901 929,252 1,510,901 2,240,067 3,080,165 4,239,587

Age unknown ...... 200,584 169,055 148,699 94,022 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Under 18 years..... 30,708,652 34,871,312 39,302,018 43,015,712 40,286,770 46,748,095 64,202,010 69,644,081 63,754,960 63,604,432 72,293,812

18 years and over . . 45,085,339 56,931,899 66,259,903 79,665,312 91,382,505 103,949,266 115,121,165 133,567,845 162,790,845 185,105,441 209,128,094

21 years and over. 40,581,423 51,385,850 60,737,821 72,849,602 83,996,629 97,403,307 108,123,552 122,750,996 149,700,242 173,378,573 196,899,193

Male ........... 38,816,448 47,332,277 53,900,431 62,137,080 66,061,592 74,833,239 88,331,494 98,912,192 110,053,161 121,239,418 138,053,563

Under 15 years..... 13,196,049 14,906,472 16,979,768 18,256,059 16,725,960 20,611,118 28,358,386 29,504,732 26,217,310 27,422,103 30,854,207

Under 5 years .... 4,633,612 5,380,596 5,857,461 5,806,174 5,354,808 8,236,164 10,329,729 8,745,499 8,362,009 9,392,409 9,810,733

5 to 14 years..... 8,562,437 9,525,876 11,122,307 12,449,885 11,371,152 12,374,954 18,028,657 20,759,233 17,855,301 18,029,694 21,043,474

15 to 64 years ..... 23,937,558 30,325,386 34,344,717 40,503,994 44,929,512 48,425,147 52,470,011 60,991,752 73,530,936 81,252,142 92,789,731

15 to 24 years.... 7,375,031 9,107,572 9,200,837 11,094,640 11,872,545 10,917,635 11,906,001 17,551,116 21,418,640 18,778,294 20,078,818

25 to 44 years.... 11,097,645 14,054,482 16,028,920 18,238,285 19,685,768 22,184,614 22,934,692 23,448,593 30,951,622 40,167,096 42,568,327

25 to 34 years . . 6,224,864 7,901,116 8,669,016 9,421,966 10,520,974 11,596,801 11,179,299 12,217,357 18,381,903 21,572,869 20,120,529

35 to 44 years . . 4,872,781 6,153,366 7,359,904 8,816,319 9,164,794 10,587,813 11,755,393 11,231,236 12,569,719 18,594,227 22,447,798

45 to 64 years.... 5,464,882 7,163,332 9,114,960 11,171,069 13,371,199 15,322,898 17,629,318 19,992,043 21,160,674 22,306,752 30,142,586

45 to 54 years . . 3,402,458 4,488,929 5,653,095 6,803,569 7,962,019 8,655,014 10,092,754 11,199,250 11,008,919 12,325,335 18,497,230

55 to 64 years . . 2,062,424 2,674,403 3,461,865 4,367,500 5,409,180 6,667,884 7,536,564 8,792,793 10,151,755 9,981,417 11,645,356

65 years and over . . 1,555,418 1,985,976 2,483,071 3,325,211 4,406,120 5,796,974 7,503,097 8,415,708 10,304,915 12,565,173 14,409,625

65 to 74 years. . . . 1,117,278 1,425,638 1,786,118 2,409,459 3,167,055 4,053,390 5,116,304 5,437,084 6,756,502 7,941,613 8,303,274

75 to 84 years.... 383,852 485,025 605,868 798,742 1,082,691 1,506,756 2,024,517 2,436,245 2,866,888 3,765,862 4,879,353

85 years and over. 54,288 75,313 91,085 117,010 156,374 236,828 362,276 542,379 681,525 857,698 1,226,998

Age unknown ...... 127,423 114,443 92,875 51,816 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Under 18 years..... 15,486,023 17,594,842 19,808,314 21,749,777 20,410,740 23,778,935 32,615,929 35,482,901 32,582,275 32,584,278 37,059,196

18 years and over . . 23,203,002 29,622,992 33,999,242 40,335,487 45,650,852 51,054,304 55,715,565 63,429,291 77,470,886 88,655,140 100,994,367

21 years and over. 21,006,876 26,884,708 31,310,495 37,004,941 42,004,816 47,853,694 52,272,594 58,092,796 70,880,079 82,670,535 94,737,132

Female ......... 37,178,127 44,639,989 51,810,189 60,637,966 65,607,683 75,864,122 90,991,681 104,299,734 116,492,644 127,470,455 143,368,343

Under 15 years..... 12,928,936 14,592,664 16,632,674 17,800,817 16,246,121 19,871,406 27,427,787 28,395,320 25,073,029 26,145,768 29,399,168

Under 5 years .... 4,537,016 5,250,768 5,715,769 5,638,216 5,186,716 7,927,407 9,991,172 8,408,838 7,986,245 8,962,034 9,365,065

5 to 14 years..... 8,391,920 9,341,896 10,916,905 12,162,601 11,059,405 11,943,999 17,436,615 19,986,482 17,086,784 17,183,734 20,034,103

15 to 64 years ..... 22,650,950 28,029,165 32,671,547 39,486,349 44,748,368 49,520,153 54,507,411 64,254,620 76,175,103 82,648,029 93,387,047

15 to 24 years.... 7,516,074 9,013,015 9,506,740 11,327,853 12,048,813 11,180,791 12,114,003 17,890,253 21,068,188 17,996,033 19,105,073

25 to 44 years.... 10,199,782 12,755,393 15,249,602 17,914,584 19,986,478 23,025,012 23,964,970 24,546,641 31,764,927 40,587,739 42,471,924

25 to 34 years . . 5,860,616 7,251,072 8,488,668 9,532,063 10,818,052 12,162,466 11,639,011 12,690,072 18,699,936 21,603,063 19,771,195

35 to 44 years . . 4,339,166 5,504,321 6,760,934 8,382,521 9,168,426 10,862,546 12,325,959 11,856,569 13,064,991 18,984,676 22,700,729

45 to 64 years.... 4,935,094 6,260,757 7,915,205 10,243,912 12,713,077 15,314,350 18,428,438 21,817,726 23,341,988 24,064,257 31,810,050

45 to 54 years . . 2,994,983 3,881,059 4,845,398 6,214,514 7,550,052 8,687,639 10,392,685 12,020,707 11,790,868 12,897,751 19,180,722

55 to 64 years . . 1,940,111 2,379,698 3,069,807 4,029,398 5,163,025 6,626,711 8,035,753 9,797,019 11,551,120 11,166,506 12,629,328

65 years and over . . 1,525,080 1,963,548 2,450,144 3,308,594 4,613,194 6,472,563 9,056,483 11,649,794 15,244,512 18,676,658 20,582,128

65 to 74 years.... 1,069,489 1,367,593 1,677,393 2,311,150 3,209,134 4,361,495 5,880,538 6,998,372 8,824,103 10,164,945 10,087,712

75 to 84 years.... 387,517 504,031 653,471 842,324 1,195,682 1,770,995 2,608,969 3,682,900 4,861,867 6,289,246 7,481,827

85 years and over. 68,074 91,924 119,280 155,120 208,378 340,073 566,976 968,522 1,558,542 2,222,467 3,012,589

Age unknown ...... 73,161 54,612 55,824 42,206 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Under 18 years..... 15,222,629 17,276,470 19,493,704 21,265,935 19,876,030 22,969,160 31,586,081 34,161,180 31,172,685 31,020,154 35,234,616

18 years and over . . 21,882,337 27,308,907 32,260,661 39,329,825 45,731,653 52,894,962 59,405,600 70,138,554 85,319,959 96,450,301 108,133,727

21 years and over. 19,574,547 24,501,142 29,427,326 35,844,661 41,991,813 49,549,613 55,850,958 64,658,200 78,820,163 90,708,038 102,162,061

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-9
Table 5. Population by Age and Sex for the United States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part D. Percent Distribution for Selected Age Groups2

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Sex and age 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Total ......... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Under 15 years..... 34.5 32.1 31.8 29.4 25.0 26.9 31.1 28.5 22.6 21.5 21.4

Under 5 years .... 12.1 11.6 11.0 9.3 8.0 10.7 11.3 8.4 7.2 7.4 6.8

5 to 14 years..... 22.4 20.6 20.9 20.1 17.0 16.1 19.8 20.1 15.4 14.2 14.6

15 to 64 years ..... 61.5 63.6 63.5 65.2 68.1 65.0 59.7 61.6 66.1 65.9 66.2

15 to 24 years.... 19.6 19.7 17.7 18.3 18.2 14.7 13.4 17.4 18.8 14.8 13.9

25 to 44 years.... 28.1 29.2 29.6 29.5 30.1 30.0 26.2 23.6 27.7 32.5 30.2

25 to 34 years . . 15.9 16.5 16.3 15.4 16.2 15.8 12.7 12.3 16.4 17.4 14.2

35 to 44 years . . 12.2 12.7 13.4 14.0 13.9 14.2 13.4 11.4 11.3 15.1 16.0

45 to 64 years.... 13.7 14.6 16.1 17.5 19.8 20.3 20.1 20.6 19.6 18.6 22.0

45 to 54 years . . 8.4 9.1 9.9 10.6 11.8 11.5 11.4 11.4 10.1 10.1 13.4

55 to 64 years . . 5.3 5.5 6.2 6.8 8.0 8.8 8.7 9.1 9.6 8.5 8.6

65 years and over . . 4.1 4.3 4.7 5.4 6.8 8.1 9.2 9.9 11.3 12.6 12.4

65 to 74 years. . . . 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.8 4.8 5.6 6.1 6.1 6.9 7.3 6.5

75 to 84 years. . . . 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.7 2.2 2.6 3.0 3.4 4.0 4.4

85 years and over. 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.2 1.5

Age unknown . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Under 18 years..... 40.5 38.0 37.2 35.1 30.6 31.0 35.8 34.3 28.1 25.6 25.7

18 years and over . . 59.5 62.0 62.8 64.9 69.4 69.0 64.2 65.7 71.9 74.4 74.3

21 years and over. 53.5 56.0 57.5 59.4 63.8 64.6 60.3 60.4 66.1 69.7 70.0

Male ........... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Under 15 years..... 34.1 31.6 31.6 29.4 25.3 27.5 32.1 29.8 23.8 22.6 22.3

Under 5 years .... 12.0 11.4 10.9 9.4 8.1 11.0 11.7 8.8 7.6 7.7 7.1

5 to 14 years..... 22.1 20.2 20.7 20.1 17.2 16.5 20.4 21.0 16.2 14.9 15.2

15 to 64 years ..... 61.9 64.2 63.8 65.2 68.0 64.7 59.4 61.7 66.8 67.0 67.2

15 to 24 years.... 19.1 19.3 17.1 17.9 18.0 14.6 13.5 17.7 19.5 15.5 14.5

25 to 44 years.... 28.7 29.8 29.8 29.4 29.8 29.6 26.0 23.7 28.1 33.1 30.8

25 to 34 years . . 16.1 16.7 16.1 15.2 15.9 15.5 12.7 12.4 16.7 17.8 14.6

35 to 44 years . . 12.6 13.0 13.7 14.2 13.9 14.1 13.3 11.4 11.4 15.3 16.3

45 to 64 years.... 14.1 15.2 16.9 18.0 20.2 20.5 20.0 20.2 19.2 18.4 21.8

45 to 54 years . . 8.8 9.5 10.5 11.0 12.1 11.6 11.4 11.3 10.0 10.2 13.4

55 to 64 years . . 5.3 5.7 6.4 7.0 8.2 8.9 8.5 8.9 9.2 8.2 8.4

65 years and over . . 4.0 4.2 4.6 5.4 6.7 7.7 8.5 8.5 9.4 10.4 10.4

65 to 74 years. . . . 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.9 4.8 5.4 5.8 5.5 6.1 6.6 6.0

75 to 84 years. . . . 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.6 2.0 2.3 2.5 2.6 3.1 3.5

85 years and over. 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.9

Age unknown . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Under 18 years..... 40.0 37.3 36.8 35.0 30.9 31.8 36.9 35.9 29.6 26.9 26.8

18 years and over . . 60.0 62.7 63.2 65.0 69.1 68.2 63.1 64.1 70.4 73.1 73.2

21 years and over. 54.3 56.9 58.2 59.6 63.6 63.9 59.2 58.7 64.4 68.2 68.6

Female ......... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Under 15 years..... 34.8 32.7 32.1 29.4 24.8 26.2 30.1 27.2 21.5 20.5 20.5

Under 5 years .... 12.2 11.8 11.0 9.3 7.9 10.4 11.0 8.1 6.9 7.0 6.5

5 to 14 years..... 22.6 21.0 21.1 20.1 16.9 15.7 19.2 19.2 14.7 13.5 14.0

15 to 64 years ..... 61.0 62.9 63.1 65.2 68.2 65.3 59.9 61.6 65.4 64.8 65.1

15 to 24 years.... 20.3 20.2 18.4 18.7 18.4 14.7 13.3 17.2 18.1 14.1 13.3

25 to 44 years.... 27.5 28.6 29.5 29.6 30.5 30.4 26.3 23.5 27.3 31.8 29.6

25 to 34 years . . 15.8 16.3 16.4 15.7 16.5 16.0 12.8 12.2 16.1 16.9 13.8

35 to 44 years . . 11.7 12.3 13.1 13.8 14.0 14.3 13.5 11.4 11.2 14.9 15.8

45 to 64 years.... 13.3 14.0 15.3 16.9 19.4 20.2 20.3 20.9 20.0 18.9 22.2

45 to 54 years . . 8.1 8.7 9.4 10.3 11.5 11.5 11.4 11.5 10.1 10.1 13.4

55 to 64 years . . 5.2 5.3 5.9 6.6 7.9 8.7 8.8 9.4 9.9 8.8 8.8

65 years and over . . 4.1 4.4 4.7 5.5 7.0 8.5 10.0 11.2 13.1 14.7 14.4

65 to 74 years. . . . 2.9 3.1 3.2 3.8 4.9 5.7 6.5 6.7 7.6 8.0 7.0

75 to 84 years. . . . 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.4 1.8 2.3 2.9 3.5 4.2 4.9 5.2

85 years and over. 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.9 1.3 1.7 2.1

Age unknown . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Under 18 years..... 41.0 38.7 37.7 35.1 30.3 30.3 34.7 32.8 26.8 24.3 24.6

18 years and over . . 59.0 61.3 62.3 64.9 69.7 69.7 65.3 67.2 73.2 75.7 75.4

21 years and over. 52.8 55.0 56.9 59.2 64.0 65.3 61.4 62.0 67.7 71.2 71.3

See footnotes at end of table.

A-10 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 5. Population by Age and Sex for the United States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part E. Sex Ratio (Males per 100 Females)

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Age 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

FIVE-YEAR

AGE GROUPS

Total ......... 104.4 106.0 104.0 102.5 100.7 98.6 97.1 94.8 94.5 95.1 96.3

0 to 4 years ....... 102.1 102.5 102.5 103.0 103.2 103.9 103.4 104.0 104.7 104.8 104.8

5 to 9 years ....... 101.9 101.8 101.9 102.5 102.9 103.5 103.4 103.9 104.6 104.8 105.0

10 to 14 years ..... 102.1 102.1 101.8 102.2 102.7 103.7 103.3 103.8 104.4 105.0 105.1

15 to 19 years ..... 98.5 99.8 98.3 99.4 100.4 100.1 100.7 102.1 103.3 105.2 105.7

20 to 24 years ..... 97.7 102.3 95.3 96.4 96.6 95.4 95.4 93.7 100.1 103.5 104.4

25 to 29 years ..... 103.7 107.8 99.8 97.7 96.5 95.2 96.3 96.6 98.9 100.7 102.3

30 to 34 years ..... 109.3 110.3 104.8 100.1 98.0 95.5 95.8 95.9 97.7 99.0 101.3

35 to 39 years . . . . . 111.5 111.2 110.1 103.3 98.9 96.3 95.0 95.0 96.6 98.4 99.4

40 to 44 years ..... 113.3 112.6 107.4 107.3 101.2 98.8 95.8 94.4 95.8 97.4 98.4

45 to 49 years ..... 113.7 113.8 117.8 108.9 104.0 99.6 97.0 93.4 94.5 96.4 96.9

50 to 54 years ..... 113.5 117.8 115.3 110.1 107.1 99.6 97.2 92.9 92.3 94.5 95.9

55 to 59 years ..... 107.4 114.6 112.6 109.3 106.3 100.7 95.9 91.5 89.4 91.6 93.5

60 to 64 years ..... 104.9 109.7 112.9 107.3 102.9 100.5 91.3 87.7 86.2 87.3 90.6

65 to 69 years ..... 105.1 105.9 109.2 104.8 99.2 94.0 88.1 80.7 80.0 81.2 85.7

70 to 74 years ..... 103.5 101.7 102.6 103.5 97.9 91.3 85.6 74.0 72.3 74.3 78.8

75 to 79 years1..... 101.3 98.6 96.2 98.0 92.7 87.1 80.2 68.6 62.7 64.5 69.6

80 to 84 years1..... 94.6 91.5 85.7 88.6 86.4 81.4 72.7 62.2 53.2 53.2 59.0

85 years and over . . 79.7 81.9 76.4 75.4 75.0 69.6 63.9 56.0 43.7 38.6 40.7

Age unknown ...... 174.2 209.6 166.4 122.8 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

SELECTED

AGE GROUPS

Total ......... 104.4 106.0 104.0 102.5 100.7 98.6 97.1 94.8 94.5 95.1 96.3

Under 15 years..... 102.1 102.2 102.1 102.6 103.0 103.7 103.4 103.9 104.6 104.9 104.9

Under 5 years .... 102.1 102.5 102.5 103.0 103.2 103.9 103.4 104.0 104.7 104.8 104.8

5 to 14 years..... 102.0 102.0 101.9 102.4 102.8 103.6 103.4 103.9 104.5 104.9 105.0

15 to 64 years ..... 105.7 108.2 105.1 102.6 100.4 97.8 96.3 94.9 96.5 98.3 99.4

15 to 24 years.... 98.1 101.0 96.8 97.9 98.5 97.6 98.3 98.1 101.7 104.3 105.1

25 to 44 years.... 108.8 110.2 105.1 101.8 98.5 96.4 95.7 95.5 97.4 99.0 100.2

25 to 34 years . . 106.2 109.0 102.1 98.8 97.3 95.3 96.1 96.3 98.3 99.9 101.8

35 to 44 years . . 112.3 111.8 108.9 105.2 100.0 97.5 95.4 94.7 96.2 97.9 98.9

45 to 64 years ..... 110.7 114.4 115.2 109.1 105.2 100.1 95.7 91.6 90.7 92.7 94.8

45 to 54 years.... 113.6 115.7 116.7 109.5 105.5 99.6 97.1 93.2 93.4 95.6 96.4

55 to 64 years.... 106.3 112.4 112.8 108.4 104.8 100.6 93.8 89.7 87.9 89.4 92.2

65 years and over . . 102.0 101.1 101.3 100.5 95.5 89.6 82.8 72.2 67.6 67.3 70.0

65 to 74 years.... 104.5 104.2 106.5 104.3 98.7 92.9 87.0 77.7 76.6 78.1 82.3

75 to 84 years.... 99.1 96.2 92.7 94.8 90.6 85.1 77.6 66.2 59.0 59.9 65.2

85 years and over. 79.7 81.9 76.4 75.4 75.0 69.6 63.9 56.0 43.7 38.6 40.7

Age unknown ...... 174.2 209.6 166.4 122.8 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Under 18 years..... 101.7 101.8 101.6 102.3 102.7 103.5 103.3 103.9 104.5 105.0 105.2

18 years and over . . 106.0 108.5 105.4 102.6 99.8 96.5 93.8 90.4 90.8 91.9 93.4

21 years and over. 107.3 109.7 106.4 103.2 100.0 96.6 93.6 89.8 89.9 91.1 92.7

NA Not available. X Not applicable.

1

Data for 1950 based on 100-percent data for the age group 75 to 84 years, which was prorated using the proportions age 75 to 79 years and 80 to 84 years based on

sample data. 2

Excluding age unknown.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-11
Table 6. Population by Sex for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000

Part A. Male

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 38,816,448 47,332,277 53,900,431 62,137,080 66,061,592 74,833,239 88,331,494 98,912,192 110,053,161 121,239,418 138,053,563

Region

Northeast......... 10,524,877 13,078,380 14,879,036 17,213,338 17,865,452 19,346,869 21,726,294 23,563,005 23,478,950 24,435,623 25,897,327

Midwest .......... 13,589,322 15,485,694 17,494,108 19,690,225 20,267,660 22,178,677 25,472,382 27,562,699 28,613,762 28,971,653 31,555,438

South............ 12,404,517 14,924,279 16,773,362 19,015,060 20,794,906 23,423,519 27,065,350 30,587,841 36,589,074 41,491,327 49,057,320

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,297,732 3,843,924 4,753,925 6,218,457 7,133,574 9,884,174 14,067,468 17,198,647 21,371,375 26,340,815 31,543,478

State

Alabama ......... 916,764 1,074,209 1,173,105 1,315,009 1,399,901 1,502,640 1,591,709 1,661,941 1,871,534 1,936,162 2,146,504

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 128,811 163,258 213,041 289,867 324,112

Arizona .......... 71,795 118,574 183,602 231,304 258,170 379,059 654,928 871,006 1,337,942 1,810,691 2,561,057

Arkansas ......... 675,312 810,026 895,228 939,843 982,916 951,534 878,987 932,310 1,104,688 1,133,076 1,304,693

California ......... 820,531 1,322,978 1,813,591 2,942,595 3,515,730 5,295,629 7,836,707 9,816,685 11,666,485 14,897,627 16,874,892

Colorado ......... 295,332 430,697 492,731 530,752 568,778 665,149 870,467 1,089,377 1,434,293 1,631,295 2,165,983

Connecticut ....... 454,294 563,642 695,335 801,303 849,923 988,497 1,244,229 1,470,487 1,498,005 1,592,873 1,649,319

Delaware ......... 94,158 103,435 113,755 121,257 134,333 157,344 221,136 267,332 286,599 322,968 380,541

District of Columbia . 132,004 158,050 203,543 231,883 317,522 377,918 358,171 351,491 295,417 282,970 269,366

Florida ........... 275,246 394,166 495,320 737,675 943,123 1,366,917 2,436,783 3,275,571 4,675,626 6,261,719 7,797,715

Georgia .......... 1,103,201 1,305,019 1,444,823 1,434,527 1,534,758 1,688,667 1,925,913 2,230,696 2,640,445 3,144,503 4,027,113

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 338,173 399,205 494,683 563,891 608,671

Idaho ............ 93,367 185,546 233,919 237,347 276,579 303,237 338,421 355,750 471,155 500,956 648,660

Illinois ........... 2,472,782 2,911,674 3,304,833 3,873,457 3,957,149 4,319,251 4,952,866 5,391,836 5,537,537 5,552,233 6,080,336

Indiana........... 1,285,404 1,383,295 1,489,074 1,640,061 1,725,201 1,958,516 2,298,738 2,531,170 2,665,825 2,688,281 2,982,474

Iowa............. 1,156,849 1,148,171 1,229,392 1,255,101 1,280,494 1,310,283 1,359,047 1,372,867 1,416,390 1,344,802 1,435,515

Kansas .......... 768,716 885,912 909,221 961,291 906,340 953,534 1,081,377 1,101,573 1,156,941 1,214,645 1,328,474

Kentucky ......... 1,090,227 1,161,709 1,227,494 1,322,793 1,435,812 1,474,987 1,508,448 1,579,036 1,789,039 1,785,235 1,975,368

Louisiana ......... 694,733 835,275 903,335 1,047,823 1,172,382 1,319,166 1,592,254 1,771,484 2,039,894 2,031,386 2,162,903

Maine............ 350,995 377,052 388,752 401,285 425,821 454,145 479,054 482,865 546,235 597,850 620,309

Maryland ......... 589,275 644,225 729,455 821,009 915,038 1,166,603 1,533,200 1,916,321 2,042,810 2,318,671 2,557,794

Massachusetts..... 1,367,474 1,655,248 1,890,014 2,071,672 2,102,479 2,270,367 2,486,235 2,719,398 2,730,893 2,888,745 3,058,816

Michigan ......... 1,248,905 1,454,534 1,928,436 2,519,309 2,694,727 3,212,119 3,882,868 4,348,648 4,516,189 4,512,781 4,873,095

Minnesota ........ 932,490 1,108,511 1,245,537 1,316,571 1,427,545 1,501,208 1,692,962 1,863,810 1,997,826 2,145,183 2,435,631

Mississippi ........ 781,451 905,760 897,124 1,005,141 1,084,482 1,076,791 1,067,933 1,074,217 1,213,878 1,230,617 1,373,554

Missouri .......... 1,595,710 1,687,813 1,723,319 1,822,866 1,881,252 1,940,863 2,108,279 2,255,952 2,365,487 2,464,315 2,720,177

Montana ......... 149,842 226,872 299,941 293,228 299,009 309,423 343,743 347,005 392,625 395,769 449,480

Nebraska ......... 564,592 627,782 672,805 706,348 665,788 667,332 700,026 724,455 765,894 769,439 843,351

Nevada .......... 25,603 52,551 46,240 53,161 61,341 85,017 147,521 247,798 405,060 611,880 1,018,051

New Hampshire.... 205,379 216,290 222,112 231,759 244,909 262,424 298,107 360,672 448,462 543,544 607,687

New Jersey ....... 941,760 1,286,463 1,590,075 2,030,644 2,069,159 2,382,744 2,971,991 3,467,373 3,533,012 3,735,685 4,082,813

New Mexico....... 104,228 175,245 190,456 219,222 271,846 347,544 479,770 500,824 642,157 745,253 894,317

New York . . . . . . . . . 3,614,780 4,584,597 5,187,350 6,312,520 6,690,326 7,239,944 8,123,239 8,715,339 8,339,422 8,625,673 9,146,748

North Carolina ..... 938,677 1,098,476 1,279,062 1,575,208 1,772,990 2,017,105 2,247,069 2,488,367 2,855,385 3,214,290 3,942,695

North Dakota ...... 177,493 317,554 341,673 359,615 335,402 322,944 323,208 311,609 328,426 318,201 320,524

Ohio............. 2,102,655 2,434,758 2,955,980 3,361,141 3,461,072 3,928,534 4,764,228 5,163,373 5,217,137 5,226,340 5,512,262

Oklahoma ........ 423,311 881,578 1,058,044 1,233,264 1,181,892 1,115,555 1,147,851 1,246,355 1,476,705 1,530,819 1,695,895

Oregon .......... 232,985 384,265 416,334 499,672 562,689 772,776 879,951 1,023,952 1,296,566 1,397,073 1,696,550

Pennsylvania ...... 3,204,541 3,942,206 4,429,020 4,845,517 4,951,207 5,170,411 5,509,851 5,665,414 5,682,590 5,694,265 5,929,663

Rhode Island ...... 210,516 270,314 297,524 335,372 349,404 390,583 421,845 464,291 451,251 481,496 503,635

South Carolina..... 664,895 751,842 838,293 853,158 935,239 1,040,540 1,175,818 1,272,087 1,518,013 1,688,510 1,948,929

South Dakota...... 216,164 317,112 337,120 363,650 332,514 337,251 344,271 330,033 340,683 342,498 374,558

Tennessee ........ 1,021,224 1,103,491 1,173,967 1,304,559 1,445,829 1,623,107 1,740,690 1,897,674 2,216,600 2,348,928 2,770,275

Texas............ 1,578,900 2,017,626 2,409,222 2,965,994 3,221,103 3,863,142 4,744,981 5,481,169 6,998,723 8,365,963 10,352,910

Utah............. 141,687 196,863 232,051 259,999 278,620 347,636 444,924 523,265 724,501 855,759 1,119,031

Vermont .......... 175,138 182,568 178,854 183,266 182,224 187,754 191,743 217,166 249,080 275,492 298,337

Virginia .......... 925,897 1,035,348 1,168,492 1,216,046 1,349,004 1,675,216 1,979,372 2,297,121 2,618,310 3,033,974 3,471,895

Washington ....... 304,178 658,663 734,701 826,392 905,757 1,223,851 1,435,037 1,693,747 2,052,307 2,413,747 2,934,300

West Virginia ...... 499,242 644,044 763,100 889,871 968,582 1,006,287 915,035 844,669 945,408 861,536 879,170

Wisconsin ........ 1,067,562 1,208,578 1,356,718 1,510,815 1,600,176 1,726,842 1,964,512 2,167,373 2,305,427 2,392,935 2,649,041

Wyoming ......... 58,184 91,670 110,359 124,785 135,055 154,853 169,015 166,775 240,560 227,007 248,374

See notes at end of table.

A-12 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 6. Population by Sex for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part B. Female

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 37,178,127 44,639,989 51,810,189 60,637,966 65,607,683 75,864,122 90,991,681 104,299,734 116,492,644 127,470,455 143,368,343

Region

Northeast......... 10,521,818 12,790,193 14,783,017 17,213,753 18,111,325 20,131,117 22,951,525 25,477,698 25,656,333 26,373,606 27,697,051

Midwest .......... 12,743,682 14,402,848 16,525,684 18,903,875 19,875,672 22,282,085 26,146,757 29,008,964 30,251,908 30,696,979 32,837,338

South............ 12,119,010 14,465,051 16,352,441 18,842,573 20,870,995 23,773,569 27,907,763 32,207,526 38,783,288 43,954,603 51,179,500

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,793,617 2,981,897 4,149,047 5,677,765 6,749,691 9,677,351 13,985,636 17,605,546 21,801,115 26,445,267 31,654,454

State

Alabama . . . . . . . . . 911,933 1,063,884 1,175,069 1,331,239 1,433,060 1,559,103 1,675,031 1,782,224 2,022,354 2,104,425 2,300,596

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 97,356 137,124 188,810 260,176 302,820

Arizona .......... 51,136 85,780 150,560 204,269 241,091 370,528 647,233 899,894 1,380,273 1,854,537 2,569,575

Arkansas ......... 636,252 764,423 856,976 914,639 966,471 957,977 907,285 990,985 1,181,747 1,217,649 1,368,707

California ......... 664,522 1,054,571 1,613,270 2,734,656 3,391,657 5,290,594 7,880,497 10,136,449 12,001,417 14,862,394 16,996,756

Colorado ......... 244,368 368,327 446,898 505,039 554,518 659,940 883,480 1,117,882 1,455,671 1,663,099 2,135,278

Connecticut ....... 454,126 551,114 685,296 805,600 859,319 1,018,783 1,291,005 1,561,222 1,609,571 1,694,243 1,756,246

Delaware ......... 90,577 98,887 109,248 117,123 132,172 160,741 225,156 280,772 307,739 343,200 403,059

District of Columbia . 146,714 173,019 234,028 254,986 345,569 424,260 405,785 405,019 342,916 323,930 302,693

Florida ........... 253,296 358,453 473,150 730,536 954,291 1,404,388 2,514,777 3,513,872 5,070,698 6,676,207 8,184,663

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . 1,113,130 1,304,102 1,451,009 1,473,979 1,588,965 1,755,911 2,017,203 2,358,879 2,822,660 3,333,713 4,159,340

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 294,599 369,356 470,008 544,338 602,866

Idaho ............ 68,405 140,048 197,947 207,685 248,294 285,400 328,770 356,817 472,780 505,793 645,293

Illinois ........... 2,348,768 2,726,917 3,180,447 3,757,197 3,940,092 4,392,925 5,128,292 5,722,140 5,888,981 5,878,369 6,338,957

Indiana........... 1,231,058 1,317,581 1,441,316 1,598,442 1,702,595 1,975,708 2,363,760 2,662,499 2,824,399 2,855,878 3,098,011

Iowa............. 1,075,004 1,076,600 1,174,629 1,215,838 1,257,774 1,310,790 1,398,490 1,451,509 1,497,418 1,431,953 1,490,809

Kansas .......... 701,779 805,037 860,036 919,708 894,688 951,765 1,097,234 1,145,005 1,206,738 1,262,929 1,359,944

Kentucky ......... 1,056,947 1,128,196 1,189,136 1,291,796 1,409,815 1,469,819 1,529,708 1,639,670 1,871,738 1,900,061 2,066,401

Louisiana ......... 686,892 821,113 895,174 1,053,770 1,191,498 1,364,350 1,664,768 1,869,822 2,166,006 2,188,587 2,306,073

Maine............ 343,471 365,319 379,262 396,138 421,405 459,629 490,211 509,183 578,425 630,078 654,614

Maryland ......... 598,769 651,121 720,206 810,517 906,206 1,176,398 1,567,489 2,006,078 2,174,165 2,462,797 2,738,692

Massachusetts..... 1,437,872 1,711,168 1,962,342 2,177,942 2,214,242 2,420,147 2,662,343 2,969,772 3,006,144 3,127,680 3,290,281

Michigan ......... 1,172,077 1,355,639 1,739,976 2,323,016 2,561,379 3,159,647 3,940,326 4,526,435 4,745,889 4,782,516 5,065,349

Minnesota ........ 818,904 967,197 1,141,588 1,247,382 1,364,755 1,481,275 1,720,902 1,941,161 2,078,144 2,229,916 2,483,848

Mississippi ........ 769,819 891,354 893,494 1,004,680 1,099,314 1,102,123 1,110,208 1,142,695 1,306,760 1,342,599 1,471,104

Missouri .......... 1,510,955 1,605,522 1,680,736 1,806,501 1,903,412 2,013,790 2,211,534 2,420,549 2,551,199 2,652,758 2,875,034

Montana ......... 93,487 149,181 248,948 244,378 260,447 281,601 331,024 347,404 394,065 403,296 452,715

Nebraska ......... 501,708 564,432 623,567 671,615 650,046 658,178 711,304 759,038 803,931 808,946 867,912

Nevada .......... 16,732 29,324 31,167 37,897 48,906 75,066 137,757 240,940 395,433 589,953 980,206

New Hampshire.... 206,209 214,282 220,971 233,534 246,615 270,818 308,814 377,009 472,148 565,708 628,099

New Jersey ....... 941,909 1,250,704 1,565,825 2,010,690 2,091,006 2,452,585 3,094,791 3,700,791 3,831,811 3,994,503 4,331,537

New Mexico....... 91,082 152,056 169,894 204,095 259,972 333,643 471,253 515,176 660,737 769,816 924,729

New York . . . . . . . . . 3,654,114 4,529,017 5,197,877 6,275,546 6,788,816 7,590,248 8,659,065 9,521,628 9,218,650 9,364,782 9,829,709

North Carolina ..... 955,133 1,107,811 1,280,061 1,595,068 1,798,633 2,044,824 2,309,086 2,593,692 3,026,381 3,414,347 4,106,618

North Dakota ...... 141,653 259,502 305,199 321,230 306,533 296,692 309,238 306,152 324,291 320,599 321,676

Ohio............. 2,054,890 2,332,363 2,803,414 3,285,556 3,446,540 4,018,093 4,942,169 5,488,644 5,580,493 5,620,775 5,840,878

Oklahoma ........ 367,080 775,577 970,239 1,162,776 1,154,542 1,117,796 1,180,433 1,312,874 1,548,585 1,614,766 1,754,759

Oregon .......... 180,551 288,500 367,055 454,114 526,995 748,565 888,736 1,067,433 1,336,539 1,445,248 1,724,849

Pennsylvania ...... 3,097,574 3,722,905 4,290,997 4,785,833 4,948,973 5,327,601 5,809,515 6,128,495 6,181,305 6,187,378 6,351,391

Rhode Island ...... 218,040 272,296 306,873 352,125 363,942 401,313 437,643 482,434 495,903 521,968 544,684

South Carolina..... 675,421 763,558 845,431 885,607 964,565 1,076,487 1,206,776 1,318,429 1,603,807 1,798,193 2,063,083

South Dakota...... 185,406 266,776 299,427 329,199 310,447 315,489 336,243 335,474 350,085 353,506 380,286

Tennessee ........ 999,392 1,081,298 1,163,918 1,311,997 1,470,012 1,668,611 1,826,399 2,026,013 2,374,520 2,528,257 2,919,008

Texas............ 1,469,810 1,878,916 2,254,006 2,858,721 3,193,721 3,848,052 4,834,696 5,715,561 7,230,468 8,620,547 10,498,910

Utah............. 135,062 176,488 217,345 247,848 271,690 341,226 445,703 536,008 736,536 867,091 1,114,138

Vermont .......... 168,503 173,388 173,574 176,345 177,007 189,993 198,138 227,164 262,376 287,266 310,490

Virginia .......... 928,287 1,026,264 1,140,695 1,205,805 1,328,769 1,643,464 1,987,577 2,351,373 2,728,508 3,153,384 3,606,620

Washington ....... 213,925 483,327 621,920 737,004 830,434 1,155,112 1,418,177 1,715,422 2,079,849 2,452,945 2,959,821

West Virginia ...... 459,558 577,075 700,601 839,334 933,392 999,265 945,386 899,568 1,004,236 931,941 929,174

Wisconsin ........ 1,001,480 1,125,282 1,275,349 1,428,191 1,537,411 1,707,733 1,987,265 2,250,358 2,400,340 2,498,834 2,714,634

Wyoming ......... 34,347 54,295 84,043 100,780 115,687 135,676 161,051 165,641 228,997 226,581 245,408

See notes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-13
Table 6. Population by Sex for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part C. Sex Ratio (Males per 100 Females)

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 104.4 106.0 104.0 102.5 100.7 98.6 97.1 94.8 94.5 95.1 96.3

Region

Northeast......... 100.0 102.3 100.6 100.0 98.6 96.1 94.7 92.5 91.5 92.7 93.5

Midwest .......... 106.6 107.5 105.9 104.2 102.0 99.5 97.4 95.0 94.6 94.4 96.1

South............ 102.4 103.2 102.6 100.9 99.6 98.5 97.0 95.0 94.3 94.4 95.9

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 128.1 128.9 114.6 109.5 105.7 102.1 100.6 97.7 98.0 99.6 99.6

State

Alabama ......... 100.5 101.0 99.8 98.8 97.7 96.4 95.0 93.3 92.5 92.0 93.3

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 132.3 119.1 112.8 111.4 107.0

Arizona .......... 140.4 138.2 121.9 113.2 107.1 102.3 101.2 96.8 96.9 97.6 99.7

Arkansas ......... 106.1 106.0 104.5 102.8 101.7 99.3 96.9 94.1 93.5 93.1 95.3

California ......... 123.5 125.5 112.4 107.6 103.7 100.1 99.4 96.8 97.2 100.2 99.3

Colorado ......... 120.9 116.9 110.3 105.1 102.6 100.8 98.5 97.5 98.5 98.1 101.4

Connecticut ....... 100.0 102.3 101.5 99.5 98.9 97.0 96.4 94.2 93.1 94.0 93.9

Delaware ......... 104.0 104.6 104.1 103.5 101.6 97.9 98.2 95.2 93.1 94.1 94.4

District of Columbia . 90.0 91.3 87.0 90.9 91.9 89.1 88.3 86.8 86.1 87.4 89.0

Florida ........... 108.7 110.0 104.7 101.0 98.8 97.3 96.9 93.2 92.2 93.8 95.3

Georgia .......... 99.1 100.1 99.6 97.3 96.6 96.2 95.5 94.6 93.5 94.3 96.8

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 114.8 108.1 105.2 103.6 101.0

Idaho ............ 136.5 132.5 118.2 114.3 111.4 106.2 102.9 99.7 99.7 99.0 100.5

Illinois ........... 105.3 106.8 103.9 103.1 100.4 98.3 96.6 94.2 94.0 94.5 95.9

Indiana........... 104.4 105.0 103.3 102.6 101.3 99.1 97.2 95.1 94.4 94.1 96.3

Iowa............. 107.6 106.6 104.7 103.2 101.8 100.0 97.2 94.6 94.6 93.9 96.3

Kansas .......... 109.5 110.0 105.7 104.5 101.3 100.2 98.6 96.2 95.9 96.2 97.7

Kentucky ......... 103.1 103.0 103.2 102.4 101.8 100.4 98.6 96.3 95.6 94.0 95.6

Louisiana ......... 101.1 101.7 100.9 99.4 98.4 96.7 95.6 94.7 94.2 92.8 93.8

Maine............ 102.2 103.2 102.5 101.3 101.0 98.8 97.7 94.8 94.4 94.9 94.8

Maryland ......... 98.4 98.9 101.3 101.3 101.0 99.2 97.8 95.5 94.0 94.1 93.4

Massachusetts..... 95.1 96.7 96.3 95.1 95.0 93.8 93.4 91.6 90.8 92.4 93.0

Michigan ......... 106.6 107.3 110.8 108.4 105.2 101.7 98.5 96.1 95.2 94.4 96.2

Minnesota ........ 113.9 114.6 109.1 105.5 104.6 101.3 98.4 96.0 96.1 96.2 98.1

Mississippi ........ 101.5 101.6 100.4 100.0 98.7 97.7 96.2 94.0 92.9 91.7 93.4

Missouri .......... 105.6 105.1 102.5 100.9 98.8 96.4 95.3 93.2 92.7 92.9 94.6

Montana ......... 160.3 152.1 120.5 120.0 114.8 109.9 103.8 99.9 99.6 98.1 99.3

Nebraska ......... 112.5 111.2 107.9 105.2 102.4 101.4 98.4 95.4 95.3 95.1 97.2

Nevada .......... 153.0 179.2 148.4 140.3 125.4 113.3 107.1 102.8 102.4 103.7 103.9

New Hampshire.... 99.6 100.9 100.5 99.2 99.3 96.9 96.5 95.7 95.0 96.1 96.8

New Jersey ....... 100.0 102.9 101.5 101.0 99.0 97.2 96.0 93.7 92.2 93.5 94.3

New Mexico....... 114.4 115.3 112.1 107.4 104.6 104.2 101.8 97.2 97.2 96.8 96.7

New York . . . . . . . . . 98.9 101.2 99.8 100.6 98.5 95.4 93.8 91.5 90.5 92.1 93.1

North Carolina ..... 98.3 99.2 99.9 98.8 98.6 98.6 97.3 95.9 94.3 94.1 96.0

North Dakota ...... 125.3 122.4 112.0 111.9 109.4 108.8 104.5 101.8 101.3 99.3 99.6

Ohio............. 102.3 104.4 105.4 102.3 100.4 97.8 96.4 94.1 93.5 93.0 94.4

Oklahoma ........ 115.3 113.7 109.0 106.1 102.4 99.8 97.2 94.9 95.4 94.8 96.6

Oregon .......... 129.0 133.2 113.4 110.0 106.8 103.2 99.0 95.9 97.0 96.7 98.4

Pennsylvania ...... 103.5 105.9 103.2 101.2 100.0 97.0 94.8 92.4 91.9 92.0 93.4

Rhode Island ...... 96.5 99.3 97.0 95.2 96.0 97.3 96.4 96.2 91.0 92.2 92.5

South Carolina..... 98.4 98.5 99.2 96.3 97.0 96.7 97.4 96.5 94.7 93.9 94.5

South Dakota...... 116.6 118.9 112.6 110.5 107.1 106.9 102.4 98.4 97.3 96.9 98.5

Tennessee ........ 102.2 102.1 100.9 99.4 98.4 97.3 95.3 93.7 93.3 92.9 94.9

Texas............ 107.4 107.4 106.9 103.8 100.9 100.4 98.1 95.9 96.8 97.0 98.6

Utah............. 104.9 111.5 106.8 104.9 102.6 101.9 99.8 97.6 98.4 98.7 100.4

Vermont .......... 103.9 105.3 103.0 103.9 102.9 98.8 96.8 95.6 94.9 95.9 96.1

Virginia .......... 99.7 100.9 102.4 100.8 101.5 101.9 99.6 97.7 96.0 96.2 96.3

Washington ....... 142.2 136.3 118.1 112.1 109.1 106.0 101.2 98.7 98.7 98.4 99.1

West Virginia ...... 108.6 111.6 108.9 106.0 103.8 100.7 96.8 93.9 94.1 92.4 94.6

Wisconsin ........ 106.6 107.4 106.4 105.8 104.1 101.1 98.9 96.3 96.0 95.8 97.6

Wyoming ......... 169.4 168.8 131.3 123.8 116.7 114.1 104.9 100.7 105.0 100.2 101.2

X Not applicable.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

A-14 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 7. Population by Broad Age Group for the United States, Regions, and States:

1900 to 2000

Part A. Population Under 15 Years

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 26,124,985 29,499,136 33,612,442 36,056,876 32,972,081 40,482,523 55,786,173 57,900,052 51,290,339 53,567,871 60,253,375

Region

Northeast......... 6,262,717 7,376,786 8,745,837 9,352,520 7,937,310 9,369,368 12,748,973 13,350,133 10,382,523 9,998,349 10,901,782

Midwest .......... 8,857,120 9,099,715 10,213,056 10,777,644 9,544,456 11,616,982 16,220,910 16,498,951 13,611,947 13,151,694 13,805,104

South............ 9,769,331 11,185,815 12,145,438 12,834,803 12,343,099 14,312,125 17,942,958 18,125,495 17,454,923 18,444,741 21,295,291

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,235,817 1,836,820 2,508,111 3,091,909 3,147,216 5,184,048 8,873,332 9,925,473 9,840,946 11,973,087 14,251,198

State

Alabama ......... 752,679 849,714 917,165 949,035 916,158 1,000,367 1,108,552 1,020,158 938,658 876,295 931,589

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 80,303 103,032 108,274 149,812 158,023

Arizona .......... 40,455 64,786 111,374 143,405 153,934 239,077 452,796 537,531 644,523 832,956 1,150,466

Arkansas ......... 543,713 620,241 670,770 645,550 604,115 609,827 569,659 540,835 541,448 515,815 561,744

California ......... 389,831 543,796 815,282 1,294,887 1,367,301 2,599,572 4,763,695 5,524,491 5,154,767 6,599,040 7,783,683

Colorado ......... 163,147 227,866 281,358 299,390 287,983 364,081 569,058 644,218 655,777 733,379 917,430

Connecticut ....... 254,321 309,002 414,825 445,475 362,707 476,866 747,274 853,439 647,229 631,733 709,075

Delaware ......... 57,981 58,550 64,287 64,218 60,512 81,957 143,568 165,382 132,097 138,828 162,618

District of Columbia . 69,615 76,630 90,092 100,640 118,185 160,861 193,672 188,381 113,116 98,666 97,939

Florida ........... 204,027 268,216 322,994 436,840 475,529 725,803 1,466,814 1,749,907 1,876,774 2,412,069 3,034,565

Georgia .......... 916,862 1,039,227 1,110,914 1,009,174 957,187 1,088,987 1,323,749 1,372,944 1,331,364 1,446,101 1,818,493

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 217,758 230,459 225,775 238,026 246,249

Idaho ............ 58,917 108,478 152,412 145,724 150,154 186,669 231,449 216,298 255,483 260,422 303,007

Illinois ........... 1,588,685 1,665,812 1,895,667 1,980,797 1,708,001 2,092,536 3,001,418 3,170,230 2,611,239 2,481,228 2,711,504

Indiana........... 813,069 796,039 848,576 897,005 822,548 1,053,397 1,481,568 1,530,603 1,306,645 1,215,632 1,309,904

Iowa............. 759,613 687,062 718,667 699,060 623,850 705,868 857,852 806,753 664,369 606,758 601,563

Kansas .......... 512,739 537,696 551,843 542,471 439,465 499,149 672,312 614,978 525,255 563,844 588,300

Kentucky ......... 809,142 820,166 850,433 889,335 864,049 908,443 979,757 921,734 873,887 791,615 824,640

Louisiana ......... 560,646 636,603 651,670 706,356 702,439 844,930 1,147,992 1,156,439 1,079,294 1,035,470 1,002,084

Maine............ 189,333 203,066 216,772 228,825 221,307 253,454 300,978 285,981 256,970 258,807 246,000

Maryland ......... 393,546 401,001 430,579 459,898 433,847 625,852 992,573 1,158,687 921,768 987,355 1,136,846

Massachusetts..... 767,628 908,692 1,079,125 1,127,300 940,426 1,109,076 1,480,833 1,567,823 1,173,281 1,138,601 1,259,376

Michigan ......... 772,334 832,401 1,099,259 1,405,880 1,314,156 1,744,518 2,591,796 2,707,546 2,214,107 2,061,171 2,164,198

Minnesota ........ 637,801 661,475 743,954 741,540 689,151 823,899 1,121,365 1,149,427 936,922 995,937 1,060,483

Mississippi ........ 650,444 723,848 687,972 712,037 712,531 739,861 780,270 699,805 660,603 620,588 640,026

Missouri .......... 1,082,065 1,022,926 1,001,405 970,057 885,643 986,213 1,264,968 1,290,427 1,091,738 1,108,575 1,180,876

Montana ......... 71,130 102,188 178,773 159,651 141,895 170,092 227,192 207,930 187,232 187,533 186,130

Nebraska ......... 388,288 389,964 415,928 408,163 331,531 348,684 435,825 420,419 361,898 363,390 369,427

Nevada .......... 10,764 16,989 19,212 22,035 24,846 41,425 87,243 144,056 173,565 253,787 434,332

New Hampshire.... 106,592 112,725 119,944 124,921 114,897 135,583 182,509 214,276 207,272 236,931 257,477

New Jersey ....... 577,518 737,916 952,890 1,094,928 874,762 1,121,276 1,748,789 1,992,283 1,577,577 1,506,664 1,758,891

New Mexico....... 75,877 120,719 133,680 155,293 183,592 237,153 360,689 338,695 338,447 378,569 419,108

New York . . . . . . . . . 2,111,000 2,488,621 2,884,859 3,152,319 2,777,296 3,351,930 4,627,071 4,877,422 3,726,864 3,573,947 3,923,707

North Carolina ..... 782,401 893,656 1,033,307 1,200,560 1,161,219 1,311,723 1,521,107 1,452,663 1,333,992 1,335,416 1,653,429

North Dakota ...... 125,492 211,718 251,421 233,731 190,590 192,176 217,685 185,892 154,811 148,697 129,846

Ohio............. 1,282,471 1,343,976 1,643,267 1,825,204 1,578,860 2,053,594 3,078,536 3,107,689 2,495,255 2,347,106 2,399,087

Oklahoma ........ 326,180 645,748 761,769 808,413 682,883 639,381 697,719 688,511 693,555 702,537 732,907

Oregon .......... 126,135 172,910 213,416 233,038 231,305 403,651 545,289 569,689 589,878 612,561 699,577

Pennsylvania ...... 2,040,977 2,368,926 2,802,436 2,885,054 2,395,586 2,629,253 3,295,090 3,177,496 2,484,500 2,340,520 2,419,598

Rhode Island ...... 120,471 149,559 174,445 191,988 157,800 186,041 243,828 250,198 192,327 190,106 207,171

South Carolina..... 572,277 629,645 687,448 668,634 640,685 735,947 850,128 787,709 758,338 766,132 840,401

South Dakota...... 154,565 200,443 220,862 224,677 178,429 190,375 228,482 197,398 165,717 168,736 165,018

Tennessee ........ 783,441 806,938 843,560 868,625 856,003 989,434 1,128,020 1,096,781 1,045,956 1,009,881 1,165,848

Texas............ 1,267,974 1,504,430 1,651,713 1,876,131 1,796,567 2,246,776 3,172,234 3,328,468 3,518,938 4,080,580 4,910,004

Utah............. 113,350 138,643 169,492 180,884 172,965 230,979 334,292 352,549 461,830 537,153 594,699

Vermont .......... 94,877 98,279 100,541 101,710 92,529 105,889 122,601 131,215 116,503 121,040 120,487

Virginia .......... 710,520 762,878 826,312 818,639 766,832 965,500 1,268,666 1,323,333 1,179,261 1,266,047 1,453,021

Washington ....... 157,899 301,236 372,245 389,260 366,522 626,807 892,194 957,731 924,129 1,075,535 1,255,051

West Virginia ...... 367,883 448,324 544,453 620,718 594,358 636,476 598,478 473,758 455,874 361,346 329,137

Wisconsin ........ 739,998 750,203 822,207 849,059 782,232 926,573 1,269,103 1,317,589 1,083,991 1,090,620 1,124,898

Wyoming ......... 28,312 39,209 60,867 68,342 66,719 84,542 111,374 98,794 121,266 114,314 103,443

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-15
Table 7. Population by Broad Age Group for the United States, Regions, and States:

1900 to 2000—Con.

Part B. Population 15 to 64 Years

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 46,588,508 58,354,551 67,016,264 79,990,343 89,677,880 97,945,301 106,977,422 125,246,372 149,706,039 163,900,171 186,176,778

Region

Northeast......... 13,723,676 17,224,115 19,434,126 23,125,132 25,445,473 26,662,780 27,430,563 30,491,186 32,680,921 33,815,724 35,320,314

Midwest .......... 16,279,011 19,270,935 21,978,395 25,401,122 27,517,384 28,870,306 30,319,767 34,345,288 38,561,854 38,767,808 42,328,597

South............ 13,911,389 17,165,418 19,659,374 23,392,905 27,022,430 29,633,036 32,448,141 38,627,239 49,429,548 56,277,007 66,503,262

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,674,432 4,694,083 5,944,369 8,071,184 9,692,593 12,779,179 16,778,951 21,782,659 29,033,716 35,039,632 42,024,605

State

Alabama ......... 1,014,995 1,218,923 1,344,804 1,596,704 1,780,594 1,862,728 1,897,041 2,098,046 2,515,215 2,641,303 2,935,713

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 140,478 190,463 282,030 377,862 433,210

Arizona .......... 77,859 133,137 211,786 275,875 321,418 466,269 759,140 1,071,895 1,766,330 2,353,498 3,312,327

Arkansas ......... 731,333 906,960 1,017,658 1,132,554 1,238,012 1,150,689 1,022,241 1,144,700 1,432,510 1,484,852 1,737,637

California ......... 1,008,202 1,700,129 2,401,859 4,002,500 4,984,839 7,091,646 9,577,305 12,627,666 16,098,885 20,025,429 22,492,307

Colorado ......... 358,357 542,082 609,554 673,913 748,875 845,416 1,026,729 1,375,150 1,986,862 2,231,572 2,967,758

Connecticut ....... 602,084 744,699 895,876 1,067,172 1,217,981 1,353,590 1,545,345 1,889,362 2,095,483 2,209,476 2,226,307

Delaware ......... 117,777 132,942 145,592 157,346 185,427 209,808 266,979 338,889 403,062 446,605 519,256

District of Columbia . 197,074 236,187 324,955 357,194 503,700 584,630 501,141 497,326 450,930 430,387 404,222

Florida ........... 307,861 459,459 602,099 958,932 1,290,668 1,808,028 2,931,617 4,050,170 6,181,977 8,156,426 10,140,216

Georgia .......... 1,226,736 1,485,021 1,679,867 1,784,210 2,007,822 2,135,936 2,328,706 2,849,173 3,615,010 4,377,845 5,582,685

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 385,852 493,986 662,766 745,198 804,687

Idaho ............ 97,840 207,071 264,276 276,784 343,019 358,431 377,484 428,493 594,772 625,062 845,030

Illinois ........... 3,030,932 3,714,530 4,283,042 5,221,401 5,621,277 5,865,339 6,104,817 6,850,092 7,553,394 7,512,829 8,207,764

Indiana........... 1,580,234 1,751,856 1,894,289 2,106,442 2,317,212 2,519,801 2,735,411 3,169,257 3,598,195 3,632,331 4,017,750

Iowa............. 1,361,103 1,408,558 1,537,525 1,586,398 1,686,651 1,642,207 1,572,000 1,667,330 1,861,855 1,743,891 1,888,548

Kansas .......... 894,328 1,061,521 1,109,930 1,208,341 1,204,427 1,211,932 1,266,030 1,365,399 1,532,161 1,571,159 1,743,889

Kentucky ......... 1,254,131 1,372,518 1,450,507 1,581,744 1,792,294 1,801,120 1,766,076 1,959,544 2,377,062 2,426,836 2,712,336

Louisiana ......... 777,550 965,066 1,083,071 1,318,582 1,542,438 1,661,737 1,867,439 2,178,160 2,722,327 2,715,512 2,949,963

Maine............ 448,369 477,015 488,246 498,997 545,594 566,758 561,743 591,475 726,772 805,748 845,521

Maryland ......... 740,421 832,271 945,123 1,074,850 1,263,881 1,553,635 1,881,577 2,464,030 2,899,598 3,276,631 3,560,333

Massachusetts..... 1,885,083 2,279,274 2,563,652 2,845,071 3,007,321 3,113,002 3,096,136 3,485,162 3,837,225 4,058,540 4,229,559

Michigan ......... 1,523,962 1,817,806 2,374,449 3,178,679 3,611,096 4,165,598 4,593,214 5,414,582 6,135,713 6,125,665 6,555,228

Minnesota ........ 1,042,720 1,323,178 1,529,752 1,657,965 1,890,531 1,889,454 1,938,148 2,246,625 2,659,484 2,832,228 3,264,730

Mississippi ........ 852,558 1,014,592 1,032,669 1,219,532 1,355,847 1,286,089 1,207,842 1,294,787 1,570,678 1,631,344 1,861,109

Missouri .......... 1,903,512 2,112,659 2,212,937 2,411,996 2,573,276 2,561,052 2,551,434 2,825,418 3,176,822 3,290,817 3,658,956

Montana ......... 166,109 261,909 351,371 350,918 381,304 370,068 382,155 417,743 514,899 505,035 595,116

Nebraska ......... 641,596 749,510 813,557 882,856 878,671 846,447 811,349 879,548 1,002,243 991,927 1,109,641

Nevada .......... 28,853 61,242 54,407 64,159 78,601 107,672 179,862 313,714 561,172 820,415 1,344,996

New Hampshire.... 271,524 283,115 287,137 298,568 327,907 339,866 356,707 444,993 610,371 747,292 830,339

New Jersey ....... 1,222,755 1,689,408 2,066,968 2,742,659 3,006,582 3,320,064 3,757,579 4,478,892 4,927,475 5,191,499 5,542,323

New Mexico....... 112,857 196,402 213,971 250,995 324,942 410,970 539,064 606,694 848,541 973,438 1,187,713

New York . . . . . . . . . 4,798,984 6,195,752 6,995,306 8,757,856 9,779,490 10,219,805 10,467,643 11,398,793 11,670,441 12,052,786 12,604,398

North Carolina ..... 1,040,395 1,231,275 1,423,891 1,851,926 2,253,864 2,524,909 2,722,881 3,215,276 3,944,593 4,488,880 5,426,836

North Dakota ...... 185,556 350,841 374,835 416,441 411,955 379,264 356,170 365,501 417,461 399,048 417,876

Ohio............. 2,658,540 3,155,032 3,792,778 4,403,470 4,789,023 5,184,058 5,730,737 6,546,634 7,132,915 7,093,048 7,446,296

Oklahoma ........ 444,587 967,245 1,198,461 1,489,700 1,508,617 1,400,048 1,381,734 1,570,962 1,955,609 2,018,835 2,261,797

Oregon .......... 269,994 469,977 526,536 652,974 765,651 984,669 1,039,745 1,294,897 1,739,891 1,838,436 2,283,645

Pennsylvania ...... 3,987,374 4,959,478 5,515,655 6,232,944 6,827,126 6,981,934 6,895,751 7,344,287 7,848,462 7,712,017 7,942,291

Rhode Island ...... 287,373 367,168 399,469 455,335 501,262 535,437 526,120 592,595 627,905 662,811 688,746

South Carolina..... 726,612 839,292 941,565 1,012,375 1,177,805 1,266,075 1,381,867 1,611,847 2,076,154 2,323,636 2,686,278

South Dakota...... 233,432 362,784 388,702 430,881 420,092 407,069 380,519 387,625 434,032 424,937 481,695

Tennessee ........ 1,162,962 1,290,757 1,390,982 1,625,261 1,888,060 2,067,400 2,130,208 2,442,981 3,027,576 3,248,486 3,820,124

Texas............ 1,694,573 2,273,275 2,837,979 3,711,934 4,270,762 4,950,998 5,662,052 6,876,203 9,339,092 11,189,354 13,869,284

Utah............. 152,512 221,040 263,560 304,075 347,130 415,465 496,378 629,163 889,987 1,035,739 1,448,248

Vermont .......... 220,130 228,206 221,817 226,530 232,210 232,324 223,539 265,627 336,787 375,555 410,830

Virginia .......... 1,066,930 1,210,976 1,379,829 1,485,350 1,755,997 2,138,656 2,409,313 2,959,140 3,662,253 4,256,841 4,833,161

Washington ....... 339,264 797,387 919,378 1,070,653 1,225,349 1,540,751 1,681,975 2,129,377 2,776,465 3,215,869 3,976,922

West Virginia ...... 554,894 728,659 860,322 1,034,711 1,206,642 1,230,550 1,089,427 1,076,005 1,255,902 1,163,234 1,202,312

Wisconsin ........ 1,223,096 1,462,660 1,666,599 1,896,252 2,113,173 2,198,085 2,279,938 2,627,277 3,057,579 3,149,928 3,536,224

Wyoming ......... 62,585 103,707 127,671 148,338 171,465 187,822 192,784 203,418 311,116 292,079 332,646

See footnotes at end of table.

A-16 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 7. Population by Broad Age Group for the United States, Regions, and States:

1900 to 2000—Con.

Part C. Population 65 Years and Over

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 3,080,498 3,949,524 4,933,215 6,633,805 9,019,314 12,269,537 16,559,580 20,065,502 25,549,427 31,241,831 34,991,753

Region

Northeast......... 1,018,331 1,235,187 1,453,040 1,925,936 2,593,994 3,445,838 4,498,283 5,199,384 6,071,839 6,995,156 7,372,282

Midwest .......... 1,143,104 1,462,437 1,786,765 2,390,747 3,081,492 3,973,474 5,078,462 5,727,424 6,691,869 7,749,130 8,259,075

South............ 765,241 983,394 1,271,039 1,602,586 2,300,372 3,251,927 4,582,014 6,042,633 8,487,891 10,724,182 12,438,267

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 153,822 268,506 422,371 714,536 1,043,456 1,598,298 2,400,821 3,096,061 4,297,828 5,773,363 6,922,129

State

Alabama ......... 54,306 65,363 83,498 99,240 136,209 198,648 261,147 325,961 440,015 522,989 579,798

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 5,386 6,887 11,547 22,369 35,699

Arizona .......... 3,328 5,794 9,977 15,768 23,909 44,241 90,225 161,474 307,362 478,774 667,839

Arkansas ......... 31,344 44,898 62,092 75,600 107,260 148,995 194,372 237,760 312,477 350,058 374,019

California ......... 76,846 125,263 200,301 366,125 555,247 895,005 1,376,204 1,800,977 2,414,250 3,135,552 3,595,658

Colorado ......... 13,646 26,727 41,063 61,787 86,438 115,592 158,160 187,891 247,325 329,443 416,073

Connecticut ....... 50,850 59,588 68,517 93,319 128,554 176,824 242,615 288,908 364,864 445,907 470,183

Delaware ......... 8,468 10,465 12,402 16,678 20,566 26,320 35,745 43,833 59,179 80,735 101,726

District of Columbia . 11,734 17,017 20,635 27,253 41,206 56,687 69,143 70,803 74,287 77,847 69,898

Florida ........... 13,941 21,797 40,664 71,202 131,217 237,474 553,129 989,366 1,687,573 2,369,431 2,807,597

Georgia .......... 66,376 80,729 102,111 113,278 158,714 219,655 290,661 367,458 516,731 654,270 785,275

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 29,162 44,116 76,150 125,005 160,601

Idaho ............ 4,425 8,940 14,839 22,310 31,700 43,537 58,258 67,776 93,680 121,265 145,916

Illinois ........... 190,639 243,374 297,647 421,073 567,963 754,301 974,923 1,093,654 1,261,885 1,436,545 1,500,025

Indiana........... 117,861 149,474 183,695 232,787 288,036 361,026 445,519 493,809 585,384 696,196 752,831

Iowa............. 105,916 125,400 144,392 184,239 227,767 272,998 327,685 350,293 387,584 426,106 436,213

Kansas .......... 60,373 87,956 104,747 129,468 157,136 194,218 240,269 266,201 306,263 342,571 356,229

Kentucky ......... 77,127 94,124 113,772 142,122 189,284 235,243 292,323 337,428 409,828 466,845 504,793

Louisiana ......... 40,223 49,733 59,443 75,850 119,003 176,849 241,591 306,707 404,279 468,991 516,929

Maine............ 55,122 61,072 62,101 69,010 80,325 93,562 106,544 114,592 140,918 163,373 183,402

Maryland ......... 49,983 60,667 72,468 92,972 123,516 163,514 226,539 299,682 395,609 517,482 599,307

Massachusetts..... 143,107 175,015 206,447 274,195 368,974 468,436 571,609 636,185 726,531 819,284 860,162

Michigan ......... 121,160 156,519 190,972 254,891 330,854 461,650 638,184 752,955 912,258 1,108,461 1,219,018

Minnesota ........ 66,771 86,057 110,766 163,480 212,618 269,130 354,351 408,919 479,564 546,934 594,266

Mississippi ........ 45,029 54,338 66,708 77,443 115,418 152,964 190,029 222,320 289,357 321,284 343,523

Missouri .......... 112,682 150,253 185,502 244,525 325,745 407,388 503,411 560,656 648,126 717,681 755,379

Montana ......... 4,845 9,085 16,808 26,700 36,257 50,864 65,420 68,736 84,559 106,497 120,949

Nebraska ......... 34,754 50,771 64,341 86,194 105,632 130,379 164,156 183,526 205,684 223,068 232,195

Nevada .......... 2,268 3,120 3,473 4,814 6,800 10,986 18,173 30,968 65,756 127,631 218,929

New Hampshire.... 32,344 34,070 35,210 41,560 48,720 57,793 67,705 78,412 102,967 125,029 147,970

New Jersey ....... 79,617 107,087 133,481 201,043 278,821 393,989 560,414 696,989 859,771 1,032,025 1,113,136

New Mexico....... 5,846 9,686 12,244 16,825 23,284 33,064 51,270 70,611 115,906 163,062 212,225

New York . . . . . . . . . 347,905 418,155 493,097 667,325 922,356 1,258,457 1,687,590 1,960,752 2,160,767 2,363,722 2,448,352

North Carolina ..... 66,148 77,688 98,716 115,671 156,540 225,297 312,167 414,120 603,181 804,341 969,048

North Dakota ...... 7,357 12,898 19,324 30,280 39,390 48,196 58,591 66,368 80,445 91,055 94,478

Ohio............. 209,563 261,810 319,437 414,836 539,729 708,975 897,124 997,694 1,169,460 1,406,961 1,507,757

Oklahoma ........ 15,379 41,045 64,772 96,888 144,934 193,922 248,831 299,756 376,126 424,213 455,950

Oregon .......... 16,475 28,153 42,583 67,332 92,728 133,021 183,653 226,799 303,336 391,324 438,177

Pennsylvania ...... 261,817 325,918 394,303 508,278 677,468 886,825 1,128,525 1,272,126 1,530,933 1,829,106 1,919,165

Rhode Island ...... 19,798 25,020 30,190 39,953 54,284 70,418 89,540 103,932 126,922 150,547 152,402

South Carolina..... 39,623 44,092 53,375 57,164 81,314 115,005 150,599 190,960 287,328 396,935 485,333

South Dakota...... 12,836 19,288 25,536 36,915 44,440 55,296 71,513 80,484 91,019 102,331 108,131

Tennessee ........ 66,441 83,464 101,189 119,045 171,778 234,884 308,861 383,925 517,588 618,818 703,311

Texas............ 74,037 110,801 163,046 232,459 347,495 513,420 745,391 992,059 1,371,161 1,716,576 2,072,532

Utah............. 10,055 12,369 15,883 22,665 30,215 42,418 59,957 77,561 109,220 149,958 190,222

Vermont .......... 27,771 29,262 29,694 31,253 34,492 39,534 43,741 47,488 58,166 66,163 77,510

Virginia .......... 72,846 84,981 100,008 116,678 154,944 214,524 288,970 366,021 505,304 664,470 792,333

Washington ....... 14,681 36,573 60,211 101,503 144,320 211,405 279,045 322,061 431,562 575,288 662,148

West Virginia ...... 32,236 42,192 56,140 73,043 100,974 138,526 172,516 194,474 237,868 268,897 276,895

Wisconsin ........ 103,192 118,637 140,406 192,059 242,182 309,917 402,736 472,865 564,197 651,221 702,553

Wyoming ......... 1,407 2,796 4,989 8,707 12,558 18,165 25,908 30,204 37,175 47,195 57,693

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-17
Table 7. Population by Broad Age Group for the United States, Regions, and States:

1900 to 2000—Con.

Part D. Percent Under 15 Years1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 34.5 32.1 31.8 29.4 25.0 26.9 31.1 28.5 22.6 21.5 21.4

Region

Northeast......... 29.8 28.6 29.5 27.2 22.1 23.7 28.5 27.2 21.1 19.7 20.3

Midwest .......... 33.7 30.5 30.1 27.9 23.8 26.1 31.4 29.2 23.1 22.0 21.4

South............ 40.0 38.1 36.7 33.9 29.6 30.3 32.6 28.9 23.2 21.6 21.2

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.4 27.0 28.3 26.0 22.7 26.5 31.6 28.5 22.8 22.7 22.6

State

Alabama ......... 41.3 39.8 39.1 35.9 32.3 32.7 33.9 29.6 24.1 21.7 20.9

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 35.5 34.3 26.9 27.2 25.2

Arizona .......... 33.3 31.8 33.4 33.0 30.8 31.9 34.8 30.4 23.7 22.7 22.4

Arkansas ......... 41.6 39.5 38.3 34.8 31.0 31.9 31.9 28.1 23.7 21.9 21.0

California ......... 26.4 23.0 23.9 22.9 19.8 24.6 30.3 27.7 21.8 22.2 23.0

Colorado ......... 30.5 28.6 30.2 28.9 25.6 27.5 32.4 29.2 22.7 22.3 21.3

Connecticut ....... 28.0 27.8 30.1 27.7 21.2 23.8 29.5 28.2 20.8 19.2 20.8

Delaware ......... 31.5 29.0 28.9 27.0 22.7 25.8 32.2 30.2 22.2 20.8 20.8

District of Columbia . 25.0 23.2 20.7 20.7 17.8 20.1 25.4 24.9 17.7 16.3 17.1

Florida ........... 38.8 35.8 33.4 29.8 25.1 26.2 29.6 25.8 19.3 18.6 19.0

Georgia .......... 41.5 39.9 38.4 34.7 30.6 31.6 33.6 29.9 24.4 22.3 22.2

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 34.4 30.0 23.4 21.5 20.3

Idaho ............ 36.6 33.4 35.3 32.8 28.6 31.7 34.7 30.4 27.1 25.9 23.4

Illinois ........... 33.0 29.6 29.3 26.0 21.6 24.0 29.8 28.5 22.9 21.7 21.8

Indiana........... 32.4 29.5 29.0 27.7 24.0 26.8 31.8 29.5 23.8 21.9 21.5

Iowa............. 34.1 30.9 29.9 28.3 24.6 26.9 31.1 28.6 22.8 21.9 20.6

Kansas .......... 34.9 31.9 31.2 28.9 24.4 26.2 30.9 27.4 22.2 22.8 21.9

Kentucky ......... 37.8 35.9 35.2 34.0 30.4 30.8 32.2 28.6 23.9 21.5 20.4

Louisiana ......... 40.7 38.5 36.3 33.6 29.7 31.5 35.2 31.8 25.7 24.5 22.4

Maine............ 27.3 27.4 28.3 28.7 26.1 27.7 31.1 28.8 22.8 21.1 19.3

Maryland ......... 33.2 31.0 29.7 28.3 23.8 26.7 32.0 29.5 21.9 20.6 21.5

Massachusetts..... 27.5 27.0 28.0 26.5 21.8 23.6 28.8 27.6 20.5 18.9 19.8

Michigan ......... 31.9 29.7 30.0 29.1 25.0 27.4 33.1 30.5 23.9 22.2 21.8

Minnesota ........ 36.5 31.9 31.2 28.9 24.7 27.6 32.8 30.2 23.0 22.8 21.6

Mississippi ........ 42.0 40.4 38.5 35.4 32.6 34.0 35.8 31.6 26.2 24.1 22.5

Missouri .......... 34.9 31.1 29.5 26.7 23.4 24.9 29.3 27.6 22.2 21.7 21.1

Montana ......... 29.4 27.4 32.7 29.7 25.4 28.8 33.7 29.9 23.8 23.5 20.6

Nebraska ......... 36.5 32.8 32.1 29.6 25.2 26.3 30.9 28.3 23.1 23.0 21.6

Nevada .......... 25.7 20.9 24.9 24.2 22.5 25.9 30.6 29.5 21.7 21.1 21.7

New Hampshire.... 26.0 26.2 27.1 26.9 23.4 25.4 30.1 29.0 22.5 21.4 20.8

New Jersey ....... 30.7 29.1 30.2 27.1 21.0 23.2 28.8 27.8 21.4 19.5 20.9

New Mexico....... 39.0 36.9 37.1 36.7 34.5 34.8 37.9 33.3 26.0 25.0 23.0

New York . . . . . . . . . 29.1 27.3 27.8 25.1 20.6 22.6 27.6 26.7 21.2 19.9 20.7

North Carolina ..... 41.4 40.6 40.4 37.9 32.5 32.3 33.4 28.6 22.7 20.1 20.5

North Dakota ...... 39.4 36.8 38.9 34.3 29.7 31.0 34.4 30.1 23.7 23.3 20.2

Ohio............. 30.9 28.2 28.6 27.5 22.9 25.8 31.7 29.2 23.1 21.6 21.1

Oklahoma ........ 41.5 39.0 37.6 33.8 29.2 28.6 30.0 26.9 22.9 22.3 21.2

Oregon .......... 30.6 25.8 27.3 24.4 21.2 26.5 30.8 27.2 22.4 21.6 20.4

Pennsylvania ...... 32.4 30.9 32.2 30.0 24.2 25.0 29.1 26.9 20.9 19.7 19.7

Rhode Island ...... 28.2 27.6 28.9 27.9 22.1 23.5 28.4 26.4 20.3 18.9 19.8

South Carolina..... 42.8 41.6 40.9 38.5 33.7 34.8 35.7 30.4 24.3 22.0 20.9

South Dakota...... 38.6 34.4 34.8 32.4 27.8 29.2 33.6 29.7 24.0 24.2 21.9

Tennessee ........ 38.9 37.0 36.1 33.2 29.4 30.1 31.6 28.0 22.8 20.7 20.5

Texas............ 41.8 38.7 35.5 32.2 28.0 29.1 33.1 29.7 24.7 24.0 23.5

Utah............. 41.1 37.3 37.8 35.6 31.4 33.5 37.5 33.3 31.6 31.2 26.6

Vermont .......... 27.7 27.6 28.6 28.3 25.8 28.0 31.4 29.5 22.8 21.5 19.8

Virginia .......... 38.4 37.1 35.8 33.8 28.6 29.1 32.0 28.5 22.1 20.5 20.5

Washington ....... 30.8 26.5 27.5 24.9 21.1 26.3 31.3 28.1 22.4 22.1 21.3

West Virginia ...... 38.5 36.8 37.3 35.9 31.2 31.7 32.2 27.2 23.4 20.1 18.2

Wisconsin ........ 35.8 32.2 31.3 28.9 24.9 27.0 32.1 29.8 23.0 22.3 21.0

Wyoming ......... 30.7 26.9 31.5 30.3 26.6 29.1 33.7 29.7 25.8 25.2 20.9

See footnotes at end of table.

A-18 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 7. Population by Broad Age Group for the United States, Regions, and States:

1900 to 2000—Con.

Part E. Percent 65 Years and Over1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 4.1 4.3 4.7 5.4 6.8 8.1 9.2 9.9 11.3 12.6 12.4

Region

Northeast. . . . . . . . . 4.8 4.8 4.9 5.6 7.2 8.7 10.1 10.6 12.4 13.8 13.8

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . 4.3 4.9 5.3 6.2 7.7 8.9 9.8 10.1 11.4 13.0 12.8

South. . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 3.4 3.8 4.2 5.5 6.9 8.3 9.6 11.3 12.6 12.4

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.8 3.9 4.8 6.0 7.5 8.2 8.6 8.9 10.0 10.9 11.0

State

Alabama . . . . . . . . . 3.0 3.1 3.6 3.8 4.8 6.5 8.0 9.5 11.3 12.9 13.0

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 2.4 2.3 2.9 4.1 5.7

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 2.8 3.0 3.6 4.8 5.9 6.9 9.1 11.3 13.1 13.0

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . 2.4 2.9 3.5 4.1 5.5 7.8 10.9 12.4 13.7 14.9 14.0

California . . . . . . . . . 5.2 5.3 5.9 6.5 8.0 8.5 8.8 9.0 10.2 10.5 10.6

Colorado . . . . . . . . . 2.5 3.4 4.4 6.0 7.7 8.7 9.0 8.5 8.6 10.0 9.7

Connecticut . . . . . . . 5.6 5.4 5.0 5.8 7.5 8.8 9.6 9.5 11.7 13.6 13.8

Delaware . . . . . . . . . 4.6 5.2 5.6 7.0 7.7 8.3 8.0 8.0 10.0 12.1 13.0

District of Columbia . 4.2 5.2 4.7 5.6 6.2 7.1 9.1 9.4 11.6 12.8 12.2

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 2.9 4.2 4.9 6.9 8.6 11.2 14.6 17.3 18.3 17.6

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . 3.0 3.1 3.5 3.9 5.1 6.4 7.4 8.0 9.5 10.1 9.6

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 4.6 5.7 7.9 11.3 13.3

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 2.8 3.4 5.0 6.0 7.4 8.7 9.5 9.9 12.0 11.3

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . 4.0 4.3 4.6 5.5 7.2 8.7 9.7 9.8 11.0 12.6 12.1

Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . 4.7 5.5 6.3 7.2 8.4 9.2 9.6 9.5 10.7 12.6 12.4

Iowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8 5.6 6.0 7.5 9.0 10.4 11.9 12.4 13.3 15.3 14.9

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 5.2 5.9 6.9 8.7 10.2 11.0 11.8 13.0 13.8 13.3

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . 3.6 4.1 4.7 5.4 6.7 8.0 9.6 10.5 11.2 12.7 12.5

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . 2.9 3.0 3.3 3.6 5.0 6.6 7.4 8.4 9.6 11.1 11.6

Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 8.2 8.1 8.7 9.5 10.2 11.0 11.6 12.5 13.3 14.4

Maryland . . . . . . . . . 4.2 4.7 5.0 5.7 6.8 7.0 7.3 7.6 9.4 10.8 11.3

Massachusetts. . . . . 5.1 5.2 5.4 6.5 8.5 10.0 11.1 11.2 12.7 13.6 13.5

Michigan . . . . . . . . . 5.0 5.6 5.2 5.3 6.3 7.2 8.2 8.5 9.8 11.9 12.3

Minnesota . . . . . . . . 3.8 4.2 4.6 6.4 7.6 9.0 10.4 10.7 11.8 12.5 12.1

Mississippi . . . . . . . . 2.9 3.0 3.7 3.9 5.3 7.0 8.7 10.0 11.5 12.5 12.1

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 4.6 5.5 6.7 8.6 10.3 11.7 12.0 13.2 14.0 13.5

Montana . . . . . . . . . 2.0 2.4 3.1 5.0 6.5 8.6 9.7 9.9 10.7 13.3 13.4

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . 3.3 4.3 5.0 6.3 8.0 9.8 11.6 12.4 13.1 14.1 13.6

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 3.8 4.5 5.3 6.2 6.9 6.4 6.3 8.2 10.6 11.0

New Hampshire. . . . 7.9 7.9 8.0 8.9 9.9 10.8 11.2 10.6 11.2 11.3 12.0

New Jersey . . . . . . . 4.2 4.2 4.2 5.0 6.7 8.1 9.2 9.7 11.7 13.4 13.2

New Mexico. . . . . . . 3.0 3.0 3.4 4.0 4.4 4.9 5.4 6.9 8.9 10.8 11.7

New York . . . . . . . . . 4.8 4.6 4.8 5.3 6.8 8.5 10.1 10.8 12.3 13.1 12.9

North Carolina . . . . . 3.5 3.5 3.9 3.7 4.4 5.5 6.9 8.1 10.3 12.1 12.0

North Dakota . . . . . . 2.3 2.2 3.0 4.4 6.1 7.8 9.3 10.7 12.3 14.3 14.7

Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 5.5 5.6 6.2 7.8 8.9 9.2 9.4 10.8 13.0 13.3

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . 2.0 2.5 3.2 4.0 6.2 8.7 10.7 11.7 12.4 13.5 13.2

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . 4.0 4.2 5.4 7.1 8.5 8.7 10.4 10.8 11.5 13.8 12.8

Pennsylvania . . . . . . 4.2 4.3 4.5 5.3 6.8 8.4 10.0 10.8 12.9 15.4 15.6

Rhode Island . . . . . . 4.6 4.6 5.0 5.8 7.6 8.9 10.4 11.0 13.4 15.0 14.5

South Carolina. . . . . 3.0 2.9 3.2 3.3 4.3 5.4 6.3 7.4 9.2 11.4 12.1

South Dakota. . . . . . 3.2 3.3 4.0 5.3 6.9 8.5 10.5 12.1 13.2 14.7 14.3

Tennessee . . . . . . . . 3.3 3.8 4.3 4.6 5.9 7.1 8.7 9.8 11.3 12.7 12.4

Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4 2.8 3.5 4.0 5.4 6.7 7.8 8.9 9.6 10.1 9.9

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 3.3 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.2 6.7 7.3 7.5 8.7 8.5

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . 8.1 8.2 8.4 8.7 9.6 10.5 11.2 10.7 11.4 11.8 12.7

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . 3.9 4.1 4.3 4.8 5.8 6.5 7.3 7.9 9.5 10.7 11.2

Washington . . . . . . . 2.9 3.2 4.5 6.5 8.3 8.9 9.8 9.4 10.4 11.8 11.2

West Virginia . . . . . . 3.4 3.5 3.8 4.2 5.3 6.9 9.3 11.1 12.2 15.0 15.3

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . 5.0 5.1 5.3 6.5 7.7 9.0 10.2 10.7 12.0 13.3 13.1

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . 1.5 1.9 2.6 3.9 5.0 6.3 7.8 9.1 7.9 10.4 11.7

X Not applicable.

1

Excluding age unknown.

Note: The sums of the state populations in 1950 under 15 years (40,482,523) and 15 to 64 years (97,945,301) differ by one person from the corresponding U.S. populations shown in Appendix Table 5.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-19
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990

Part A. White Population1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . 66,809,196 81,731,957 94,820,915 110,286,740 118,214,870 134,942,028 158,831,732 177,748,975 188,371,622 199,686,070

Region

Northeast......... 20,637,888 25,360,966 28,957,919 33,244,081 34,566,768 37,398,684 41,522,467 44,310,504 42,326,288 42,068,904

Midwest .......... 25,775,870 29,279,243 33,164,249 37,249,272 38,639,970 42,119,384 48,002,617 51,641,183 52,194,799 52,017,957

South............ 16,521,970 20,547,420 24,132,214 28,371,969 31,658,578 36,849,529 43,476,636 50,420,108 58,960,346 65,582,199

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,873,468 6,544,328 8,566,533 11,421,418 13,349,554 18,574,431 25,830,012 31,377,180 34,890,189 40,017,010

State

Alabama ......... 1,001,152 1,228,832 1,447,032 1,700,844 1,849,097 2,079,591 2,283,609 2,533,831 2,872,621 2,975,797

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 174,546 236,767 309,728 415,492

Arizona .......... 92,903 171,468 291,449 378,551 426,792 654,511 1,169,517 1,604,948 2,240,761 2,963,186

Arkansas ......... 944,580 1,131,026 1,279,757 1,375,315 1,466,084 1,481,507 1,395,703 1,565,915 1,890,322 1,944,744

California ......... 1,402,727 2,259,672 3,264,711 5,408,260 6,596,763 9,915,173 14,455,230 17,761,032 18,030,893 20,524,327

Colorado ......... 529,046 783,415 924,103 1,018,793 1,106,502 1,296,653 1,700,700 2,112,352 2,571,498 2,905,474

Connecticut ....... 892,424 1,098,897 1,358,732 1,576,700 1,675,407 1,952,329 2,423,816 2,835,458 2,799,420 2,859,353

Delaware ......... 153,977 171,102 192,615 205,718 230,528 273,878 384,327 466,459 487,817 535,094

District of Columbia . 191,532 236,128 326,860 353,981 474,326 517,865 345,263 209,272 171,768 179,667

Florida ........... 297,333 443,634 638,153 1,035,390 1,381,986 2,166,051 4,063,881 5,719,343 8,184,513 10,749,285

Georgia .......... 1,181,294 1,431,802 1,689,114 1,837,021 2,038,278 2,380,577 2,817,223 3,391,242 3,947,135 4,600,148

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 202,230 298,160 318,770 369,616

Idaho ............ 154,495 319,221 425,668 438,840 519,292 581,395 657,383 698,802 901,641 950,451

Illinois ........... 4,734,873 5,526,962 6,299,333 7,295,267 7,504,202 8,046,058 9,010,252 9,600,381 9,233,327 8,952,978

Indiana........... 2,458,502 2,639,961 2,849,071 3,125,778 3,305,323 3,758,512 4,388,554 4,820,324 5,004,394 5,020,700

Iowa............. 2,218,667 2,209,191 2,384,181 2,452,677 2,520,691 2,599,546 2,728,709 2,782,762 2,839,225 2,683,090

Kansas .......... 1,416,319 1,634,352 1,708,906 1,811,997 1,734,496 1,828,961 2,078,666 2,122,068 2,168,221 2,231,986

Kentucky ......... 1,862,309 2,027,951 2,180,560 2,388,452 2,631,425 2,742,090 2,820,083 2,981,766 3,379,006 3,391,832

Louisiana ......... 729,612 941,086 1,096,611 1,322,712 1,511,739 1,796,683 2,211,715 2,541,498 2,912,172 2,839,138

Maine............ 692,226 739,995 765,695 795,185 844,543 910,846 963,291 985,276 1,109,850 1,208,360

Maryland ......... 952,424 1,062,639 1,204,737 1,354,226 1,518,481 1,954,975 2,573,919 3,194,888 3,158,838 3,393,964

Massachusetts..... 2,769,764 3,324,926 3,803,524 4,192,992 4,257,596 4,611,503 5,023,144 5,477,624 5,362,836 5,405,374

Michigan ......... 2,398,563 2,785,247 3,601,627 4,663,507 5,039,643 5,917,825 7,085,865 7,833,474 7,872,241 7,756,086

Minnesota ........ 1,737,036 2,059,227 2,368,936 2,542,599 2,768,982 2,953,697 3,371,603 3,736,038 3,935,770 4,130,395

Mississippi ........ 641,200 786,111 853,962 998,077 1,106,327 1,188,632 1,257,546 1,393,283 1,615,190 1,633,461

Missouri .......... 2,944,843 3,134,932 3,225,044 3,403,876 3,539,187 3,655,593 3,922,967 4,177,495 4,345,521 4,486,228

Montana ......... 226,283 360,580 534,260 519,898 540,468 572,038 650,738 663,043 740,148 741,111

Nebraska ......... 1,056,526 1,180,293 1,279,219 1,360,023 1,297,624 1,301,328 1,374,764 1,432,867 1,490,381 1,480,558

Nevada .......... 35,405 74,276 70,699 84,515 104,030 149,908 263,443 448,177 700,345 1,012,695

New Hampshire.... 410,791 429,906 442,331 464,351 490,989 532,275 604,334 733,106 910,099 1,087,433

New Jersey ....... 1,812,317 2,445,894 3,037,087 3,829,663 3,931,087 4,511,585 5,539,003 6,349,908 6,127,467 6,130,465

New Mexico....... 180,207 304,594 334,673 391,095 492,312 630,211 875,763 915,815 977,587 1,146,028

New York . . . . . . . . . 7,156,881 8,966,845 10,172,027 12,153,191 12,879,546 13,872,095 15,287,071 15,834,090 13,960,868 13,385,255

North Carolina ..... 1,263,603 1,500,511 1,783,779 2,234,958 2,567,635 2,983,121 3,399,285 3,901,767 4,457,507 5,008,491

North Dakota . . . . . . 311,712 569,855 639,954 671,851 631,464 608,448 619,538 599,485 625,557 604,142

Ohio............. 4,060,204 4,654,897 5,571,893 6,335,173 6,566,531 7,428,222 8,909,698 9,646,997 9,597,458 9,521,756

Oklahoma ........ 670,204 1,444,531 1,821,194 2,130,778 2,104,228 2,032,526 2,107,900 2,280,362 2,597,791 2,583,512

Oregon .......... 394,582 655,090 769,146 938,597 1,075,731 1,497,128 1,732,037 2,032,079 2,490,610 2,636,787

Pennsylvania ...... 6,141,664 7,467,713 8,432,726 9,196,007 9,426,989 9,853,848 10,454,004 10,737,732 10,652,320 10,520,201

Rhode Island ...... 419,050 532,492 593,980 677,026 701,805 777,015 838,712 914,757 896,692 917,375

South Carolina..... 557,807 679,161 818,538 944,049 1,084,308 1,293,405 1,551,022 1,794,430 2,147,224 2,406,974

South Dakota...... 380,714 563,771 619,147 670,269 619,075 628,504 653,098 630,333 639,669 637,515

Tennessee ........ 1,540,186 1,711,432 1,885,993 2,138,644 2,406,906 2,760,257 2,977,753 3,293,930 3,835,452 4,048,068

Texas............ 2,426,669 3,204,848 3,918,165 4,967,172 5,487,545 6,726,534 8,374,831 9,717,128 11,198,441 12,774,762

Utah............. 272,465 366,583 441,901 499,967 542,920 676,909 873,828 1,031,926 1,382,550 1,615,845

Vermont .......... 342,771 354,298 351,817 358,966 358,806 377,188 389,092 442,553 506,736 555,088

Virginia .......... 1,192,855 1,389,809 1,617,909 1,770,441 2,015,583 2,581,555 3,142,443 3,761,514 4,229,798 4,791,739

Washington ....... 496,304 1,109,111 1,319,777 1,521,661 1,698,147 2,316,496 2,751,675 3,251,055 3,779,170 4,308,937

West Virginia ...... 915,233 1,156,817 1,377,235 1,614,191 1,784,102 1,890,282 1,770,133 1,673,480 1,874,751 1,725,523

Wisconsin ........ 2,057,911 2,320,555 2,616,938 2,916,255 3,112,752 3,392,690 3,858,903 4,258,959 4,443,035 4,512,523

Wyoming ......... 89,051 140,318 190,146 221,241 246,597 284,009 322,922 323,024 446,488 427,061

See footnotes at end of table.

A-20 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990—Con.

Part B. Black Population1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . 8,833,994 9,827,763 10,463,131 11,891,143 12,865,518 15,042,286 18,871,831 22,580,289 26,495,025 29,986,060

Region

Northeast......... 385,020 484,176 679,234 1,146,985 1,369,875 2,018,182 3,028,499 4,344,153 4,848,431 5,613,222

Midwest .......... 495,751 543,498 793,075 1,262,234 1,420,318 2,227,876 3,446,037 4,571,550 5,337,095 5,715,940

South............ 7,922,969 8,749,427 8,912,231 9,361,577 9,904,619 10,225,407 11,311,607 11,969,961 14,047,787 15,828,888

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,254 50,662 78,591 120,347 170,706 570,821 1,085,688 1,694,625 2,261,712 2,828,010

State

Alabama ......... 827,307 908,282 900,652 944,834 983,290 979,617 980,271 903,467 996,335 1,020,705

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 6,771 8,911 13,643 22,451

Arizona .......... 1,848 2,009 8,005 10,749 14,993 25,974 43,403 53,344 74,977 110,524

Arkansas ......... 366,856 442,891 472,220 478,463 482,578 426,639 388,787 352,445 373,768 373,912

California ......... 11,045 21,645 38,763 81,048 124,306 462,172 883,861 1,400,143 1,819,281 2,208,801

Colorado ......... 8,570 11,453 11,318 11,828 12,176 20,177 39,992 66,411 101,703 133,146

Connecticut ....... 15,226 15,174 21,046 29,354 32,992 53,472 107,449 181,177 217,433 274,269

Delaware ......... 30,697 31,181 30,335 32,602 35,876 43,598 60,688 78,276 95,845 112,460

District of Columbia . 86,702 94,446 109,966 132,068 187,266 280,803 411,737 537,712 448,906 399,604

Florida ........... 230,730 308,669 329,487 431,828 514,198 603,101 880,186 1,041,651 1,342,688 1,759,534

Georgia .......... 1,034,813 1,176,987 1,206,365 1,071,125 1,084,927 1,062,762 1,122,596 1,187,149 1,465,181 1,746,565

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 4,943 7,573 17,364 27,195

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 651 920 668 595 1,050 1,502 2,130 2,716 3,370

Illinois ........... 85,078 109,049 182,274 328,972 387,446 645,980 1,037,470 1,425,674 1,675,398 1,694,273

Indiana........... 57,505 60,320 80,810 111,982 121,916 174,168 269,275 357,464 414,785 432,092

Iowa............. 12,693 14,973 19,005 17,380 16,694 19,692 25,354 32,596 41,700 48,090

Kansas .......... 52,003 54,030 57,925 66,344 65,138 73,158 91,445 106,977 126,127 143,076

Kentucky ......... 284,706 261,656 235,938 226,040 214,031 201,921 215,949 230,793 259,477 262,907

Louisiana ......... 650,804 713,874 700,257 776,326 849,303 882,428 1,039,207 1,086,832 1,238,241 1,299,281

Maine............ 1,319 1,363 1,310 1,096 1,304 1,221 3,318 2,800 3,128 5,138

Maryland ......... 235,064 232,250 244,479 276,379 301,931 385,972 518,410 699,479 958,150 1,189,899

Massachusetts..... 31,974 38,055 45,466 52,365 55,391 73,171 111,842 175,817 221,279 300,130

Michigan ......... 15,816 17,115 60,082 169,453 208,345 442,296 717,581 991,066 1,199,023 1,291,706

Minnesota ........ 4,959 7,084 8,809 9,445 9,928 14,022 22,263 34,868 53,344 94,944

Mississippi ........ 907,630 1,009,487 935,184 1,009,718 1,074,578 986,494 915,743 815,770 887,206 915,057

Missouri .......... 161,234 157,452 178,241 223,840 244,386 297,088 390,853 480,172 514,276 548,208

Montana ......... 1,523 1,834 1,658 1,256 1,120 1,232 1,467 1,995 1,786 2,381

Nebraska ......... 6,269 7,689 13,242 13,752 14,171 19,234 29,262 39,911 48,390 57,404

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . 134 513 346 516 664 4,302 13,484 27,762 50,999 78,771

New Hampshire. . . . 662 564 621 790 414 731 1,903 2,505 3,990 7,198

New Jersey ....... 69,844 89,760 117,132 208,828 226,973 318,565 514,875 770,292 925,066 1,036,825

New Mexico....... 1,610 1,628 5,733 2,850 4,672 8,408 17,063 19,555 24,020 30,210

New York . . . . . . . . . 99,232 134,191 198,483 412,814 571,221 918,191 1,417,511 2,168,949 2,402,006 2,859,055

North Carolina ..... 624,469 697,843 763,407 918,647 981,298 1,047,353 1,116,021 1,126,478 1,318,857 1,456,323

North Dakota . . . . . . 286 617 467 377 201 257 777 2,494 2,568 3,524

Ohio............. 96,901 111,452 186,187 309,304 339,461 513,072 786,097 970,477 1,076,748 1,154,826

Oklahoma ........ 55,684 137,612 149,408 172,198 168,849 145,503 153,084 171,892 204,674 233,801

Oregon .......... 1,105 1,492 2,144 2,234 2,565 11,529 18,133 26,308 37,060 46,178

Pennsylvania ...... 156,845 193,919 284,568 431,257 470,172 638,485 852,750 1,016,514 1,046,810 1,089,795

Rhode Island ...... 9,092 9,529 10,036 9,913 11,024 13,903 18,332 25,338 27,584 38,861

South Carolina..... 782,321 835,843 864,719 793,681 814,164 822,077 829,291 789,041 948,623 1,039,884

South Dakota. . . . . . 465 817 832 646 474 727 1,114 1,627 2,144 3,258

Tennessee ........ 480,243 473,088 451,758 477,646 508,736 530,603 586,876 621,261 725,942 778,035

Texas............ 620,722 690,049 741,694 854,964 924,391 977,458 1,187,125 1,399,005 1,710,175 2,021,632

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . 672 1,144 1,446 1,108 1,235 2,729 4,148 6,617 9,225 11,576

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . 826 1,621 572 568 384 443 519 761 1,135 1,951

Virginia .......... 660,722 671,096 690,017 650,165 661,449 734,211 816,258 861,368 1,008,668 1,162,994

Washington ....... 2,514 6,058 6,883 6,840 7,424 30,691 48,738 71,308 105,574 149,801

West Virginia ...... 43,499 64,173 86,345 114,893 117,754 114,867 89,378 67,342 65,051 56,295

Wisconsin ........ 2,542 2,900 5,201 10,739 12,158 28,182 74,546 128,224 182,592 244,539

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . 940 2,235 1,375 1,250 956 2,557 2,183 2,568 3,364 3,606

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-21
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990—Con.

Part C. American Indian and Alaska Native Population1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . 237,196 265,683 244,437 332,397 333,969 343,410 523,591 792,730 1,420,400 1,959,234

Region

Northeast......... 8,559 9,793 7,655 10,175 11,786 15,947 26,356 49,466 79,038 125,148

Midwest .......... 57,366 59,661 52,958 68,062 71,350 76,832 98,631 151,287 248,393 337,899

South............ 74,749 88,433 75,914 116,836 94,139 68,950 127,568 201,222 372,230 562,731

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 96,522 107,796 107,910 137,324 156,694 181,681 271,036 390,755 720,739 933,456

State

Alabama . . . . . . . . . 177 909 405 465 464 928 1,276 2,443 7,583 16,506

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 14,444 16,276 64,103 85,698

Arizona .......... 26,480 29,201 32,989 43,726 55,076 65,761 83,387 95,812 152,745 203,527

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . 66 460 106 408 278 533 580 2,014 9,428 12,773

California ......... 15,377 16,371 17,360 19,212 18,675 19,947 39,014 91,018 201,369 242,164

Colorado ......... 1,437 1,482 1,383 1,395 1,360 1,567 4,288 8,836 18,068 27,776

Connecticut . . . . . . . 153 152 159 162 201 333 923 2,222 4,533 6,654

Delaware ......... 9 5 2 5 14 - 597 656 1,328 2,019

District of Columbia . 22 68 37 40 190 330 587 956 1,031 1,466

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . 358 74 518 587 690 1,011 2,504 6,677 19,257 36,335

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . 19 95 125 43 106 333 749 2,347 7,616 13,348

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 472 1,126 2,768 5,099

Idaho ............ 4,226 3,488 3,098 3,638 3,537 3,800 5,231 6,687 10,521 13,780

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . 16 188 194 469 624 1,443 4,704 11,413 16,283 21,836

Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . 243 279 125 285 223 438 948 3,887 7,836 12,720

Iowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . 382 471 529 660 733 1,084 1,708 2,992 5,455 7,349

Kansas .......... 2,130 2,444 2,276 2,454 1,165 2,381 5,069 8,672 15,373 21,965

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . 102 234 57 22 44 234 391 1,531 3,610 5,769

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . 593 780 1,066 1,536 1,801 409 3,587 5,294 12,065 18,541

Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . 798 892 839 1,012 1,251 1,522 1,879 2,195 4,087 5,998

Maryland . . . . . . . . . 3 55 32 50 73 314 1,538 4,239 8,021 12,972

Massachusetts. . . . . 587 688 555 874 769 1,201 2,118 4,475 7,743 12,241

Michigan ......... 6,354 7,519 5,614 7,080 6,282 7,000 9,701 16,854 40,050 55,638

Minnesota ........ 9,182 9,053 8,761 11,077 12,528 12,533 15,496 23,128 35,016 49,909

Mississippi ........ 2,203 1,253 1,105 1,458 2,134 2,502 3,119 4,113 6,180 8,525

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . 130 313 171 578 330 547 1,723 5,405 12,321 19,835

Montana ......... 11,343 10,745 10,956 14,798 16,841 16,606 21,181 27,130 37,270 47,679

Nebraska ......... 3,322 3,502 2,888 3,256 3,401 3,954 5,545 6,624 9,195 12,410

Nevada .......... 5,216 5,240 4,907 4,871 4,747 5,025 6,681 7,933 13,308 19,637

New Hampshire. . . . 22 34 28 64 50 74 135 361 1,352 2,134

New Jersey . . . . . . . 63 168 100 213 211 621 1,699 4,706 8,394 14,970

New Mexico....... 13,144 20,573 19,512 28,941 34,510 41,901 56,255 72,788 106,119 134,355

New York . . . . . . . . . 5,257 6,046 5,503 6,973 8,651 10,640 16,491 28,355 39,582 62,651

North Carolina ..... 5,687 7,851 11,824 16,579 22,546 3,742 38,129 44,406 64,652 80,155

North Dakota ...... 6,968 6,486 6,254 8,387 10,114 10,766 11,736 14,369 20,158 25,917

Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 127 151 435 338 1,146 1,910 6,654 12,239 20,358

Oklahoma ........ 64,445 74,825 57,337 92,725 63,125 53,769 64,689 98,468 169,459 252,420

Oregon .......... 4,951 5,090 4,590 4,776 4,594 5,820 8,026 13,510 27,314 38,496

Pennsylvania ...... 1,639 1,503 337 523 441 1,141 2,122 5,533 9,465 14,733

Rhode Island . . . . . . 35 284 110 318 196 385 932 1,390 2,898 4,071

South Carolina. . . . . 121 331 304 959 1,234 554 1,098 2,241 5,757 8,246

South Dakota...... 20,225 19,137 16,384 21,833 23,347 23,344 25,794 32,365 44,968 50,575

Tennessee . . . . . . . . 108 216 56 161 114 339 638 2,276 5,104 10,039

Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . 470 702 2,109 1,001 1,103 2,736 5,750 17,957 40,075 65,877

Utah............. 2,623 3,123 2,711 2,869 3,611 4,201 6,961 11,273 19,256 24,283

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . 5 26 24 36 16 30 57 229 984 1,696

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . 354 539 824 779 198 1,056 2,155 4,853 9,454 15,282

Washington ....... 10,039 10,997 9,061 11,253 11,394 13,816 21,076 33,386 60,804 81,483

West Virginia . . . . . . 12 36 7 18 25 160 181 751 1,610 2,458

Wisconsin ........ 8,372 10,142 9,611 11,548 12,265 12,196 14,297 18,924 29,499 39,387

Wyoming ......... 1,686 1,486 1,343 1,845 2,349 3,237 4,020 4,980 7,094 9,479

See footnotes at end of table.

A-22 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990—Con.

Part D. Asian and Pacific Islander Population1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . 114,189 146,863 182,137 264,766 254,918 259,397 877,934 1,369,412 3,500,439 7,273,662

Region

Northeast......... 15,228 13,638 17,245 25,850 28,348 36,369 82,266 186,179 559,758 1,335,375

Midwest .......... 4,017 6,140 9,510 14,532 11,694 29,380 56,331 109,521 389,990 768,069

South............ 3,839 4,050 5,444 7,251 8,565 13,523 43,804 97,180 469,822 1,122,248

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 91,105 123,035 149,938 217,133 206,311 180,125 695,533 976,532 2,080,869 4,047,970

State

Alabama . . . . . . . . . 61 70 85 105 110 275 915 2,245 9,734 21,797

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 1,769 2,642 8,054 19,728

Arizona .......... 1,700 1,676 1,719 2,547 2,400 2,731 5,380 7,525 22,032 55,206

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . 62 72 121 296 447 705 996 1,619 6,740 12,530

California ......... 55,904 79,861 106,027 168,731 167,643 143,280 318,376 522,270 1,253,818 2,845,659

Colorado . . . . . . . . . 647 2,674 2,825 3,775 3,258 5,870 8,175 10,388 29,916 59,862

Connecticut . . . . . . . 617 533 694 687 642 704 2,244 6,007 18,970 50,698

Delaware . . . . . . . . . 52 34 51 55 87 99 410 1,310 4,112 9,057

District of Columbia . 462 427 708 780 1,309 2,178 4,690 4,895 6,636 11,214

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . 121 242 312 406 540 667 3,699 12,315 56,740 154,302

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . 205 237 228 317 412 639 2,004 4,673 24,457 75,781

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 310,722 363,261 583,252 685,236

Idaho ............ 2,758 2,234 2,180 1,886 1,449 2,224 2,758 2,959 5,948 9,365

Illinois ........... 1,583 2,392 3,479 5,946 4,969 15,853 24,708 44,427 159,653 285,311

Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . 212 316 384 458 334 814 2,447 5,759 20,557 37,617

Iowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 136 306 222 150 620 1,189 2,616 11,577 25,476

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . 43 123 150 204 229 431 2,271 3,575 15,078 31,750

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . 57 64 75 75 127 409 1,298 2,265 9,970 17,812

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . 616 648 575 1,019 1,037 653 2,004 3,712 23,779 41,099

Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . 123 121 170 130 128 107 597 1,007 2,947 6,683

Maryland . . . . . . . . . 553 402 413 871 759 1,084 5,700 15,423 64,278 139,719

Massachusetts..... 3,021 2,747 2,811 3,383 2,965 4,011 9,478 20,766 49,501 143,392

Michigan . . . . . . . . . 249 292 1,089 2,285 1,836 3,136 7,579 15,285 56,790 104,983

Minnesota . . . . . . . . 217 344 619 832 862 1,769 3,642 6,481 26,536 77,886

Mississippi . . . . . . . . 237 263 367 568 757 1,073 1,481 2,377 7,412 13,016

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . 458 638 599 1,073 761 1,046 3,146 7,207 23,096 41,277

Montana ......... 4,180 2,894 2,015 1,654 1,027 733 1,082 1,099 2,503 4,259

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . 183 730 1,023 932 638 821 1,318 2,189 7,002 12,422

Nevada .......... 1,580 1,846 1,455 1,156 806 663 1,402 2,859 14,164 38,127

New Hampshire. . . . 113 68 103 88 71 118 400 937 2,929 9,343

New Jersey ....... 1,445 1,345 1,581 2,630 1,894 3,602 8,778 20,537 103,848 272,521

New Mexico. . . . . . . 349 506 432 431 324 417 1,484 1,889 6,825 14,124

New York . . . . . . . . . 7,524 6,532 9,214 15,088 19,724 24,064 51,678 116,008 310,526 693,760

North Carolina . . . . . 51 82 113 92 144 443 2,012 4,264 21,176 52,166

North Dakota . . . . . . 180 98 197 230 156 143 274 608 1,979 3,462

Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . 398 645 1,163 1,785 1,282 3,528 6,585 14,350 47,820 91,179

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . 58 187 344 339 232 534 1,414 3,019 17,275 33,563

Oregon .......... 12,898 11,093 7,509 8,179 6,794 5,762 9,120 13,290 34,775 69,269

Pennsylvania ...... 1,967 1,976 2,386 3,563 2,578 3,287 7,729 17,074 64,379 137,438

Rhode Island . . . . . . 379 305 271 240 321 428 1,190 3,483 5,303 18,325

South Carolina. . . . . 67 65 163 76 98 135 946 2,569 11,834 22,382

South Dakota. . . . . . 166 163 184 101 65 100 336 467 1,738 3,123

Tennessee . . . . . . . . 79 53 78 105 85 334 1,243 3,616 13,963 31,839

Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . 849 943 1,260 1,578 1,785 3,392 9,848 17,614 120,313 319,459

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . 989 2,501 3,338 3,903 2,544 4,787 5,207 6,386 15,076 33,371

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . 39 11 15 41 25 48 172 360 1,355 3,215

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . 253 168 437 466 543 758 4,725 13,801 66,209 159,053

Washington ....... 9,246 15,824 20,900 23,642 19,226 13,102 29,253 40,998 102,537 210,958

West Virginia . . . . . . 56 93 114 103 93 145 419 1,463 5,194 7,459

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . 217 263 317 464 412 1,119 2,836 6,557 18,164 53,583

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . 854 1,926 1,538 1,229 840 556 805 966 1,969 2,806

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-23
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990—Con.

Part E. Other Race Population1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 110,240 218,087 720,520 6,758,319 9,804,847

Region

Northeast. . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 8,804 18,231 150,401 1,321,768 1,666,580

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 7,290 15,523 98,122 695,393 828,767

South. . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 39,679 13,498 106,896 1,522,177 2,349,864

West . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 54,467 170,835 365,101 3,218,981 4,959,636

State

Alabama . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 1,332 669 2,179 7,615 5,782

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 28,637 35,786 6,323 6,674

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 610 474 9,271 227,700 332,785

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 127 206 1,302 6,177 6,766

California . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 45,651 20,723 178,671 2,362,541 3,939,070

Colorado . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 822 792 9,272 168,779 168,136

Connecticut . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 442 802 6,845 67,220 96,142

Delaware . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 510 270 1,403 5,236 7,538

District of Columbia . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 1,002 1,679 3,675 9,992 14,949

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 475 1,290 9,457 143,126 238,470

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 267 544 4,164 18,716 42,374

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 114,405 98,441 42,537 21,083

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 168 317 1,989 23,109 29,783

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 2,842 4,024 32,081 341,857 476,204

Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 292 1,274 6,235 42,652 41,030

Iowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 131 577 3,410 15,851 12,750

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 368 1,160 5,286 38,880 48,797

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 152 435 2,351 8,714 6,976

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 3,343 509 3,970 19,643 21,914

Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 78 180 770 4,648 1,749

Maryland . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 656 1,122 8,370 27,688 44,914

Massachusetts. . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 628 1,996 10,488 95,678 155,288

Michigan . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 1,509 2,468 18,404 93,974 86,884

Minnesota . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 462 860 4,456 25,304 21,965

Mississippi . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 213 252 1,369 4,650 3,157

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 379 1,124 6,222 21,472 21,525

Montana . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 415 299 1,142 4,983 3,635

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 173 441 1,902 14,857 15,591

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 185 268 2,007 21,677 52,603

New Hampshire. . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 44 149 772 2,240 3,144

New Jersey . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 956 2,427 22,721 200,048 275,407

New Mexico. . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 250 458 5,953 188,343 190,352

New York . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 5,202 9,553 89,565 845,090 989,734

North Carolina . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 27,270 708 5,144 19,574 31,502

North Dakota . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 22 121 805 2,455 1,755

Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 659 2,107 13,539 63,365 58,996

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 1,019 1,197 5,488 36,091 42,289

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 1,102 1,371 6,198 43,346 51,591

Pennsylvania . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 1,251 2,761 17,056 90,921 119,476

Rhode Island . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 165 322 1,757 14,677 24,832

South Carolina. . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 856 237 2,235 8,382 9,217

South Dakota. . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 65 172 715 2,249 1,533

Tennessee . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 185 579 2,604 10,659 9,204

Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 1,074 2,123 45,026 1,160,187 1,804,780

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 236 483 3,071 34,930 37,775

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 38 41 427 1,246 808

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 1,100 1,368 6,958 32,689 58,290

Washington . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 4,858 2,472 12,422 84,071 115,513

West Virginia . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 98 310 1,201 3,038 1,742

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 388 1,195 5,067 32,477 41,737

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 170 136 878 10,642 10,636

See footnotes at end of table.

A-24 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990—Con.

Part F. Percent White1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . . 87.9 88.9 89.7 89.8 89.8 89.5 88.6 87.5 83.1 80.3

Region

Northeast......... 98.1 98.0 97.6 96.6 96.1 94.7 92.9 90.4 86.1 82.8

Midwest .......... 97.9 98.0 97.5 96.5 96.3 94.7 93.0 91.3 88.7 87.2

South............ 67.4 69.9 72.9 74.9 76.0 78.1 79.1 80.3 78.2 76.8

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 94.7 95.9 96.2 96.0 96.2 95.0 92.1 90.2 80.8 75.8

State

Alabama ......... 54.7 57.5 61.6 64.3 65.3 67.9 69.9 73.6 73.8 73.6

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 77.2 78.8 77.1 75.5

Arizona .......... 75.6 83.9 87.2 86.9 85.5 87.3 89.8 90.6 82.4 80.8

Arkansas ......... 72.0 71.8 73.0 74.2 75.2 77.6 78.1 81.4 82.7 82.7

California ......... 94.5 95.0 95.3 95.3 95.5 93.7 92.0 89.0 76.2 69.0

Colorado ......... 98.0 98.0 98.3 98.4 98.5 97.9 97.0 95.7 89.0 88.2

Connecticut ....... 98.2 98.6 98.4 98.1 98.0 97.3 95.6 93.5 90.1 87.0

Delaware ......... 83.4 84.6 86.4 86.3 86.5 86.1 86.1 85.1 82.1 80.3

District of Columbia . 68.7 71.3 74.7 72.7 71.5 64.6 45.2 27.7 26.9 29.6

Florida ........... 56.3 58.9 65.9 70.5 72.8 78.2 82.1 84.2 84.0 83.1

Georgia .......... 53.3 54.9 58.3 63.2 65.3 69.1 71.4 73.9 72.3 71.0

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 32.0 38.8 33.0 33.4

Idaho ............ 95.5 98.0 98.6 98.6 98.9 98.8 98.5 98.1 95.5 94.4

Illinois ........... 98.2 98.0 97.1 95.6 95.0 92.4 89.4 86.4 80.8 78.3

Indiana........... 97.7 97.7 97.2 96.5 96.4 95.5 94.1 92.8 91.2 90.6

Iowa............. 99.4 99.3 99.2 99.3 99.3 99.2 99.0 98.5 97.4 96.6

Kansas .......... 96.3 96.7 96.6 96.3 96.3 96.0 95.4 94.5 91.7 90.1

Kentucky ......... 86.7 88.6 90.2 91.4 92.5 93.1 92.8 92.6 92.3 92.0

Louisiana ......... 52.8 56.8 61.0 62.9 64.0 67.0 67.9 69.8 69.2 67.3

Maine............ 99.7 99.7 99.7 99.7 99.7 99.7 99.4 99.3 98.7 98.4

Maryland ......... 80.2 82.0 83.1 83.0 83.4 83.4 83.0 81.5 74.9 71.0

Massachusetts..... 98.7 98.8 98.7 98.7 98.6 98.3 97.6 96.3 93.5 89.8

Michigan ......... 99.1 99.1 98.2 96.3 95.9 92.9 90.6 88.3 85.0 83.4

Minnesota ........ 99.2 99.2 99.2 99.2 99.2 99.0 98.8 98.2 96.6 94.4

Mississippi ........ 41.3 43.7 47.7 49.7 50.7 54.6 57.7 62.8 64.1 63.5

Missouri .......... 94.8 95.2 94.7 93.8 93.5 92.4 90.8 89.3 88.4 87.7

Montana ......... 93.0 95.9 97.3 96.7 96.6 96.8 96.4 95.5 94.1 92.7

Nebraska ......... 99.1 99.0 98.7 98.7 98.6 98.2 97.4 96.6 94.9 93.8

Nevada .......... 83.6 90.7 91.3 92.8 94.4 93.6 92.3 91.7 87.5 84.3

New Hampshire.... 99.8 99.8 99.8 99.8 99.9 99.8 99.6 99.4 98.9 98.0

New Jersey ....... 96.2 96.4 96.2 94.8 94.5 93.3 91.3 88.6 83.2 79.3

New Mexico....... 92.3 93.1 92.9 92.4 92.6 92.5 92.1 90.1 75.0 75.6

New York . . . . . . . . . 98.5 98.4 97.9 96.5 95.6 93.5 91.1 86.8 79.5 74.4

North Carolina ..... 66.7 68.0 69.7 70.5 71.9 73.4 74.6 76.8 75.8 75.6

North Dakota ...... 97.7 98.8 98.9 98.7 98.4 98.2 98.0 97.0 95.8 94.6

Ohio............. 97.7 97.6 96.7 95.3 95.1 93.5 91.8 90.6 88.9 87.8

Oklahoma ........ 84.8 87.2 89.8 88.9 90.1 91.0 90.5 89.1 85.9 82.1

Oregon .......... 95.4 97.4 98.2 98.4 98.7 98.4 97.9 97.2 94.6 92.8

Pennsylvania ...... 97.5 97.4 96.7 95.5 95.2 93.9 92.4 91.0 89.8 88.5

Rhode Island ...... 97.8 98.1 98.3 98.5 98.4 98.1 97.6 96.6 94.7 91.4

South Carolina..... 41.6 44.8 48.6 54.3 57.1 61.1 65.1 69.3 68.8 69.0

South Dakota...... 94.8 96.6 97.3 96.7 96.3 96.3 96.0 94.7 92.6 91.6

Tennessee ........ 76.2 78.3 80.7 81.7 82.5 83.9 83.5 83.9 83.5 83.0

Texas............ 79.6 82.2 84.0 85.3 85.5 87.2 87.4 86.8 78.7 75.2

Utah............. 98.5 98.2 98.3 98.4 98.7 98.3 98.1 97.4 94.6 93.8

Vermont .......... 99.7 99.5 99.8 99.8 99.9 99.9 99.8 99.6 99.1 98.6

Virginia .......... 64.3 67.4 70.1 73.1 75.3 77.8 79.2 80.9 79.1 77.4

Washington ....... 95.8 97.1 97.3 97.3 97.8 97.4 96.4 95.4 91.5 88.5

West Virginia ...... 95.5 94.7 94.1 93.3 93.8 94.3 95.1 95.9 96.2 96.2

Wisconsin ........ 99.5 99.4 99.4 99.2 99.2 98.8 97.6 96.4 94.4 92.2

Wyoming ......... 96.2 96.1 97.8 98.1 98.3 97.8 97.8 97.2 95.1 94.2

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-25
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990—Con.

Part G. Percent Black1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . . 11.6 10.7 9.9 9.7 9.8 10.0 10.5 11.1 11.7 12.1

Region

Northeast. . . . . . . . . 1.8 1.9 2.3 3.3 3.8 5.1 6.8 8.9 9.9 11.0

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 1.8 2.3 3.3 3.5 5.0 6.7 8.1 9.1 9.6

South............ 32.3 29.8 26.9 24.7 23.8 21.7 20.6 19.1 18.6 18.5

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.7 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.2 2.9 3.9 4.9 5.2 5.4

State

Alabama ......... 45.2 42.5 38.4 35.7 34.7 32.0 30.0 26.2 25.6 25.3

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 3.0 3.0 3.4 4.1

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 1.0 2.4 2.5 3.0 3.5 3.3 3.0 2.8 3.0

Arkansas ......... 28.0 28.1 27.0 25.8 24.8 22.3 21.8 18.3 16.3 15.9

California . . . . . . . . . 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.4 1.8 4.4 5.6 7.0 7.7 7.4

Colorado . . . . . . . . . 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.5 2.3 3.0 3.5 4.0

Connecticut . . . . . . . 1.7 1.4 1.5 1.8 1.9 2.7 4.2 6.0 7.0 8.3

Delaware ......... 16.6 15.4 13.6 13.7 13.5 13.7 13.6 14.3 16.1 16.9

District of Columbia . 31.1 28.5 25.1 27.1 28.2 35.0 53.9 71.1 70.3 65.8

Florida ........... 43.7 41.0 34.0 29.4 27.1 21.8 17.8 15.3 13.8 13.6

Georgia .......... 46.7 45.1 41.7 36.8 34.7 30.9 28.5 25.9 26.8 27.0

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.8 1.0 1.8 2.5

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8 1.9 2.8 4.3 4.9 7.4 10.3 12.8 14.7 14.8

Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 2.2 2.8 3.5 3.6 4.4 5.8 6.9 7.6 7.8

Iowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.7

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 3.2 3.3 3.5 3.6 3.8 4.2 4.8 5.3 5.8

Kentucky ......... 13.3 11.4 9.8 8.6 7.5 6.9 7.1 7.2 7.1 7.1

Louisiana ......... 47.1 43.1 38.9 36.9 35.9 32.9 31.9 29.8 29.4 30.8

Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4

Maryland ......... 19.8 17.9 16.9 16.9 16.6 16.5 16.7 17.8 22.7 24.9

Massachusetts. . . . . 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.6 2.2 3.1 3.9 5.0

Michigan . . . . . . . . . 0.7 0.6 1.6 3.5 4.0 6.9 9.2 11.2 12.9 13.9

Minnesota . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.3 2.2

Mississippi ........ 58.5 56.2 52.2 50.2 49.2 45.3 42.0 36.8 35.2 35.6

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 4.8 5.2 6.2 6.5 7.5 9.0 10.3 10.5 10.7

Montana . . . . . . . . . 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . 0.6 0.6 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.5 2.1 2.7 3.1 3.6

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 2.7 4.7 5.7 6.4 6.6

New Hampshire. . . . 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.6

New Jersey . . . . . . . 3.7 3.5 3.7 5.2 5.5 6.6 8.5 10.7 12.6 13.4

New Mexico. . . . . . . 0.8 0.5 1.6 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.8 1.9 1.8 2.0

New York . . . . . . . . . 1.4 1.5 1.9 3.3 4.2 6.2 8.4 11.9 13.7 15.9

North Carolina ..... 33.0 31.6 29.8 29.0 27.5 25.8 24.5 22.2 22.4 22.0

North Dakota . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 - - 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.6

Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 2.3 3.2 4.7 4.9 6.5 8.1 9.1 10.0 10.6

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . 7.0 8.3 7.4 7.2 7.2 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 7.4

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.3 1.4 1.6

Pennsylvania . . . . . . 2.5 2.5 3.3 4.5 4.7 6.1 7.5 8.6 8.8 9.2

Rhode Island . . . . . . 2.1 1.8 1.7 1.4 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.7 2.9 3.9

South Carolina..... 58.4 55.2 51.4 45.6 42.9 38.8 34.8 30.5 30.4 29.8

South Dakota. . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5

Tennessee ........ 23.8 21.7 19.3 18.3 17.4 16.1 16.5 15.8 15.8 16.0

Texas............ 20.4 17.7 15.9 14.7 14.4 12.7 12.4 12.5 12.0 11.9

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.7

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3

Virginia .......... 35.6 32.6 29.9 26.8 24.7 22.1 20.6 18.5 18.9 18.8

Washington . . . . . . . 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 1.3 1.7 2.1 2.6 3.1

West Virginia . . . . . . 4.5 5.3 5.9 6.6 6.2 5.7 4.8 3.9 3.3 3.1

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.9 2.9 3.9 5.0

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . 1.0 1.5 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.9 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.8

See footnotes at end of table.

A-26 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990—Con.

Part H. Percent American Indian and Alaska Native1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . . 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.8

Region

Northeast......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6

South. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.7

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4 1.6 1.2 1.2 1.1 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.7 1.8

State

Alabama ......... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.4

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 6.4 5.4 16.0 15.6

Arizona .......... 21.5 14.3 9.9 10.0 11.0 8.8 6.4 5.4 5.6 5.6

Arkansas ......... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.4 0.5

California . . . . . . . . . 1.0 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.9 0.8

Colorado . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Connecticut ....... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2

Delaware ......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3

District of Columbia . - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1 - 0.1 - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3

Georgia .......... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.6 1.1 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.4

Illinois ........... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2

Indiana........... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2

Iowa............. - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.7 0.9

Kentucky ......... - - - - - - - - 0.1 0.2

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . - - 0.1 0.1 0.1 - 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.4

Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.5

Maryland ......... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.3

Massachusetts..... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2

Michigan . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6

Minnesota . . . . . . . . 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.9 1.1

Mississippi . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3

Missouri .......... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.3 0.4

Montana . . . . . . . . . 4.7 2.9 2.0 2.8 3.0 2.8 3.1 3.9 4.7 6.0

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.8

Nevada .......... 12.3 6.4 6.3 5.3 4.3 3.1 2.3 1.6 1.7 1.6

New Hampshire.... - - - - - - - - 0.1 0.2

New Jersey ....... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2

New Mexico. . . . . . . 6.7 6.3 5.4 6.8 6.5 6.2 5.9 7.2 8.1 8.9

New York . . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3

North Carolina . . . . . 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.2

North Dakota . . . . . . 2.2 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.6 1.7 1.9 2.3 3.1 4.1

Ohio............. - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . 8.2 4.5 2.8 3.9 2.7 2.4 2.8 3.8 5.6 8.0

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.6 1.0 1.4

Pennsylvania ...... - - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1

Rhode Island . . . . . . - 0.1 - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.4

South Carolina. . . . . - - - 0.1 0.1 - - 0.1 0.2 0.2

South Dakota. . . . . . 5.0 3.3 2.6 3.2 3.6 3.6 3.8 4.9 6.5 7.3

Tennessee ........ - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2

Texas............ - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.1 1.3 1.4

Vermont .......... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.3

Virginia .......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2

Washington . . . . . . . 1.9 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7 1.0 1.5 1.7

West Virginia ...... - - - - - - - - 0.1 0.1

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.8

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . 1.8 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.5 2.1

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-27
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990—Con.

Part I. Percent Asian and Pacific Islander1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . . 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.5 2.9

Region

Northeast. . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 1.1 2.6

Midwest .......... - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.7 1.3

South............ - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.3

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.5 0.9 2.5 2.8 4.8 7.7

State

Alabama ......... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.5

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.8 0.9 2.0 3.6

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.5

Arkansas ......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5

California . . . . . . . . . 3.8 3.4 3.1 3.0 2.4 1.4 2.0 2.6 5.3 9.6

Colorado . . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.8

Connecticut . . . . . . . 0.1 - 0.1 - - - 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.5

Delaware ......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.7 1.4

District of Columbia . 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.0 1.8

Florida ........... - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.2

Georgia .......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.4 1.2

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 49.1 47.3 60.5 61.8

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.7 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.9

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . - - 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.4 1.4 2.5

Indiana........... - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.7

Iowa............. - - - - - - - 0.1 0.4 0.9

Kansas .......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.3

Kentucky ......... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.3 0.5

Louisiana ......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.6 1.0

Maine............ - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5

Maryland . . . . . . . . . - - - 0.1 - - 0.2 0.4 1.5 2.9

Massachusetts. . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.9 2.4

Michigan ......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.1

Minnesota ........ - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.7 1.8

Mississippi ........ - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5

Missouri .......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.8

Montana . . . . . . . . . 1.7 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . - 0.1 0.1 0.1 - 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.8

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . 3.7 2.3 1.9 1.3 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.6 1.8 3.2

New Hampshire.... - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.8

New Jersey . . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 - 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.4 3.5

New Mexico. . . . . . . 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.9

New York . . . . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.8 3.9

North Carolina ..... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.4 0.8

North Dakota . . . . . . 0.1 - - - - - - 0.1 0.3 0.5

Ohio............. - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.8

Oklahoma ........ - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.6 1.1

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 1.6 1.0 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.6 1.3 2.4

Pennsylvania ...... - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.5 1.2

Rhode Island . . . . . . 0.1 0.1 - - - 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.8

South Carolina..... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.4 0.6

South Dakota...... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.3 0.4

Tennessee ........ - - - - - - - 0.1 0.3 0.7

Texas............ - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.8 1.9

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.6 1.0 1.9

Vermont .......... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.3 0.6

Virginia .......... - - - - - - 0.1 0.3 1.2 2.6

Washington . . . . . . . 1.8 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.1 0.6 1.0 1.2 2.5 4.3

West Virginia ...... - - - - - - - 0.1 0.3 0.4

Wisconsin ........ - - - - - - 0.1 0.1 0.4 1.1

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . 0.9 1.3 0.8 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6

See footnotes at end of table.

A-28 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 8. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 1990—Con.

Part J. Percent Other Race1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

United States . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 0.1 0.4 3.0 3.9

Region

Northeast. . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.3 2.7 3.3

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.2 1.2 1.4

South. . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 - 0.2 2.0 2.8

West . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.3 0.6 1.0 7.5 9.4

State

Alabama . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.2 0.1

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 12.7 11.9 1.6 1.2

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 - 0.5 8.4 9.1

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.3 0.3

California . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.4 0.1 0.9 10.0 13.2

Colorado . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 - 0.4 5.8 5.1

Connecticut . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.2 2.2 2.9

Delaware . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.9 1.1

District of Columbia . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 0.2 0.5 1.6 2.5

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 1.5 1.8

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.3 0.7

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 18.1 12.8 4.4 1.9

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.3 2.4 3.0

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.3 3.0 4.2

Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.8 0.7

Iowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.5 0.5

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - 0.1 0.2 1.6 2.0

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.2 0.2

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 - 0.1 0.5 0.5

Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.4 0.1

Maryland . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.2 0.7 0.9

Massachusetts. . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.2 1.7 2.6

Michigan . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.2 1.0 0.9

Minnesota . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.6 0.5

Mississippi . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.2 0.1

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.4 0.4

Montana . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 - 0.2 0.6 0.5

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.9 1.0

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 0.1 0.4 2.7 4.4

New Hampshire. . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.2 0.3

New Jersey . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.3 2.7 3.6

New Mexico. . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.6 14.5 12.6

New York . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - 0.1 0.5 4.8 5.5

North Carolina . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.7 - 0.1 0.3 0.5

North Dakota . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.4 0.3

Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.6 0.5

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - 0.1 0.2 1.2 1.3

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.6 1.8

Pennsylvania . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.8 1.0

Rhode Island . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.2 1.5 2.5

South Carolina. . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.3 0.3

South Dakota. . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.3 0.2

Tennessee . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.2 0.2

Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.4 8.2 10.6

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - 0.1 0.3 2.4 2.2

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.2 0.1

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.6 0.9

Washington . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.2 0.1 0.4 2.0 2.4

West Virginia . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.2 0.1

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) - - 0.1 0.7 0.9

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 0.1 - 0.3 2.3 2.3

- Represents zero or rounds to zero. X Not applicable.

1

See Appendix C, Sources and Quality of Data, for discussion of race concepts and changes in classification from 1900 to 2000.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 1990.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-29
Table 9. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 2000

Part A. Race Alone and Two or More Races1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area

Total

population

One race

Two or

Total White more races

Black or

African

American

American

Indian and

Alaska Native Asian

Native

Hawaiian and

Other Pacific

Islander

Some

other race

United States . . 281,421,906 274,595,678 211,460,626 34,658,190 2,475,956 10,242,998 398,835 15,359,073 6,826,228

Region

Northeast ......... 53,594,378 52,365,917 41,533,502 6,099,881 162,558 2,119,426 20,880 2,429,670 1,228,461

Midwest .......... 64,392,776 63,370,308 53,833,651 6,499,733 399,490 1,197,554 22,492 1,417,388 1,022,468

South ............ 100,236,820 98,389,805 72,819,399 18,981,692 725,919 1,922,407 51,217 3,889,171 1,847,015

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,197,932 60,469,648 43,274,074 3,076,884 1,187,989 5,003,611 304,246 7,622,844 2,728,284

State

Alabama .......... 4,447,100 4,402,921 3,162,808 1,155,930 22,430 31,346 1,409 28,998 44,179

Alaska............ 626,932 592,786 434,534 21,787 98,043 25,116 3,309 9,997 34,146

Arizona ........... 5,130,632 4,984,106 3,873,611 158,873 255,879 92,236 6,733 596,774 146,526

Arkansas ......... 2,673,400 2,637,656 2,138,598 418,950 17,808 20,220 1,668 40,412 35,744

California ......... 33,871,648 32,264,002 20,170,059 2,263,882 333,346 3,697,513 116,961 5,682,241 1,607,646

Colorado.......... 4,301,261 4,179,074 3,560,005 165,063 44,241 95,213 4,621 309,931 122,187

Connecticut........ 3,405,565 3,330,717 2,780,355 309,843 9,639 82,313 1,366 147,201 74,848

Delaware ......... 783,600 770,567 584,773 150,666 2,731 16,259 283 15,855 13,033

District of Columbia . 572,059 558,613 176,101 343,312 1,713 15,189 348 21,950 13,446

Florida ........... 15,982,378 15,606,063 12,465,029 2,335,505 53,541 266,256 8,625 477,107 376,315

Georgia........... 8,186,453 8,072,265 5,327,281 2,349,542 21,737 173,170 4,246 196,289 114,188

Hawaii............ 1,211,537 952,194 294,102 22,003 3,535 503,868 113,539 15,147 259,343

Idaho ............ 1,293,953 1,268,344 1,177,304 5,456 17,645 11,889 1,308 54,742 25,609

Illinois ............ 12,419,293 12,184,277 9,125,471 1,876,875 31,006 423,603 4,610 722,712 235,016

Indiana ........... 6,080,485 6,004,813 5,320,022 510,034 15,815 59,126 2,005 97,811 75,672

Iowa ............. 2,926,324 2,894,546 2,748,640 61,853 8,989 36,635 1,009 37,420 31,778

Kansas ........... 2,688,418 2,631,922 2,313,944 154,198 24,936 46,806 1,313 90,725 56,496

Kentucky.......... 4,041,769 3,999,326 3,640,889 295,994 8,616 29,744 1,460 22,623 42,443

Louisiana ......... 4,468,976 4,420,711 2,856,161 1,451,944 25,477 54,758 1,240 31,131 48,265

Maine ............ 1,274,923 1,262,276 1,236,014 6,760 7,098 9,111 382 2,911 12,647

Maryland.......... 5,296,486 5,192,899 3,391,308 1,477,411 15,423 210,929 2,303 95,525 103,587

Massachusetts ..... 6,349,097 6,203,092 5,367,286 343,454 15,015 238,124 2,489 236,724 146,005

Michigan .......... 9,938,444 9,746,028 7,966,053 1,412,742 58,479 176,510 2,692 129,552 192,416

Minnesota......... 4,919,479 4,836,737 4,400,282 171,731 54,967 141,968 1,979 65,810 82,742

Mississippi ........ 2,844,658 2,824,637 1,746,099 1,033,809 11,652 18,626 667 13,784 20,021

Missouri .......... 5,595,211 5,513,150 4,748,083 629,391 25,076 61,595 3,178 45,827 82,061

Montana .......... 902,195 886,465 817,229 2,692 56,068 4,691 470 5,315 15,730

Nebraska ......... 1,711,263 1,687,310 1,533,261 68,541 14,896 21,931 836 47,845 23,953

Nevada........... 1,998,257 1,921,829 1,501,886 135,477 26,420 90,266 8,426 159,354 76,428

New Hampshire .... 1,235,786 1,222,572 1,186,851 9,035 2,964 15,931 371 7,420 13,214

New Jersey........ 8,414,350 8,200,595 6,104,705 1,141,821 19,492 480,276 3,329 450,972 213,755

New Mexico ....... 1,819,046 1,752,719 1,214,253 34,343 173,483 19,255 1,503 309,882 66,327

New York . . . . . . . . . 18,976,457 18,386,275 12,893,689 3,014,385 82,461 1,044,976 8,818 1,341,946 590,182

North Carolina ..... 8,049,313 7,946,053 5,804,656 1,737,545 99,551 113,689 3,983 186,629 103,260

North Dakota ...... 642,200 634,802 593,181 3,916 31,329 3,606 230 2,540 7,398

Ohio ............. 11,353,140 11,195,255 9,645,453 1,301,307 24,486 132,633 2,749 88,627 157,885

Oklahoma ......... 3,450,654 3,294,669 2,628,434 260,968 273,230 46,767 2,372 82,898 155,985

Oregon ........... 3,421,399 3,316,654 2,961,623 55,662 45,211 101,350 7,976 144,832 104,745

Pennsylvania ...... 12,281,054 12,138,830 10,484,203 1,224,612 18,348 219,813 3,417 188,437 142,224

Rhode Island ...... 1,048,319 1,020,068 891,191 46,908 5,121 23,665 567 52,616 28,251

South Carolina ..... 4,012,012 3,972,062 2,695,560 1,185,216 13,718 36,014 1,628 39,926 39,950

South Dakota ...... 754,844 744,688 669,404 4,685 62,283 4,378 261 3,677 10,156

Tennessee ........ 5,689,283 5,626,174 4,563,310 932,809 15,152 56,662 2,205 56,036 63,109

Texas ............ 20,851,820 20,337,187 14,799,505 2,404,566 118,362 562,319 14,434 2,438,001 514,633

Utah ............. 2,233,169 2,185,974 1,992,975 17,657 29,684 37,108 15,145 93,405 47,195

Vermont .......... 608,827 601,492 589,208 3,063 2,420 5,217 141 1,443 7,335

Virginia ........... 7,078,515 6,935,446 5,120,110 1,390,293 21,172 261,025 3,946 138,900 143,069

Washington........ 5,894,121 5,680,602 4,821,823 190,267 93,301 322,335 23,953 228,923 213,519

West Virginia ...... 1,808,344 1,792,556 1,718,777 57,232 3,606 9,434 400 3,107 15,788

Wisconsin ......... 5,363,675 5,296,780 4,769,857 304,460 47,228 88,763 1,630 84,842 66,895

Wyoming ......... 493,782 484,899 454,670 3,722 11,133 2,771 302 12,301 8,883

See footnotes at end of table.

A-30 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 9. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 2000—Con.

Part B. Race Alone or in Combination With One or More Races1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area

White

Black or

African American

American

Indian and

Alaska Native Asian

Native Hawaiian

and Other

Pacific Islander

Some

other race

United States . 216,930,975 36,419,434 4,119,301 11,898,828 874,414 18,521,486

Region

Northeast......... 42,395,625 6,556,909 374,035 2,368,297 63,907 3,138,918

Midwest .......... 54,709,407 6,838,669 714,792 1,392,938 55,364 1,769,970

South............ 74,303,744 19,528,231 1,259,230 2,267,094 117,947 4,719,249

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,522,199 3,495,625 1,771,244 5,870,499 637,196 8,893,349

State

Alabama ......... 3,199,953 1,168,998 44,449 39,458 3,169 38,201

Alaska ........... 463,999 27,147 119,241 32,686 5,515 15,151

Arizona .......... 3,998,154 185,599 292,552 118,672 13,415 677,392

Arkansas ......... 2,170,534 427,152 37,002 25,401 3,129 48,267

California ......... 21,490,973 2,513,041 627,562 4,155,685 221,458 6,575,625

Colorado ......... 3,665,638 190,717 79,689 120,779 10,153 364,846

Connecticut ....... 2,835,974 339,078 24,488 95,368 4,076 186,234

Delaware ......... 594,425 157,152 6,069 18,944 671 20,391

District of Columbia . 184,309 350,455 4,775 17,956 785 28,627

Florida ........... 12,734,292 2,471,730 117,880 333,013 23,998 697,074

Georgia .......... 5,412,371 2,393,425 53,197 199,812 9,689 241,298

Hawaii ........... 476,162 33,343 24,882 703,232 282,667 47,603

Idaho ............ 1,201,113 8,127 27,237 17,390 2,847 64,389

Illinois ........... 9,322,831 1,937,671 73,161 473,649 11,848 847,369

Indiana........... 5,387,174 538,015 39,263 72,839 4,367 119,586

Iowa............. 2,777,183 72,512 18,246 43,119 2,196 46,858

Kansas .......... 2,363,412 170,610 47,363 56,049 3,117 107,789

Kentucky ......... 3,678,740 311,878 24,552 37,062 3,162 31,805

Louisiana ......... 2,894,983 1,468,317 42,878 64,350 3,237 47,775

Maine............ 1,247,776 9,553 13,156 11,827 792 5,227

Maryland ......... 3,465,697 1,525,036 39,437 238,408 6,179 134,621

Massachusetts..... 5,472,809 398,479 38,050 264,814 8,704 320,907

Michigan ......... 8,133,283 1,474,613 124,412 208,329 7,276 195,724

Minnesota ........ 4,466,325 202,972 81,074 162,414 5,867 89,042

Mississippi ........ 1,761,658 1,041,708 19,555 23,281 1,901 18,635

Missouri .......... 4,819,487 655,377 60,099 76,210 6,635 64,880

Montana ......... 831,978 4,441 66,320 7,101 1,077 7,834

Nebraska ......... 1,554,164 75,833 22,204 26,809 1,733 55,996

Nevada .......... 1,565,866 150,508 42,222 112,456 16,234 193,720

New Hampshire.... 1,198,927 12,218 7,885 19,219 777 10,895

New Jersey ....... 6,261,187 1,211,750 49,104 524,356 10,065 583,527

New Mexico....... 1,272,116 42,412 191,475 26,619 3,069 352,963

New York . . . . . . . . . 13,275,834 3,234,165 171,581 1,169,200 28,612 1,721,699

North Carolina ..... 5,884,608 1,776,283 131,736 136,212 8,574 223,222

North Dakota ...... 599,918 5,372 35,228 4,967 475 4,042

Ohio............. 9,779,512 1,372,501 76,075 159,776 6,984 128,671

Oklahoma ........ 2,770,035 284,766 391,949 58,723 5,123 102,585

Oregon .......... 3,055,670 72,647 85,667 127,339 16,019 176,866

Pennsylvania ...... 10,596,409 1,289,123 52,650 248,601 8,790 238,700

Rhode Island ...... 910,630 58,051 10,725 28,290 1,783 69,002

South Carolina..... 2,727,208 1,200,901 27,456 44,931 3,778 51,346

South Dakota...... 678,604 6,687 68,281 6,009 556 5,351

Tennessee ........ 4,617,553 953,349 39,188 68,918 4,587 72,929

Texas............ 15,240,387 2,493,057 215,599 644,193 29,094 2,766,586

Utah............. 2,034,448 24,382 40,445 48,692 21,367 113,950

Vermont .......... 596,079 4,492 6,396 6,622 308 2,727

Virginia .......... 5,233,601 1,441,207 52,864 304,559 9,984 190,308

Washington ....... 5,003,180 238,398 158,940 395,741 42,761 287,400

West Virginia ...... 1,733,390 62,817 10,644 11,873 887 5,579

Wisconsin ........ 4,827,514 326,506 69,386 102,768 4,310 104,662

Wyoming ......... 462,902 4,863 15,012 4,107 614 15,610

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-31
Table 9. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 2000—Con.

Part C. Percent Distribution by Race Alone and Two or More Races1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area

Total

population

One race

Two or

Total White more races

Black or

African

American

American

Indian and

Alaska Native Asian

Native

Hawaiian and

Other Pacific

Islander

Some

other race

United States . . 100.0 97.6 75.1 12.3 0.9 3.6 0.1 5.5 2.4

Region

Northeast ......... 100.0 97.7 77.5 11.4 0.3 4.0 - 4.5 2.3

Midwest .......... 100.0 98.4 83.6 10.1 0.6 1.9 - 2.2 1.6

South ............ 100.0 98.2 72.6 18.9 0.7 1.9 0.1 3.9 1.8

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 95.7 68.5 4.9 1.9 7.9 0.5 12.1 4.3

State

Alabama .......... 100.0 99.0 71.1 26.0 0.5 0.7 - 0.7 1.0

Alaska............ 100.0 94.6 69.3 3.5 15.6 4.0 0.5 1.6 5.4

Arizona ........... 100.0 97.1 75.5 3.1 5.0 1.8 0.1 11.6 2.9

Arkansas ......... 100.0 98.7 80.0 15.7 0.7 0.8 0.1 1.5 1.3

California ......... 100.0 95.3 59.5 6.7 1.0 10.9 0.3 16.8 4.7

Colorado.......... 100.0 97.2 82.8 3.8 1.0 2.2 0.1 7.2 2.8

Connecticut........ 100.0 97.8 81.6 9.1 0.3 2.4 - 4.3 2.2

Delaware ......... 100.0 98.3 74.6 19.2 0.3 2.1 - 2.0 1.7

District of Columbia . 100.0 97.6 30.8 60.0 0.3 2.7 0.1 3.8 2.4

Florida ........... 100.0 97.6 78.0 14.6 0.3 1.7 0.1 3.0 2.4

Georgia........... 100.0 98.6 65.1 28.7 0.3 2.1 0.1 2.4 1.4

Hawaii............ 100.0 78.6 24.3 1.8 0.3 41.6 9.4 1.3 21.4

Idaho ............ 100.0 98.0 91.0 0.4 1.4 0.9 0.1 4.2 2.0

Illinois ............ 100.0 98.1 73.5 15.1 0.2 3.4 - 5.8 1.9

Indiana ........... 100.0 98.8 87.5 8.4 0.3 1.0 - 1.6 1.2

Iowa ............. 100.0 98.9 93.9 2.1 0.3 1.3 - 1.3 1.1

Kansas ........... 100.0 97.9 86.1 5.7 0.9 1.7 - 3.4 2.1

Kentucky.......... 100.0 98.9 90.1 7.3 0.2 0.7 - 0.6 1.1

Louisiana ......... 100.0 98.9 63.9 32.5 0.6 1.2 - 0.7 1.1

Maine ............ 100.0 99.0 96.9 0.5 0.6 0.7 - 0.2 1.0

Maryland.......... 100.0 98.0 64.0 27.9 0.3 4.0 - 1.8 2.0

Massachusetts ..... 100.0 97.7 84.5 5.4 0.2 3.8 - 3.7 2.3

Michigan .......... 100.0 98.1 80.2 14.2 0.6 1.8 - 1.3 1.9

Minnesota......... 100.0 98.3 89.4 3.5 1.1 2.9 - 1.3 1.7

Mississippi ........ 100.0 99.3 61.4 36.3 0.4 0.7 - 0.5 0.7

Missouri .......... 100.0 98.5 84.9 11.2 0.4 1.1 0.1 0.8 1.5

Montana .......... 100.0 98.3 90.6 0.3 6.2 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.7

Nebraska ......... 100.0 98.6 89.6 4.0 0.9 1.3 - 2.8 1.4

Nevada........... 100.0 96.2 75.2 6.8 1.3 4.5 0.4 8.0 3.8

New Hampshire .... 100.0 98.9 96.0 0.7 0.2 1.3 - 0.6 1.1

New Jersey........ 100.0 97.5 72.6 13.6 0.2 5.7 - 5.4 2.5

New Mexico ....... 100.0 96.4 66.8 1.9 9.5 1.1 0.1 17.0 3.6

New York . . . . . . . . . 100.0 96.9 67.9 15.9 0.4 5.5 - 7.1 3.1

North Carolina ..... 100.0 98.7 72.1 21.6 1.2 1.4 - 2.3 1.3

North Dakota ...... 100.0 98.8 92.4 0.6 4.9 0.6 - 0.4 1.2

Ohio ............. 100.0 98.6 85.0 11.5 0.2 1.2 - 0.8 1.4

Oklahoma ......... 100.0 95.5 76.2 7.6 7.9 1.4 0.1 2.4 4.5

Oregon ........... 100.0 96.9 86.6 1.6 1.3 3.0 0.2 4.2 3.1

Pennsylvania ...... 100.0 98.8 85.4 10.0 0.1 1.8 - 1.5 1.2

Rhode Island ...... 100.0 97.3 85.0 4.5 0.5 2.3 0.1 5.0 2.7

South Carolina ..... 100.0 99.0 67.2 29.5 0.3 0.9 - 1.0 1.0

South Dakota ...... 100.0 98.7 88.7 0.6 8.3 0.6 - 0.5 1.3

Tennessee ........ 100.0 98.9 80.2 16.4 0.3 1.0 - 1.0 1.1

Texas ............ 100.0 97.5 71.0 11.5 0.6 2.7 0.1 11.7 2.5

Utah ............. 100.0 97.9 89.2 0.8 1.3 1.7 0.7 4.2 2.1

Vermont .......... 100.0 98.8 96.8 0.5 0.4 0.9 - 0.2 1.2

Virginia ........... 100.0 98.0 72.3 19.6 0.3 3.7 0.1 2.0 2.0

Washington........ 100.0 96.4 81.8 3.2 1.6 5.5 0.4 3.9 3.6

West Virginia ...... 100.0 99.1 95.0 3.2 0.2 0.5 - 0.2 0.9

Wisconsin ......... 100.0 98.8 88.9 5.7 0.9 1.7 - 1.6 1.2

Wyoming ......... 100.0 98.2 92.1 0.8 2.3 0.6 0.1 2.5 1.8

See footnotes at end of table.

A-32 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 9. Population by Race for the United States, Regions, and States: 2000—Con.

Part D. Percent Race Alone or in Combination With One or More Races1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area

White

Black or

African American

American

Indian and

Alaska Native Asian

Native Hawaiian

and Other

Pacific Islander

Some

other race

United States . 77.1 12.9 1.5 4.2 0.3 6.6

Region

Northeast......... 79.1 12.2 0.7 4.4 0.1 5.9

Midwest .......... 85.0 10.6 1.1 2.2 0.1 2.7

South............ 74.1 19.5 1.3 2.3 0.1 4.7

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.0 5.5 2.8 9.3 1.0 14.1

State

Alabama ......... 72.0 26.3 1.0 0.9 0.1 0.9

Alaska ........... 74.0 4.3 19.0 5.2 0.9 2.4

Arizona .......... 77.9 3.6 5.7 2.3 0.3 13.2

Arkansas ......... 81.2 16.0 1.4 1.0 0.1 1.8

California ......... 63.4 7.4 1.9 12.3 0.7 19.4

Colorado ......... 85.2 4.4 1.9 2.8 0.2 8.5

Connecticut ....... 83.3 10.0 0.7 2.8 0.1 5.5

Delaware ......... 75.9 20.1 0.8 2.4 0.1 2.6

District of Columbia . 32.2 61.3 0.8 3.1 0.1 5.0

Florida ........... 79.7 15.5 0.7 2.1 0.2 4.4

Georgia .......... 66.1 29.2 0.6 2.4 0.1 2.9

Hawaii ........... 39.3 2.8 2.1 58.0 23.3 3.9

Idaho ............ 92.8 0.6 2.1 1.3 0.2 5.0

Illinois ........... 75.1 15.6 0.6 3.8 0.1 6.8

Indiana........... 88.6 8.8 0.6 1.2 0.1 2.0

Iowa............. 94.9 2.5 0.6 1.5 0.1 1.6

Kansas .......... 87.9 6.3 1.8 2.1 0.1 4.0

Kentucky ......... 91.0 7.7 0.6 0.9 0.1 0.8

Louisiana ......... 64.8 32.9 1.0 1.4 0.1 1.1

Maine............ 97.9 0.7 1.0 0.9 0.1 0.4

Maryland ......... 65.4 28.8 0.7 4.5 0.1 2.5

Massachusetts..... 86.2 6.3 0.6 4.2 0.1 5.1

Michigan ......... 81.8 14.8 1.3 2.1 0.1 2.0

Minnesota ........ 90.8 4.1 1.6 3.3 0.1 1.8

Mississippi ........ 61.9 36.6 0.7 0.8 0.1 0.7

Missouri .......... 86.1 11.7 1.1 1.4 0.1 1.2

Montana ......... 92.2 0.5 7.4 0.8 0.1 0.9

Nebraska ......... 90.8 4.4 1.3 1.6 0.1 3.3

Nevada .......... 78.4 7.5 2.1 5.6 0.8 9.7

New Hampshire.... 97.0 1.0 0.6 1.6 0.1 0.9

New Jersey ....... 74.4 14.4 0.6 6.2 0.1 6.9

New Mexico....... 69.9 2.3 10.5 1.5 0.2 19.4

New York . . . . . . . . . 70.0 17.0 0.9 6.2 0.2 9.1

North Carolina ..... 73.1 22.1 1.6 1.7 0.1 2.8

North Dakota ...... 93.4 0.8 5.5 0.8 0.1 0.6

Ohio............. 86.1 12.1 0.7 1.4 0.1 1.1

Oklahoma ........ 80.3 8.3 11.4 1.7 0.1 3.0

Oregon .......... 89.3 2.1 2.5 3.7 0.5 5.2

Pennsylvania ...... 86.3 10.5 0.4 2.0 0.1 1.9

Rhode Island ...... 86.9 5.5 1.0 2.7 0.2 6.6

South Carolina..... 68.0 29.9 0.7 1.1 0.1 1.3

South Dakota...... 89.9 0.9 9.0 0.8 0.1 0.7

Tennessee ........ 81.2 16.8 0.7 1.2 0.1 1.3

Texas............ 73.1 12.0 1.0 3.1 0.1 13.3

Utah............. 91.1 1.1 1.8 2.2 1.0 5.1

Vermont .......... 97.9 0.7 1.1 1.1 0.1 0.4

Virginia .......... 73.9 20.4 0.7 4.3 0.1 2.7

Washington ....... 84.9 4.0 2.7 6.7 0.7 4.9

West Virginia ...... 95.9 3.5 0.6 0.7 - 0.3

Wisconsin ........ 90.0 6.1 1.3 1.9 0.1 2.0

Wyoming ......... 93.7 1.0 3.0 0.8 0.1 3.2

- Represents zero or rounds to zero.

1

See Appendix C, Sources and Quality of Data, for discussion of race concepts and changes in classification from 1900 to 2000.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-33
Table 10. Hispanic, Non-Hispanic, and White Non-Hispanic Population for the United States,

Regions, and States: 1980 to 2000

Part A. Number1

Area

Hispanic origin (of any race)

Not of Hispanic origin

Total White non-Hispanic

1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000

United States . . 14,608,673 22,354,059 35,305,818 211,937,132 226,355,814 246,116,088 180,256,366 188,128,296 194,552,774

Region

Northeast ......... 2,604,289 3,754,389 5,254,087 46,530,994 47,054,840 48,340,291 40,995,586 40,366,823 39,327,262

Midwest .......... 1,276,545 1,726,509 3,124,532 57,589,125 57,942,123 61,268,244 51,510,114 51,175,270 52,386,131

South ............ 4,473,966 6,767,021 11,586,696 70,898,396 78,678,909 88,650,124 56,028,373 61,359,202 65,927,794

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,253,873 10,106,140 15,340,503 36,918,617 42,679,942 47,857,429 31,722,293 35,227,001 36,911,587

State

Alabama .......... 33,299 24,629 75,830 3,860,589 4,015,958 4,371,270 2,855,558 2,960,167 3,125,819

Alaska............ 9,507 17,803 25,852 392,344 532,240 601,080 304,635 406,722 423,788

Arizona ........... 440,701 688,338 1,295,617 2,277,514 2,976,890 3,835,015 2,026,262 2,626,185 3,274,258

Arkansas ......... 17,904 19,876 86,866 2,268,531 2,330,849 2,586,534 1,879,908 1,933,082 2,100,135

California ......... 4,544,331 7,687,938 10,966,556 19,123,571 22,072,083 22,905,092 15,763,992 17,029,126 15,816,790

Colorado.......... 339,717 424,302 735,601 2,550,247 2,870,092 3,565,660 2,390,479 2,658,945 3,202,880

Connecticut........ 124,499 213,116 320,323 2,983,077 3,074,000 3,085,242 2,735,418 2,754,184 2,638,845

Delaware ......... 9,661 15,820 37,277 584,677 650,348 746,323 483,129 528,092 567,973

District of Columbia . 17,679 32,710 44,953 620,654 574,190 527,106 164,244 166,131 159,178

Florida ........... 858,158 1,574,143 2,682,715 8,888,166 11,363,783 13,299,663 7,473,295 9,475,326 10,458,509

Georgia........... 61,260 108,922 435,227 5,401,845 6,369,294 7,751,226 3,914,084 4,543,425 5,128,661

Hawaii............ 71,263 81,390 87,699 893,428 1,026,839 1,123,838 299,731 347,644 277,091

Idaho ............ 36,615 52,927 101,690 907,320 953,822 1,192,263 886,187 928,661 1,139,291

Illinois ............ 635,602 904,446 1,530,262 10,790,916 10,526,156 10,889,031 8,911,706 8,550,208 8,424,140

Indiana ........... 87,047 98,788 214,536 5,403,177 5,445,371 5,865,949 4,953,603 4,965,242 5,219,373

Iowa ............. 25,536 32,647 82,473 2,888,272 2,744,108 2,843,851 2,823,342 2,663,840 2,710,344

Kansas ........... 63,339 93,670 188,252 2,300,340 2,383,904 2,500,166 2,138,531 2,190,524 2,233,997

Kentucky.......... 27,406 21,984 59,939 3,633,371 3,663,312 3,981,830 3,358,495 3,378,022 3,608,013

Louisiana ......... 99,134 93,044 107,738 4,106,766 4,126,929 4,361,238 2,841,397 2,776,022 2,794,391

Maine ............ 5,005 6,829 9,360 1,119,655 1,221,099 1,265,563 1,105,860 1,203,357 1,230,297

Maryland.......... 64,746 125,102 227,916 4,152,229 4,656,366 5,068,570 3,116,160 3,326,109 3,286,547

Massachusetts ..... 141,043 287,549 428,729 5,595,994 5,728,876 5,920,368 5,294,151 5,280,292 5,198,359

Michigan .......... 162,440 201,596 323,877 9,099,638 9,093,701 9,614,567 7,785,525 7,649,951 7,806,691

Minnesota......... 32,123 53,884 143,382 4,043,847 4,321,215 4,776,097 3,916,529 4,101,266 4,337,143

Mississippi ........ 24,731 15,931 39,569 2,495,907 2,557,285 2,805,089 1,604,154 1,624,198 1,727,908

Missouri .......... 51,653 61,702 118,592 4,865,033 5,055,371 5,476,619 4,311,600 4,448,465 4,686,474

Montana .......... 9,974 12,174 18,081 776,716 786,891 884,114 734,410 733,878 807,823

Nebraska ......... 28,025 36,969 94,425 1,541,800 1,541,416 1,616,838 1,475,376 1,460,095 1,494,494

Nevada........... 53,879 124,419 393,970 746,614 1,077,414 1,604,287 666,354 946,357 1,303,001

New Hampshire .... 5,587 11,333 20,489 915,023 1,097,919 1,215,297 905,504 1,079,484 1,175,252

New Jersey........ 491,883 739,861 1,117,191 6,872,940 6,990,327 7,297,159 5,825,538 5,718,966 5,557,209

New Mexico ....... 477,222 579,224 765,386 825,672 935,845 1,053,660 685,956 764,164 813,495

New York . . . . . . . . . 1,659,300 2,214,026 2,867,583 15,898,772 15,776,429 16,108,874 13,164,734 12,460,189 11,760,981

North Carolina ..... 56,667 76,726 378,963 5,825,099 6,551,911 7,670,350 4,428,567 4,971,127 5,647,155

North Dakota ...... 3,902 4,665 7,786 648,815 634,135 634,414 623,201 601,592 589,149

Ohio ............. 119,883 139,696 217,123 10,677,747 10,707,419 11,136,017 9,527,514 9,444,622 9,538,111

Oklahoma ......... 57,419 86,160 179,304 2,967,871 3,059,425 3,271,350 2,570,986 2,547,588 2,556,368

Oregon ........... 65,847 112,707 275,314 2,567,258 2,729,614 3,146,085 2,456,012 2,579,732 2,857,616

Pennsylvania ...... 153,961 232,262 394,088 11,709,934 11,649,381 11,886,966 10,575,827 10,422,058 10,322,455

Rhode Island ...... 19,707 45,752 90,820 927,447 957,712 957,499 884,683 896,109 858,433

South Carolina ..... 33,426 30,551 95,076 3,088,394 3,456,152 3,916,936 2,132,100 2,390,056 2,652,291

South Dakota ...... 4,023 5,252 10,903 686,745 690,752 743,941 637,511 634,788 664,585

Tennessee ........ 34,077 32,741 123,838 4,557,043 4,844,444 5,565,445 3,812,949 4,027,631 4,505,930

Texas ............ 2,985,824 4,339,905 6,669,666 11,243,367 12,646,605 14,182,154 9,350,297 10,291,680 10,933,313

Utah ............. 60,302 84,597 201,559 1,400,735 1,638,253 2,031,610 1,350,462 1,571,254 1,904,265

Vermont .......... 3,304 3,661 5,504 508,152 559,097 603,323 503,871 552,184 585,431

Virginia ........... 79,868 160,288 329,540 5,266,950 6,027,070 6,748,975 4,179,453 4,701,650 4,965,637

Washington........ 120,016 214,570 441,509 4,012,140 4,652,122 5,452,612 3,725,878 4,221,622 4,652,490

West Virginia ...... 12,707 8,489 12,279 1,936,937 1,784,988 1,796,065 1,863,597 1,718,896 1,709,966

Wisconsin ......... 62,972 93,194 192,921 4,642,795 4,798,575 5,170,754 4,405,676 4,464,677 4,681,630

Wyoming ......... 24,499 25,751 31,669 445,058 427,837 462,113 431,935 412,711 438,799

See footnotes at end of table.

A-34 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 10. Hispanic, Non-Hispanic, and White Non-Hispanic Population for the United States,

Regions, and States: 1980 to 2000—Con.

Part B. Percent of Total Population1

Area

Hispanic origin (of any race)

Not of Hispanic origin

Total White non-Hispanic

1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000

United States . . 6.4 9.0 12.5 93.6 91.0 87.5 79.6 75.6 69.1

Region

Northeast . . . . . . . . . 5.3 7.4 9.8 94.7 92.6 90.2 83.4 79.4 73.4

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 2.9 4.9 97.8 97.1 95.1 87.5 85.8 81.4

South . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.9 7.9 11.6 94.1 92.1 88.4 74.3 71.8 65.8

West . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.5 19.1 24.3 85.5 80.9 75.7 73.5 66.7 58.4

State

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 0.6 1.7 99.1 99.4 98.3 73.3 73.3 70.3

Alaska. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4 3.2 4.1 97.6 96.8 95.9 75.8 73.9 67.6

Arizona ........... 16.2 18.8 25.3 83.8 81.2 74.7 74.5 71.7 63.8

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . 0.8 0.8 3.2 99.2 99.2 96.8 82.2 82.2 78.6

California ......... 19.2 25.8 32.4 80.8 74.2 67.6 66.6 57.2 46.7

Colorado. . . . . . . . . . 11.8 12.9 17.1 88.2 87.1 82.9 82.7 80.7 74.5

Connecticut. . . . . . . . 4.0 6.5 9.4 96.0 93.5 90.6 88.0 83.8 77.5

Delaware . . . . . . . . . 1.6 2.4 4.8 98.4 97.6 95.2 81.3 79.3 72.5

District of Columbia . 2.8 5.4 7.9 97.2 94.6 92.1 25.7 27.4 27.8

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . 8.8 12.2 16.8 91.2 87.8 83.2 76.7 73.2 65.4

Georgia. . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 1.7 5.3 98.9 98.3 94.7 71.6 70.1 62.6

Hawaii. . . . . . . . . . . . 7.4 7.3 7.2 92.6 92.7 92.8 31.1 31.4 22.9

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9 5.3 7.9 96.1 94.7 92.1 93.9 92.2 88.0

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 7.9 12.3 94.4 92.1 87.7 78.0 74.8 67.8

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . 1.6 1.8 3.5 98.4 98.2 96.5 90.2 89.6 85.8

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 1.2 2.8 99.1 98.8 97.2 96.9 95.9 92.6

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 3.8 7.0 97.3 96.2 93.0 90.5 88.4 83.1

Kentucky. . . . . . . . . . 0.7 0.6 1.5 99.3 99.4 98.5 91.7 91.7 89.3

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . 2.4 2.2 2.4 97.6 97.8 97.6 67.6 65.8 62.5

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 0.6 0.7 99.6 99.4 99.3 98.3 98.0 96.5

Maryland. . . . . . . . . . 1.5 2.6 4.3 98.5 97.4 95.7 73.9 69.6 62.1

Massachusetts . . . . . 2.5 4.8 6.8 97.5 95.2 93.2 92.3 87.8 81.9

Michigan . . . . . . . . . . 1.8 2.2 3.3 98.2 97.8 96.7 84.1 82.3 78.6

Minnesota. . . . . . . . . 0.8 1.2 2.9 99.2 98.8 97.1 96.1 93.7 88.2

Mississippi . . . . . . . . 1.0 0.6 1.4 99.0 99.4 98.6 63.6 63.1 60.7

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 1.2 2.1 98.9 98.8 97.9 87.7 86.9 83.8

Montana . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 1.5 2.0 98.7 98.5 98.0 93.4 91.8 89.5

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . 1.8 2.3 5.5 98.2 97.7 94.5 94.0 92.5 87.3

Nevada. . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 10.4 19.7 93.3 89.6 80.3 83.2 78.7 65.2

New Hampshire . . . . 0.6 1.0 1.7 99.4 99.0 98.3 98.4 97.3 95.1

New Jersey. . . . . . . . 6.7 9.6 13.3 93.3 90.4 86.7 79.1 74.0 66.0

New Mexico ....... 36.6 38.2 42.1 63.4 61.8 57.9 52.6 50.4 44.7

New York . . . . . . . . . 9.5 12.3 15.1 90.5 87.7 84.9 75.0 69.3 62.0

North Carolina . . . . . 1.0 1.2 4.7 99.0 98.8 95.3 75.3 75.0 70.2

North Dakota . . . . . . 0.6 0.7 1.2 99.4 99.3 98.8 95.5 94.2 91.7

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 1.3 1.9 98.9 98.7 98.1 88.2 87.1 84.0

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . 1.9 2.7 5.2 98.1 97.3 94.8 85.0 81.0 74.1

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 4.0 8.0 97.5 96.0 92.0 93.3 90.8 83.5

Pennsylvania . . . . . . 1.3 2.0 3.2 98.7 98.0 96.8 89.1 87.7 84.1

Rhode Island . . . . . . 2.1 4.6 8.7 97.9 95.4 91.3 93.4 89.3 81.9

South Carolina . . . . . 1.1 0.9 2.4 98.9 99.1 97.6 68.3 68.5 66.1

South Dakota . . . . . . 0.6 0.8 1.4 99.4 99.2 98.6 92.3 91.2 88.0

Tennessee . . . . . . . . 0.7 0.7 2.2 99.3 99.3 97.8 83.1 82.6 79.2

Texas ............ 21.0 25.5 32.0 79.0 74.5 68.0 65.7 60.6 52.4

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 4.9 9.0 95.9 95.1 91.0 92.4 91.2 85.3

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 0.7 0.9 99.4 99.3 99.1 98.5 98.1 96.2

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 2.6 4.7 98.5 97.4 95.3 78.2 76.0 70.2

Washington. . . . . . . . 2.9 4.4 7.5 97.1 95.6 92.5 90.2 86.7 78.9

West Virginia . . . . . . 0.7 0.5 0.7 99.3 99.5 99.3 95.6 95.8 94.6

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . 1.3 1.9 3.6 98.7 98.1 96.4 93.6 91.3 87.3

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . 5.2 5.7 6.4 94.8 94.3 93.6 92.0 91.0 88.9

1

See Appendix C, Sources and Quality of Data, for discussion of race and Hispanic origin concepts and changes in classification from 1900 to 2000.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1980 to 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-35
Table 11. Population by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin for the United States: 1900 to 2000

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Group and age 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

RACE

White ............ 66,809,196 81,731,957 94,820,915 110,286,740 118,214,870 134,942,028 158,831,732 177,748,975 188,371,622 199,686,070 211,460,626

0 to 4 years ....... 7,919,952 9,322,914 10,373,921 10,142,169 9,229,505 14,184,504 17,358,552 14,423,140 12,634,075 13,649,490 12,859,892

5 to 9 years ....... 7,638,326 8,475,173 10,087,245 11,161,663 9,328,951 11,596,572 16,087,542 16,897,426 13,032,966 13,616,268 13,944,882

10 to 14 years ..... 6,959,238 7,918,408 9,369,322 10,694,424 10,352,695 9,694,529 14,638,892 17,681,117 14,460,922 12,853,558 14,322,638

15 to 19 years ..... 6,543,189 7,968,391 8,314,155 10,248,779 10,964,047 9,330,520 11,608,229 16,370,360 16,962,102 13,342,703 14,167,148

20 to 24 years ..... 6,335,044 7,986,411 8,185,341 9,612,669 10,340,149 10,179,187 9,470,779 14,281,827 17,288,774 14,523,912 13,064,891

25 to 29 years ..... 5,762,980 7,257,136 8,141,690 8,708,998 9,904,270 10,924,804 9,555,585 11,811,914 15,984,830 16,638,544 13,501,773

30 to 34 years ..... 5,004,444 6,267,276 7,338,790 8,210,912 9,206,478 10,356,331 10,588,830 9,967,437 14,644,799 17,351,513 14,818,786

35 to 39 years ..... 4,460,575 5,731,845 6,965,805 8,278,268 8,516,660 10,058,473 11,140,841 9,720,869 11,761,107 16,081,606 17,031,493

40 to 44 years ..... 3,852,143 4,780,272 5,755,547 7,266,892 7,936,083 9,190,290 10,423,020 10,606,832 9,825,833 14,506,390 17,265,995

45 to 49 years ..... 3,105,678 4,061,062 5,188,040 6,381,570 7,532,756 8,169,354 9,785,162 10,844,642 9,456,991 11,585,703 15,810,626

50 to 54 years ..... 2,633,981 3,555,313 4,317,266 5,445,743 6,680,307 7,535,439 8,693,528 10,001,857 10,157,561 9,504,871 14,213,875

55 to 59 years ..... 2,021,217 2,564,206 3,305,671 4,319,301 5,426,845 6,695,732 7,626,211 9,006,502 10,237,758 8,968,416 11,107,247

60 to 64 years ..... 1,620,658 2,069,323 2,771,433 3,496,777 4,416,693 5,652,606 6,550,673 7,804,710 8,975,711 9,211,123 8,945,842

65 to 69 years ..... 1,195,295 1,549,954 1,924,296 2,607,133 3,499,046 4,585,586 5,739,224 6,299,054 7,812,247 8,899,637 8,040,225

70 to 74 years ..... 808,097 1,030,884 1,298,738 1,845,322 2,400,545 3,181,575 4,391,042 4,982,083 6,095,352 7,126,564 7,648,193

75 years and over . . 803,327 1,059,165 1,359,992 1,787,518 2,479,840 3,606,526 5,173,622 7,049,205 9,040,594 11,825,772 14,717,120

Age unknown ...... 145,052 134,224 123,663 78,602 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Median age........ 23.4 24.5 25.6 26.9 29.5 30.8 30.3 28.9 31.3 34.4 37.7

Black ............ 8,833,994 9,827,763 10,463,131 11,891,143 12,865,518 15,026,675 18,848,619 22,580,289 26,495,025 29,986,060 34,658,190

0 to 4 years ....... 1,215,655 1,263,288 1,143,699 1,230,206 1,249,080 1,890,620 2,722,400 2,432,638 2,436,169 2,785,902 2,804,786

5 to 9 years ....... 1,202,758 1,246,553 1,266,207 1,368,381 1,294,546 1,529,830 2,390,638 2,747,428 2,490,717 2,671,109 3,205,512

10 to 14 years ..... 1,091,990 1,155,266 1,236,914 1,251,542 1,330,660 1,352,445 1,972,932 2,809,869 2,673,272 2,601,590 3,121,530

15 to 19 years ..... 982,022 1,060,416 1,083,215 1,250,528 1,304,606 1,226,135 1,496,991 2,423,045 2,984,863 2,658,493 2,929,553

20 to 24 years ..... 969,172 1,030,795 1,054,847 1,203,191 1,195,227 1,231,545 1,211,713 1,814,220 2,724,806 2,578,953 2,628,752

25 to 29 years ..... 737,479 881,227 909,739 1,071,787 1,145,284 1,249,175 1,178,799 1,428,257 2,321,319 2,707,765 2,548,968

30 to 34 years ..... 524,607 668,089 697,865 864,514 992,879 1,103,540 1,226,594 1,252,935 1,888,713 2,681,724 2,618,602

35 to 39 years ..... 474,687 633,449 773,931 890,900 985,833 1,138,860 1,221,328 1,195,727 1,457,747 2,336,766 2,826,361

40 to 44 years ..... 367,216 455,413 559,701 687,423 815,096 972,555 1,086,511 1,197,865 1,251,067 1,876,062 2,700,418

45 to 49 years ..... 326,384 385,909 551,589 630,065 692,807 862,905 1,013,343 1,122,779 1,142,948 1,405,766 2,275,191

50 to 54 years ..... 290,987 326,070 399,110 504,590 550,435 702,235 851,582 989,467 1,128,926 1,179,011 1,805,457

55 to 59 years ..... 179,176 209,622 229,980 309,397 397,219 515,365 758,741 873,528 1,036,784 1,032,749 1,306,641

60 to 64 years ..... 161,687 186,502 200,118 242,169 295,904 384,840 549,167 733,777 870,836 961,619 1,063,469

65 to 69 years ..... 102,671 123,550 137,035 155,177 296,737 406,930 487,406 626,917 776,997 863,045 881,786

70 to 74 years ..... 72,382 78,839 91,579 99,096 162,948 220,650 324,320 415,903 563,567 640,415 731,386

75 years and over . . 86,310 91,735 104,099 118,446 156,257 239,045 356,154 515,934 746,294 1,005,091 1,209,778

Age unknown ...... 48,811 31,040 23,503 13,731 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Median age........ 19.5 20.8 22.3 23.5 25.3 26.1 23.5 22.4 24.9 28.1 30.2

American Indian

and Alaska Native. 237,196 265,683 244,437 332,397 333,969 342,226 546,228 763,594 1,420,400 1,959,234 2,475,956

0 to 4 years ....... 33,707 40,384 33,346 46,680 47,151 51,988 91,287 91,456 149,275 201,950 213,052

5 to 9 years ....... 31,937 36,541 34,166 46,736 43,486 44,301 75,947 102,105 146,647 199,446 239,007

10 to 14 years ..... 27,979 31,393 30,173 39,456 39,719 43,575 63,499 98,129 155,992 188,000 245,677

15 to 19 years ..... 24,156 28,486 25,417 36,219 36,010 33,829 49,897 84,105 170,215 180,516 232,351

20 to 24 years ..... 19,891 21,844 20,009 28,843 29,376 30,122 39,667 65,147 149,154 165,549 198,010

25 to 29 years ..... 16,614 18,137 16,537 23,491 24,946 23,510 33,026 51,878 124,932 175,577 186,689

30 to 34 years ..... 13,532 15,243 13,474 19,309 20,490 19,574 30,122 46,591 107,219 170,668 186,072

35 to 39 years1..... 12,148 14,834 13,707 33,031 18,895 18,917 28,389 39,486 84,179 150,182 202,013

40 to 44 years ..... 11,703 11,961 11,618 15,414 15,489 22,929 36,144 69,370 126,154 189,201

45 to 49 years2..... 9,931 9,887 10,806 25,039 13,629 14,340 21,711 31,822 58,089 96,817 159,422

50 to 54 years ..... 8,662 9,343 8,728 11,180 11,551 20,767 27,922 51,593 76,714 128,303

55 to 59 years3..... 5,886 7,171 6,573 16,787 8,967 9,292 31,560 24,986 44,897 61,819 90,531

60 to 64 years ..... 5,637 6,524 5,953 7,632 7,694 11,830 20,021 33,919 51,389 67,189

65 to 69 years4..... 3,805 4,482 4,655 10,030 11,383 7,185 9,975 17,239 28,310 42,710 49,463

70 to 74 years ..... 3,009 3,382 3,455 4,517 6,857 11,121 19,893 29,270 36,434

75 years and over . . 3,965 5,122 5,029 6,327 5,691 6,342 8,765 15,442 26,716 42,473 52,542

Age unknown ...... 4,634 949 791 449 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Median age........ 19.7 19.2 19.7 19.6 20.1 19.6 19.2 20.5 23.0 26.3 27.9

Asian and Pacific

Islander ......... 114,189 146,863 182,137 264,766 254,918 258,505 890,868 1,356,638 3,500,439 7,273,662 10,641,833

0 to 4 years ....... 1,314 4,778 22,264 25,335 15,788 28,132 108,728 113,218 293,491 589,845 703,797

5 to 9 years ....... 1,102 2,365 10,457 30,829 17,639 17,296 97,903 122,473 302,189 596,133 717,039

10 to 14 years ..... 1,027 2,073 4,728 19,455 22,861 15,357 80,162 122,891 279,806 551,552 720,297

15 to 19 years ..... 6,722 6,310 7,769 16,589 28,860 17,979 54,911 119,363 288,508 603,761 783,839

20 to 24 years ..... 10,909 17,934 16,824 25,675 23,083 28,145 54,031 121,149 320,094 632,258 855,145

25 to 29 years ..... 12,368 23,503 18,525 29,332 22,138 32,292 74,911 107,805 369,230 691,069 1,021,446

30 to 34 years ..... 13,456 21,577 21,064 25,686 22,541 23,591 84,329 102,502 371,387 726,183 982,547

35 to 39 years1..... 17,371 15,972 21,838 42,326 23,989 17,043 76,103 103,643 276,838 669,818 942,470

40 to 44 years ..... 16,104 13,941 18,691 21,250 12,951 55,399 101,912 220,768 572,194 874,878

45 to 49 years2..... 12,619 12,339 13,185 31,076 16,033 14,247 47,738 86,715 181,163 405,590 773,452

See footnotes at end of table.

A-36 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 11. Population by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin for the United States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Group and age 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Asian and Pacific

Islander—Con.

50 to 54 years ..... 9,199 10,065 9,769 14,924 14,190 41,207 62,797 157,505 311,651 645,193

55 to 59 years3 .... 4,893 5,952 6,900 12,467 10,834 10,679 39,325 52,591 129,947 250,633 447,177

60 to 64 years ..... 3,381 4,801 5,044 8,111 10,549 27,925 44,315 97,777 218,517 352,937

65 to 69 years4 .... 1,155 1,517 2,489 3,851 5,530 7,883 18,414 36,925 79,708 178,497 281,783

70 to 74 years . . . . . 353 623 1,264 5,022 15,166 26,436 58,048 122,234 225,595

75 years and over . . 129 271 584 905 1,337 3,149 14,616 31,903 73,980 153,727 314,238

Age unknown...... 2,087 2,842 742 1,240 (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X)

Median age ....... 37.6 33.5 32.4 27.5 29.3 28.5 28.3 28.7 28.6 29.8 32.6

HISPANIC ORIGIN

Hispanic Not Hispanic

1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000

Total ............ 14,608,673 22,354,059 35,305,818 211,937,132 226,355,814 246,116,088

0 to 4 years ....... 1,663,173 2,387,524 3,717,974 14,685,081 15,966,919 15,457,824

5 to 9 years ....... 1,537,181 2,193,852 3,623,680 15,162,775 15,905,327 16,925,825

10 to 14 years ..... 1,474,998 2,001,617 3,163,412 16,767,131 15,112,632 17,364,660

15 to 19 years ..... 1,606,328 2,053,957 3,171,646 19,561,796 15,700,058 17,048,244

20 to 24 years ..... 1,585,863 2,304,441 3,409,427 19,732,841 16,715,871 15,554,574

25 to 29 years ..... 1,375,914 2,341,239 3,385,334 18,145,005 18,971,806 15,996,002

30 to 34 years ..... 1,128,545 2,062,303 3,124,901 16,432,375 19,800,584 17,385,487

35 to 39 years ..... 854,218 1,660,726 2,825,158 13,111,084 18,302,391 19,881,506

40 to 44 years ..... 712,271 1,284,268 2,304,152 10,957,137 16,331,518 20,137,711

45 to 49 years ..... 621,589 953,910 1,775,168 10,468,166 12,918,663 18,317,236

50 to 54 years ..... 564,376 755,989 1,360,935 11,145,656 10,594,524 16,224,613

55 to 59 years ..... 454,368 639,308 960,033 11,160,886 9,892,448 12,509,204

60 to 64 years ..... 320,969 553,642 750,407 9,766,652 10,062,525 10,055,040

65 to 69 years ..... 263,683 436,257 599,353 8,518,798 9,675,478 8,934,192

70 to 74 years ..... 193,463 286,772 477,266 6,604,661 7,708,051 8,380,175

75 years and over . . 251,734 438,254 656,972 9,717,088 12,697,019 15,943,795

Median age ....... 23.2 25.5 25.8 30.6 33.7 36.8

MINORITY AND

WHITE

NON-HISPANIC

Minority White non-Hispanic

1980 1990 2000 1980 1990 2000

Total ............ 46,289,439 60,581,577 86,869,132 180,256,366 188,128,296 194,552,774

0 to 4 years ....... 4,592,889 5,865,724 7,981,452 11,755,365 12,488,719 11,194,346

5 to 9 years ....... 4,507,241 5,569,088 8,245,602 12,192,715 12,530,091 12,303,903

10 to 14 years ..... 4,594,867 5,258,146 7,645,532 13,647,262 11,856,103 12,882,540

15 to 19 years ..... 5,062,301 5,409,314 7,459,956 16,105,823 12,344,701 12,759,934

20 to 24 years ..... 4,824,734 5,582,388 7,369,259 16,493,970 13,437,924 11,594,742

25 to 29 years ..... 4,239,799 5,812,896 7,390,473 15,281,120 15,500,149 11,990,863

30 to 34 years ..... 3,531,394 5,542,856 7,144,978 14,029,526 16,320,031 13,365,410

35 to 39 years ..... 2,690,302 4,734,716 7,040,691 11,275,000 15,228,401 15,665,973

40 to 44 years ..... 2,259,843 3,795,316 6,306,501 9,409,565 13,820,470 16,135,362

45 to 49 years ..... 2,006,295 2,816,611 5,184,193 9,083,460 11,055,962 14,908,211

50 to 54 years ..... 1,903,420 2,287,009 4,106,599 9,806,612 9,063,504 13,478,949

55 to 59 years ..... 1,667,391 1,955,421 2,923,568 9,947,863 8,576,335 10,545,669

60 to 64 years ..... 1,323,304 1,761,080 2,323,435 8,764,317 8,855,087 8,482,012

65 to 69 years ..... 1,148,067 1,501,943 1,882,718 7,634,414 8,609,792 7,650,827

70 to 74 years ..... 834,998 1,066,335 1,529,819 5,963,126 6,928,488 7,327,622

75 years and over . . 1,102,594 1,622,734 2,334,356 8,866,228 11,512,539 14,266,411

Median age ....... 24.5 27.2 28.2 31.7 34.9 38.6

X Not applicable.

1 Data for 1930 refer to age group 35 to 44 years. 2 Data for 1930 refer to age group 45 to 54 years. 3 Data for 1930 refer to age group 55 to 64 years. 4 Data for 1930 and 1940 refer to age group 65 to 74 years.

Note: Data based on sample for 1950 and 1960 for Black population, and for 1950, 1960, and 1970 for American Indian and Alaska Native and Asian and Pacific

Islander populations. See Appendix C, Sources and Quality of Data, for discussion of race concepts and changes in classification from 1900 to 2000.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-37
Table 12. Housing Units by Occupancy Status and Tenure for the United States, Regions,

and States: 1900 to 2000

Part A. Total Housing Units

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 37,325,470 45,983,398 58,326,357 68,679,030 88,411,263 102,263,678 115,904,641

Region

Northeast......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 10,312,732 12,051,182 14,798,360 16,642,665 19,086,593 20,810,637 22,180,440

Midwest .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 11,597,471 13,745,646 16,797,804 18,973,217 22,822,059 24,492,718 26,963,635

South............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 10,876,056 13,653,785 17,172,688 21,031,346 29,419,692 36,065,102 42,382,546

West . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4,539,211 6,532,785 9,557,505 12,031,802 17,082,919 20,895,221 24,378,020

State

Alabama ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 708,043 843,857 967,466 1,120,220 1,467,374 1,670,379 1,963,711

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 67,193 90,729 162,825 232,608 260,978

Arizona .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 147,079 240,750 415,834 584,171 1,110,558 1,659,430 2,189,189

Arkansas ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 520,613 575,163 586,552 675,611 898,593 1,000,667 1,173,043

California ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,340,373 3,590,660 5,465,870 6,996,990 9,279,036 11,182,882 12,214,549

Colorado ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 354,660 436,226 594,522 757,070 1,194,253 1,477,349 1,808,037

Connecticut ....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 488,543 611,162 818,544 981,158 1,158,884 1,320,850 1,385,975

Delaware ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 75,567 97,013 143,725 180,233 238,611 289,919 343,072

District of Columbia . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 185,128 229,738 262,641 278,444 276,984 278,489 274,845

Florida ........... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 590,451 952,131 1,776,961 2,526,612 4,378,691 6,100,262 7,302,947

Georgia .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 796,715 966,672 1,170,039 1,470,557 2,028,350 2,638,418 3,281,737

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 165,506 216,085 334,235 389,810 460,542

Idaho ............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 152,835 188,328 223,533 244,695 375,127 413,327 527,824

Illinois ........... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,280,826 2,671,647 3,275,799 3,703,367 4,319,672 4,506,275 4,885,615

Indiana........... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,005,952 1,232,314 1,503,148 1,730,099 2,091,795 2,246,046 2,532,319

Iowa............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 726,654 811,912 905,295 964,060 1,131,299 1,143,669 1,232,511

Kansas .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 545,721 625,148 740,335 789,196 954,906 1,044,112 1,131,200

Kentucky ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 729,206 820,141 925,572 1,064,451 1,369,125 1,506,845 1,750,927

Louisiana ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 619,233 777,672 978,452 1,150,235 1,548,419 1,716,241 1,847,181

Maine............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 260,659 311,441 364,617 397,169 501,093 587,045 651,901

Maryland ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 500,156 689,116 934,552 1,249,177 1,570,907 1,891,917 2,145,283

Massachusetts..... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,221,252 1,400,185 1,690,998 1,890,400 2,208,146 2,472,711 2,621,989

Michigan ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,519,378 1,971,842 2,548,792 2,954,570 3,589,912 3,847,926 4,234,279

Minnesota ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 773,042 918,434 1,119,271 1,276,198 1,612,960 1,848,445 2,065,946

Mississippi ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 557,246 609,329 628,945 699,150 911,627 1,010,423 1,161,953

Missouri .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,140,493 1,268,354 1,491,397 1,673,361 1,988,915 2,199,129 2,442,017

Montana ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 177,443 194,256 233,310 246,603 328,465 361,155 412,633

Nebraska ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 387,368 417,245 472,950 515,069 624,829 660,621 722,668

Nevada .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 36,770 56,515 101,623 172,558 339,949 518,858 827,457

New Hampshire.... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 158,044 190,563 224,440 280,962 386,381 503,904 547,024

New Jersey ....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,223,887 1,501,473 1,998,940 2,388,011 2,772,149 3,075,310 3,310,275

New Mexico....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 145,642 199,706 281,976 325,722 507,513 632,058 780,579

New York . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4,032,460 4,633,806 5,695,880 6,298,663 6,867,638 7,226,891 7,679,307

North Carolina ..... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 820,888 1,058,367 1,322,957 1,641,222 2,274,737 2,818,193 3,523,944

North Dakota ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 162,881 175,769 194,597 204,222 258,772 276,340 289,677

Ohio............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,977,693 2,402,565 3,041,151 3,465,356 4,108,105 4,371,945 4,783,051

Oklahoma ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 647,485 715,691 815,685 939,681 1,237,040 1,406,499 1,514,400

Oregon .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 369,811 524,003 622,853 744,616 1,083,285 1,193,567 1,452,709

Pennsylvania ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,618,056 3,036,494 3,581,877 3,924,757 4,596,431 4,938,140 5,249,750

Rhode Island ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 203,469 244,147 286,757 316,477 372,672 414,572 439,837

South Carolina..... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 458,899 557,672 678,379 815,123 1,153,709 1,424,155 1,753,670

South Dakota...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 179,744 194,573 216,449 225,253 276,997 292,436 323,208

Tennessee ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 742,030 921,837 1,084,365 1,300,908 1,747,422 2,026,067 2,439,443

Texas............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,804,884 2,393,828 3,153,127 3,829,502 5,549,352 7,008,999 8,157,575

Utah............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 147,291 200,554 262,670 315,765 490,006 598,388 768,594

Vermont .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 106,362 121,911 136,307 165,068 223,199 271,214 294,382

Virginia .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 659,787 901,483 1,168,913 1,492,954 2,020,941 2,496,334 2,904,192

Washington ....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 590,439 809,701 1,009,519 1,220,475 1,689,450 2,032,378 2,451,075

West Virginia ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 459,725 544,075 574,357 597,266 747,810 781,295 844,623

Wisconsin ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 897,719 1,055,843 1,288,620 1,472,466 1,863,897 2,055,774 2,321,144

Wyoming ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 76,868 92,086 113,096 116,323 188,217 203,411 223,854

See footnotes at end of table.

A-38 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 12. Housing Units by Occupancy Status and Tenure for the United States, Regions,

and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part B. Owner-Occupied Housing Units1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 7,205,212 9,083,711 10,866,960 14,002,074 15,195,763 23,559,966 32,796,720 39,885,180 51,794,545 59,024,811 69,815,753

Region

Northeast......... 1,691,307 2,049,983 2,532,447 3,739,406 3,624,622 5,439,997 7,588,017 8,916,459 10,303,760 11,571,332 12,651,302

Midwest .......... 3,072,890 3,661,916 4,270,823 5,158,017 5,383,127 7,878,510 10,307,622 11,922,509 14,356,776 15,200,285 17,373,745

South............ 1,981,296 2,526,582 2,957,723 3,508,778 4,183,022 6,780,051 9,612,875 12,456,201 17,742,997 21,076,467 25,987,886

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 459,719 845,230 1,105,967 1,595,873 2,004,992 3,461,408 5,288,206 6,590,011 9,391,012 11,176,727 13,802,820

State

Alabama ......... 122,449 154,716 172,363 198,472 226,460 388,996 528,031 689,411 941,219 1,061,897 1,258,705

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 27,679 39,747 76,663 105,989 138,509

Arizona .......... 15,317 22,712 33,075 45,808 62,842 118,620 234,347 352,043 653,833 878,561 1,293,556

Arkansas ......... 119,827 151,002 171,253 168,767 196,916 285,599 321,219 410,438 575,478 619,938 723,535

California ......... 146,994 270,379 382,834 726,072 928,796 1,811,684 2,910,093 3,611,347 4,825,252 5,773,943 6,546,334

Colorado ......... 54,965 96,728 116,781 131,571 146,455 227,298 337,565 438,120 684,408 798,277 1,116,137

Connecticut ....... 76,855 90,457 115,181 171,202 181,629 290,968 465,672 583,381 699,224 807,481 869,729

Delaware ......... 13,641 17,794 22,829 30,187 33,213 53,247 85,971 112,120 143,073 173,813 216,038

District of Columbia . 12,998 17,375 28,503 47,220 51,944 72,362 75,532 73,980 89,846 97,108 101,214

Florida ........... 50,930 72,027 94,990 153,956 226,655 473,124 1,047,217 1,566,864 2,557,079 3,452,160 4,441,799

Georgia .......... 129,667 164,116 188,185 194,459 231,689 413,696 601,631 836,323 1,216,459 1,536,759 2,029,154

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 62,937 95,271 151,954 191,911 227,888

Idaho ............ 24,370 47,045 59,208 59,584 82,078 110,694 136,746 153,589 233,393 252,734 339,960

Illinois ........... 451,597 545,999 658,260 882,999 882,870 1,294,249 1,782,127 2,081,101 2,533,832 2,699,182 3,088,884

Indiana........... 312,283 352,295 395,402 474,196 510,636 766,018 986,098 1,153,249 1,381,918 1,450,898 1,669,162

Iowa............. 282,760 292,951 332,567 340,778 361,477 494,826 581,352 642,676 756,517 745,377 831,419

Kansas .......... 183,286 228,504 241,456 267,115 260,495 375,033 463,350 502,585 612,435 641,762 718,703

Kentucky ......... 218,142 251,059 275,993 306,284 335,350 456,797 547,750 657,909 884,825 960,469 1,125,397

Louisiana ......... 83,575 106,953 126,410 165,731 218,447 364,945 526,366 663,927 925,139 987,919 1,125,135

Maine............ 102,537 109,298 108,829 119,898 125,390 159,824 186,379 212,199 280,377 327,888 370,905

Maryland ......... 90,702 117,297 159,262 208,563 220,765 360,718 556,391 690,514 905,535 1,137,296 1,341,751

Massachusetts..... 206,127 240,445 301,245 439,238 426,785 624,838 857,436 1,012,173 1,169,819 1,331,493 1,508,052

Michigan ......... 330,276 398,616 499,471 685,516 773,755 1,208,975 1,665,603 1,974,548 2,321,883 2,427,643 2,793,124

Minnesota ........ 208,189 251,092 312,367 349,908 402,318 561,177 714,960 824,629 1,035,689 1,183,673 1,412,865

Mississippi ........ 102,645 127,157 132,900 149,973 178,118 265,061 327,894 421,900 587,696 651,587 756,967

Missouri .......... 322,244 374,461 401,667 459,810 472,950 691,256 874,532 1,021,106 1,248,785 1,348,746 1,542,149

Montana ......... 28,563 48,757 81,840 71,419 83,126 105,744 129,399 142,774 194,580 205,899 247,723

Nebraska ......... 120,705 153,155 169,098 181,369 169,966 238,810 280,867 314,600 390,931 400,394 449,317

Nevada .......... 6,511 11,925 9,938 11,551 15,353 24,484 51,491 93,676 181,274 255,388 457,247

New Hampshire.... 50,593 52,052 52,778 64,823 68,705 90,213 117,232 153,771 218,823 280,372 330,700

New Jersey ....... 136,055 191,177 271,914 470,509 433,878 729,993 1,107,841 1,349,815 1,579,827 1,813,381 2,011,473

New Mexico....... 29,223 54,537 48,152 54,439 74,150 104,131 163,926 192,231 300,570 365,965 474,445

New York . . . . . . . . . 521,537 622,125 738,738 1,155,036 1,111,388 1,638,860 2,350,265 2,795,635 3,083,406 3,464,436 3,739,166

North Carolina ..... 165,222 203,552 235,842 279,946 335,063 530,371 724,631 987,290 1,397,425 1,711,817 2,172,355

North Dakota ...... 49,163 87,641 84,904 81,352 75,710 107,341 118,566 124,190 156,498 157,950 171,299

Ohio............. 481,592 574,085 719,097 912,295 948,354 1,413,086 1,922,686 2,226,021 2,622,919 2,758,149 3,072,522

Oklahoma ........ 84,293 154,571 193,840 225,266 261,162 397,811 492,263 588,895 790,614 821,188 918,259

Oregon .......... 50,174 87,688 108,772 154,283 187,044 312,828 386,608 457,017 645,941 695,957 856,951

Pennsylvania ...... 523,843 662,091 853,471 1,198,420 1,154,948 1,739,833 2,289,741 2,549,277 2,950,649 3,176,121 3,406,337

Rhode Island ...... 26,009 32,849 41,921 67,467 70,190 102,071 140,336 168,923 199,075 224,792 245,156

South Carolina..... 77,054 93,757 108,179 111,257 133,279 232,284 345,756 485,427 722,547 878,704 1,107,617

South Dakota...... 56,785 86,539 84,712 82,482 74,388 113,780 130,864 139,681 168,002 171,161 197,940

Tennessee ........ 179,175 213,125 241,875 270,260 315,182 492,643 639,600 809,376 1,110,074 1,261,118 1,561,363

Texas............ 261,933 350,176 421,875 557,686 717,682 1,241,540 1,799,477 2,222,469 3,169,512 3,695,115 4,716,959

Utah............. 36,724 48,131 57,985 69,583 85,225 122,600 173,296 206,570 317,172 365,979 501,547

Vermont .......... 47,751 49,489 48,370 52,813 51,709 63,397 73,115 91,285 122,560 145,368 169,784

Virginia .......... 170,574 211,322 242,062 272,208 306,688 465,933 658,078 862,591 1,221,555 1,519,521 1,837,939

Washington ....... 57,204 140,367 183,322 245,138 306,174 477,897 612,443 738,186 1,011,319 1,171,580 1,467,009

West Virginia ...... 98,469 120,583 141,362 168,543 194,409 284,924 335,068 376,767 504,921 510,058 553,699

Wisconsin ........ 274,010 316,578 371,822 440,197 450,208 613,959 786,617 918,123 1,127,367 1,215,350 1,426,361

Wyoming ......... 9,674 16,961 24,060 26,425 33,749 45,428 61,676 69,440 114,653 114,544 135,514

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-39
Table 12. Housing Units by Occupancy Status and Tenure for the United States, Regions,

and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part C. Renter-Occupied Housing Units1

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 8,223,775 10,697,895 12,943,598 15,319,817 19,658,769 19,266,315 20,227,155 23,564,567 28,595,128 32,922,599 35,664,348

Region

Northeast......... 2,738,067 3,542,442 4,155,119 4,505,910 5,854,696 5,788,079 5,934,134 6,566,319 7,166,856 7,301,381 7,634,320

Midwest .......... 2,416,348 3,003,807 3,665,455 4,348,813 5,580,261 5,093,456 5,071,127 5,614,747 6,502,430 7,116,690 7,360,787

South............ 2,685,870 3,470,862 4,038,991 4,926,557 6,095,182 5,852,556 5,889,720 6,801,962 8,743,220 10,745,787 12,027,328

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 383,490 680,784 1,084,033 1,538,537 2,128,630 2,532,224 3,332,174 4,581,539 6,182,622 7,758,741 8,641,913

State

Alabama ......... 231,180 285,722 319,756 381,466 447,355 397,843 356,085 344,702 400,637 444,893 478,375

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 29,571 39,312 54,800 82,926 83,091

Arizona .......... 10,545 23,408 44,163 56,380 68,291 91,754 132,283 187,114 303,199 490,282 607,771

Arkansas ......... 130,411 173,251 208,491 251,897 298,909 238,792 202,333 204,986 240,587 271,241 319,161

California ......... 162,275 275,723 493,177 848,888 1,209,547 1,521,722 2,072,015 2,962,514 3,804,614 4,607,263 4,956,536

Colorado ......... 61,386 90,929 109,501 127,979 169,545 163,937 191,854 252,808 376,841 484,212 542,101

Connecticut ....... 119,094 151,960 190,964 213,445 267,053 278,670 287,064 349,888 394,454 422,998 431,941

Delaware ......... 23,835 25,951 28,287 27,804 37,328 37,143 42,611 52,684 64,008 73,684 82,698

District of Columbia . 40,753 51,607 65,654 75,254 121,501 151,780 176,534 188,558 163,297 152,526 147,124

Florida ........... 55,920 90,806 128,678 212,740 293,232 348,377 503,197 717,922 1,187,175 1,682,709 1,896,130

Georgia .......... 291,447 373,887 421,047 440,011 520,552 475,573 468,694 532,902 655,193 829,856 977,215

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 90,127 107,817 142,098 164,356 175,352

Idaho ............ 9,218 22,035 38,013 44,996 59,649 58,416 57,093 65,371 90,714 107,989 129,685

Illinois ........... 547,369 693,083 846,071 1,017,115 1,309,854 1,287,751 1,302,844 1,421,037 1,511,542 1,503,058 1,502,895

Indiana........... 242,588 290,727 326,192 353,807 450,862 402,898 401,780 456,245 545,132 614,457 667,144

Iowa............. 183,053 208,344 239,880 282,607 340,347 285,341 260,005 253,635 296,516 318,948 317,857

Kansas .......... 126,240 157,817 182,784 210,106 250,614 211,617 209,549 224,779 259,804 302,964 319,188

Kentucky ......... 204,009 235,433 258,643 290,379 363,188 321,957 304,117 325,756 378,530 419,313 465,250

Louisiana ......... 181,577 225,433 248,802 307,273 374,081 360,000 365,978 388,111 486,649 511,350 530,918

Maine............ 55,028 65,523 73,860 74,358 93,578 94,619 93,976 90,724 114,807 137,424 147,295

Maryland ......... 135,353 149,201 160,219 169,359 244,918 280,504 306,610 484,559 555,330 611,695 639,108

Massachusetts..... 379,696 484,932 564,097 569,645 693,909 680,356 677,549 747,519 862,898 915,617 935,528

Michigan ......... 198,078 247,152 349,054 476,682 622,259 581,727 573,476 678,511 873,330 991,688 992,537

Minnesota ........ 118,034 154,340 202,222 243,696 326,041 284,088 277,021 329,317 409,533 464,180 482,262

Mississippi ........ 194,637 247,106 257,971 311,586 356,838 289,704 240,176 214,824 239,473 259,787 289,467

Missouri .......... 307,492 358,514 409,068 461,203 595,692 506,341 485,522 499,461 544,614 612,460 652,445

Montana ......... 20,556 32,511 53,362 59,636 76,837 69,726 72,841 74,530 89,162 100,264 110,944

Nebraska ......... 90,711 106,099 125,713 152,835 190,778 155,338 152,581 159,121 180,469 201,969 216,867

Nevada .......... 3,134 10,421 10,940 12,977 17,938 25,757 40,029 66,376 123,053 210,909 293,918

New Hampshire.... 42,840 49,549 53,159 53,078 64,231 64,990 62,788 71,607 104,670 130,814 143,906

New Jersey ....... 259,848 355,076 438,911 502,497 666,382 643,644 698,598 868,367 968,767 981,330 1,053,172

New Mexico....... 13,118 22,704 32,907 40,428 55,325 72,862 87,283 97,158 140,896 176,744 203,526

New York . . . . . . . . . 1,043,800 1,387,900 1,670,088 1,957,733 2,550,725 2,686,279 2,898,445 3,118,226 3,257,023 3,174,886 3,317,694

North Carolina ..... 188,162 227,239 261,303 349,555 454,596 463,985 480,084 522,274 645,866 805,209 959,658

North Dakota ...... 11,863 28,123 45,050 57,399 76,333 54,764 54,796 57,423 71,166 82,928 85,853

Ohio............. 431,301 545,519 673,858 763,650 949,442 900,904 929,871 1,063,411 1,210,909 1,329,397 1,373,251

Oklahoma ........ 70,903 186,109 231,813 320,555 349,319 265,392 242,330 261,908 327,947 384,947 424,034

Oregon .......... 33,745 58,279 89,588 106,712 150,448 166,219 171,606 234,614 345,652 407,356 476,772

Pennsylvania ...... 742,385 929,256 1,035,534 1,003,159 1,360,576 1,176,046 1,061,098 1,156,133 1,268,957 1,319,845 1,370,666

Rhode Island ...... 64,362 83,134 92,800 96,432 117,516 123,376 116,999 123,042 139,515 153,185 163,268

South Carolina..... 174,448 210,904 227,657 248,335 301,689 282,354 257,795 248,946 307,434 379,340 426,237

South Dakota...... 22,610 40,302 53,099 72,902 91,040 69,198 63,957 61,126 74,521 87,873 92,305

Tennessee ........ 206,077 240,515 264,982 314,841 399,712 378,831 363,701 403,811 508,431 592,607 671,542

Texas............ 299,312 425,770 563,597 779,269 960,714 947,638 978,639 1,211,527 1,759,755 2,375,822 2,676,395

Utah............. 17,012 26,144 38,598 44,610 54,262 65,225 68,236 91,364 131,431 171,294 199,734

Vermont .......... 31,014 35,112 35,706 35,563 40,726 40,099 37,617 40,813 55,765 65,282 70,850

Virginia .......... 177,087 198,860 231,563 247,497 320,844 379,326 414,762 528,045 641,518 772,309 861,234

Washington ....... 45,113 104,471 151,513 167,609 231,163 257,849 281,725 367,401 529,191 700,851 804,389

West Virginia ...... 80,759 123,068 160,528 198,736 250,406 233,357 186,074 170,447 181,390 178,499 182,782

Wisconsin ........ 137,009 173,787 212,464 256,811 376,999 353,489 359,725 410,681 524,894 606,768 658,183

Wyoming ......... 7,388 14,159 22,271 28,322 35,625 38,757 37,511 35,160 50,971 54,295 58,094

See footnotes at end of table.

A-40 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 12. Housing Units by Occupancy Status and Tenure for the United States, Regions,

and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part D. Vacant Housing Units

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,470,938 3,157,117 5,302,482 5,229,283 8,021,590 10,316,268 10,424,540

Region

Northeast......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 833,414 823,106 1,276,209 1,159,887 1,615,977 1,937,924 1,894,818

Midwest .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 634,083 773,680 1,419,055 1,435,961 1,962,853 2,175,743 2,229,103

South............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 597,852 1,021,178 1,670,093 1,773,183 2,933,475 4,242,848 4,367,332

West . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 405,589 539,153 937,125 860,252 1,509,285 1,959,753 1,933,287

State

Alabama ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 34,228 57,018 83,350 86,107 125,518 163,589 226,631

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 9,943 11,670 31,362 43,693 39,378

Arizona .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 15,946 30,376 49,204 45,014 153,526 290,587 287,862

Arkansas ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 24,788 50,772 63,000 60,187 82,528 109,488 130,347

California ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 202,030 257,254 483,762 423,129 649,170 801,676 711,679

Colorado ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 38,660 44,991 65,103 66,142 133,004 194,860 149,799

Connecticut ....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 39,861 41,524 65,808 47,889 65,206 90,371 84,305

Delaware ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 5,026 6,623 15,143 15,429 31,530 42,422 44,336

District of Columbia . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 11,683 5,596 10,575 15,906 23,841 28,855 26,507

Florida ........... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 70,564 130,630 226,547 241,826 634,437 965,393 965,018

Georgia .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 44,474 77,403 99,714 101,332 156,698 271,803 275,368

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 12,442 12,997 40,183 33,543 57,302

Idaho ............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 11,108 19,218 29,694 25,735 51,020 52,604 58,179

Illinois ........... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 88,102 89,647 190,828 201,229 274,298 304,035 293,836

Indiana........... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 44,454 63,398 115,270 120,605 164,745 180,691 196,013

Iowa............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 24,830 31,745 63,938 67,749 78,266 79,344 83,235

Kansas .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 34,612 38,498 67,436 61,832 82,667 99,386 93,309

Kentucky ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 30,668 41,387 73,705 80,786 105,770 127,063 160,280

Louisiana ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 26,705 52,727 86,108 98,197 136,631 216,972 191,128

Maine............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 41,691 56,998 84,262 94,246 105,909 121,733 133,701

Maryland ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 34,473 47,894 71,551 74,104 110,042 142,926 164,424

Massachusetts..... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 100,558 94,991 156,013 130,708 175,429 225,601 178,409

Michigan ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 123,364 181,140 309,713 301,511 394,699 428,595 448,618

Minnesota ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 44,683 73,169 127,290 122,252 167,738 200,592 170,819

Mississippi ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 22,290 54,564 60,875 62,426 84,458 99,049 115,519

Missouri .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 71,851 70,757 131,343 152,794 195,516 237,923 247,423

Montana ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 17,480 18,786 31,070 29,299 44,723 54,992 53,966

Nebraska ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 26,624 23,097 39,502 41,348 53,429 58,258 56,484

Nevada .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 3,479 6,274 10,103 12,506 35,622 52,561 76,292

New Hampshire.... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 25,108 35,360 44,420 55,584 62,888 92,718 72,418

New Jersey ....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 123,627 127,836 192,501 169,829 223,555 280,599 245,630

New Mexico....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 16,167 22,713 30,767 36,333 66,047 89,349 102,608

New York . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 370,347 308,667 447,170 384,802 527,209 587,569 622,447

North Carolina ..... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 31,229 64,011 118,242 131,658 231,446 301,167 391,931

North Dakota ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 10,838 13,664 21,235 22,609 31,108 35,462 32,525

Ohio............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 79,897 88,575 188,594 175,924 274,277 284,399 337,278

Oklahoma ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 37,004 52,488 81,092 88,878 118,479 200,364 172,107

Oregon .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 32,319 44,956 64,639 52,985 91,692 90,254 118,986

Pennsylvania ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 102,532 120,615 231,038 219,347 376,825 442,174 472,747

Rhode Island ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 15,763 18,700 29,422 24,512 34,082 36,595 31,413

South Carolina..... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 23,931 43,034 74,828 80,750 123,728 166,111 219,816

South Dakota...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 14,316 11,595 21,628 24,446 34,474 33,402 32,963

Tennessee ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 27,136 50,363 81,064 87,721 128,917 172,342 206,538

Texas............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 126,488 204,650 375,011 395,506 620,085 938,062 764,221

Utah............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 7,804 12,729 21,138 17,831 41,403 61,115 67,313

Vermont .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 13,927 18,415 25,575 32,970 44,874 60,564 53,748

Virginia .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 32,255 56,224 96,073 102,318 157,868 204,504 205,019

Washington ....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 53,102 73,955 115,351 114,888 148,940 159,947 179,677

West Virginia ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 14,910 25,794 53,215 50,052 61,499 92,738 108,142

Wisconsin ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 70,512 88,395 142,278 143,662 211,636 233,656 236,600

Wyoming ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 7,494 7,901 13,909 11,723 22,593 34,572 30,246

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-41
Table 12. Housing Units by Occupancy Status and Tenure for the United States, Regions,

and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part E. Percent Owner-Occupied of Occupied Housing Units2

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 46.7 45.9 45.6 47.8 43.6 55.0 61.9 62.9 64.4 64.2 66.2

Region

Northeast......... 38.2 36.7 37.9 45.4 38.2 48.4 56.1 57.6 59.0 61.3 62.4

Midwest .......... 56.0 54.9 53.8 54.3 49.1 60.7 67.0 68.0 68.8 68.1 70.2

South............ 42.5 42.1 42.3 41.6 40.7 53.7 62.0 64.7 67.0 66.2 68.4

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.5 55.4 50.5 50.9 48.5 57.8 61.3 59.0 60.3 59.0 61.5

State

Alabama ......... 34.6 35.1 35.0 34.2 33.6 49.4 59.7 66.7 70.1 70.5 72.5

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 48.3 50.3 58.3 56.1 62.5

Arizona .......... 59.2 49.2 42.8 44.8 47.9 56.4 63.9 65.3 68.3 64.2 68.0

Arkansas ......... 47.9 46.6 45.1 40.1 39.7 54.5 61.4 66.7 70.5 69.6 69.4

California ......... 47.5 49.5 43.7 46.1 43.4 54.3 58.4 54.9 55.9 55.6 56.9

Colorado ......... 47.2 51.5 51.6 50.7 46.3 58.1 63.8 63.4 64.5 62.2 67.3

Connecticut ....... 39.2 37.3 37.6 44.5 40.5 51.1 61.9 62.5 63.9 65.6 66.8

Delaware ......... 36.4 40.7 44.7 52.1 47.1 58.9 66.9 68.0 69.1 70.2 72.3

District of Columbia . 24.2 25.2 30.3 38.6 29.9 32.3 30.0 28.2 35.5 38.9 40.8

Florida ........... 47.7 44.2 42.5 42.0 43.6 57.6 67.5 68.6 68.3 67.2 70.1

Georgia .......... 30.8 30.5 30.9 30.6 30.8 46.5 56.2 61.1 65.0 64.9 67.5

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 41.1 46.9 51.7 53.9 56.5

Idaho ............ 72.6 68.1 60.9 57.0 57.9 65.5 70.5 70.1 72.0 70.1 72.4

Illinois ........... 45.2 44.1 43.8 46.5 40.3 50.1 57.8 59.4 62.6 64.2 67.3

Indiana........... 56.3 54.8 54.8 57.3 53.1 65.5 71.1 71.7 71.7 70.2 71.4

Iowa............. 60.7 58.4 58.1 54.7 51.5 63.4 69.1 71.7 71.8 70.0 72.3

Kansas .......... 59.2 59.1 56.9 56.0 51.0 63.9 68.9 69.1 70.2 67.9 69.2

Kentucky ......... 51.7 51.6 51.6 51.3 48.0 58.7 64.3 66.9 70.0 69.6 70.8

Louisiana ......... 31.5 32.2 33.7 35.0 36.9 50.3 59.0 63.1 65.5 65.9 67.9

Maine............ 65.1 62.5 59.6 61.7 57.3 62.8 66.5 70.1 70.9 70.5 71.6

Maryland ......... 40.1 44.0 49.9 55.2 47.4 56.3 64.5 58.8 62.0 65.0 67.7

Massachusetts..... 35.2 33.1 34.8 43.5 38.1 47.9 55.9 57.5 57.5 59.3 61.7

Michigan ......... 62.5 61.7 58.9 59.0 55.4 67.5 74.4 74.4 72.7 71.0 73.8

Minnesota ........ 63.8 61.9 60.7 58.9 55.2 66.4 72.1 71.5 71.7 71.8 74.6

Mississippi ........ 34.5 34.0 34.0 32.5 33.3 47.8 57.7 66.3 71.0 71.5 72.3

Missouri .......... 51.2 51.1 49.5 49.9 44.3 57.7 64.3 67.2 69.6 68.8 70.3

Montana ......... 58.2 60.0 60.5 54.5 52.0 60.3 64.0 65.7 68.6 67.3 69.1

Nebraska ......... 57.1 59.1 57.4 54.3 47.1 60.6 64.8 66.4 68.4 66.5 67.4

Nevada .......... 67.5 53.4 47.6 47.1 46.1 48.7 56.3 58.5 59.6 54.8 60.9

New Hampshire.... 54.1 51.2 49.8 55.0 51.7 58.1 65.1 68.2 67.6 68.2 69.7

New Jersey ....... 34.4 35.0 38.3 48.4 39.4 53.1 61.3 60.9 62.0 64.9 65.6

New Mexico....... 69.0 70.6 59.4 57.4 57.3 58.8 65.3 66.4 68.1 67.4 70.0

New York . . . . . . . . . 33.3 31.0 30.7 37.1 30.3 37.9 44.8 47.3 48.6 52.2 53.0

North Carolina ..... 46.8 47.3 47.4 44.5 42.4 53.3 60.1 65.4 68.4 68.0 69.4

North Dakota ...... 80.6 75.7 65.3 58.6 49.8 66.2 68.4 68.4 68.7 65.6 66.6

Ohio............. 52.8 51.3 51.6 54.4 50.0 61.1 67.4 67.7 68.4 67.5 69.1

Oklahoma ........ 54.3 45.4 45.5 41.3 42.8 60.0 67.0 69.2 70.7 68.1 68.4

Oregon .......... 59.8 60.1 54.8 59.1 55.4 65.3 69.3 66.1 65.1 63.1 64.3

Pennsylvania ...... 41.4 41.6 45.2 54.4 45.9 59.7 68.3 68.8 69.9 70.6 71.3

Rhode Island ...... 28.8 28.3 31.1 41.2 37.4 45.3 54.5 57.9 58.8 59.5 60.0

South Carolina..... 30.6 30.8 32.2 30.9 30.6 45.1 57.3 66.1 70.2 69.8 72.2

South Dakota...... 71.5 68.2 61.5 53.1 45.0 62.2 67.2 69.6 69.3 66.1 68.2

Tennessee ........ 46.5 47.0 47.7 46.2 44.1 56.5 63.7 66.7 68.6 68.0 69.9

Texas............ 46.7 45.1 42.8 41.7 42.8 56.7 64.8 64.7 64.3 60.9 63.8

Utah............. 68.3 64.8 60.0 60.9 61.1 65.3 71.7 69.3 70.7 68.1 71.5

Vermont .......... 60.6 58.5 57.5 59.8 55.9 61.3 66.0 69.1 68.7 69.0 70.6

Virginia .......... 49.1 51.5 51.1 52.4 48.9 55.1 61.3 62.0 65.6 66.3 68.1

Washington ....... 55.9 57.3 54.7 59.4 57.0 65.0 68.5 66.8 65.6 62.6 64.6

West Virginia ...... 54.9 49.5 46.8 45.9 43.7 55.0 64.3 68.9 73.6 74.1 75.2

Wisconsin ........ 66.7 64.6 63.6 63.2 54.4 63.5 68.6 69.1 68.2 66.7 68.4

Wyoming ......... 56.7 54.5 51.9 48.3 48.6 54.0 62.2 66.4 69.2 67.8 70.0

See footnotes at end of table.

A-42 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 12. Housing Units by Occupancy Status and Tenure for the United States, Regions,

and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part F. Percent Vacant Housing Units

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.6 6.9 9.1 7.6 9.1 10.1 9.0

Region

Northeast......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.1 6.8 8.6 7.0 8.5 9.3 8.5

Midwest .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.5 5.6 8.4 7.6 8.6 8.9 8.3

South............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.5 7.5 9.7 8.4 10.0 11.8 10.3

West . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.9 8.3 9.8 7.1 8.8 9.4 7.9

State

Alabama ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4.8 6.8 8.6 7.7 8.6 9.8 11.5

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 14.8 12.9 19.3 18.8 15.1

Arizona .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 10.8 12.6 11.8 7.7 13.8 17.5 13.1

Arkansas ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4.8 8.8 10.7 8.9 9.2 10.9 11.1

California ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.6 7.2 8.9 6.0 7.0 7.2 5.8

Colorado ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 10.9 10.3 11.0 8.7 11.1 13.2 8.3

Connecticut ....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.2 6.8 8.0 4.9 5.6 6.8 6.1

Delaware ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.7 6.8 10.5 8.6 13.2 14.6 12.9

District of Columbia . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.3 2.4 4.0 5.7 8.6 10.4 9.6

Florida ........... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 12.0 13.7 12.7 9.6 14.5 15.8 13.2

Georgia .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.6 8.0 8.5 6.9 7.7 10.3 8.4

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 7.5 6.0 12.0 8.6 12.4

Idaho ............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.3 10.2 13.3 10.5 13.6 12.7 11.0

Illinois ........... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 3.9 3.4 5.8 5.4 6.3 6.7 6.0

Indiana........... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4.4 5.1 7.7 7.0 7.9 8.0 7.7

Iowa............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 3.4 3.9 7.1 7.0 6.9 6.9 6.8

Kansas .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.3 6.2 9.1 7.8 8.7 9.5 8.2

Kentucky ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4.2 5.0 8.0 7.6 7.7 8.4 9.2

Louisiana ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4.3 6.8 8.8 8.5 8.8 12.6 10.3

Maine............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 16.0 18.3 23.1 23.7 21.1 20.7 20.5

Maryland ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.9 7.0 7.7 5.9 7.0 7.6 7.7

Massachusetts..... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.2 6.8 9.2 6.9 7.9 9.1 6.8

Michigan ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.1 9.2 12.2 10.2 11.0 11.1 10.6

Minnesota ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.8 8.0 11.4 9.6 10.4 10.9 8.3

Mississippi ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4.0 9.0 9.7 8.9 9.3 9.8 9.9

Missouri .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.3 5.6 8.8 9.1 9.8 10.8 10.1

Montana ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 9.9 9.7 13.3 11.9 13.6 15.2 13.1

Nebraska ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.9 5.5 8.4 8.0 8.6 8.8 7.8

Nevada .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 9.5 11.1 9.9 7.2 10.5 10.1 9.2

New Hampshire.... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 15.9 18.6 19.8 19.8 16.3 18.4 13.2

New Jersey ....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 10.1 8.5 9.6 7.1 8.1 9.1 7.4

New Mexico....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 11.1 11.4 10.9 11.2 13.0 14.1 13.1

New York . . . . . . . . . (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 9.2 6.7 7.9 6.1 7.7 8.1 8.1

North Carolina ..... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 3.8 6.0 8.9 8.0 10.2 10.7 11.1

North Dakota ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.7 7.8 10.9 11.1 12.0 12.8 11.2

Ohio............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4.0 3.7 6.2 5.1 6.7 6.5 7.1

Oklahoma ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.7 7.3 9.9 9.5 9.6 14.2 11.4

Oregon .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.7 8.6 10.4 7.1 8.5 7.6 8.2

Pennsylvania ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 3.9 4.0 6.5 5.6 8.2 9.0 9.0

Rhode Island ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.7 7.7 10.3 7.7 9.1 8.8 7.1

South Carolina..... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.2 7.7 11.0 9.9 10.7 11.7 12.5

South Dakota...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.0 6.0 10.0 10.9 12.4 11.4 10.2

Tennessee ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 3.7 5.5 7.5 6.7 7.4 8.5 8.5

Texas............ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.0 8.5 11.9 10.3 11.2 13.4 9.4

Utah............. (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.3 6.3 8.0 5.6 8.4 10.2 8.8

Vermont .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 13.1 15.1 18.8 20.0 20.1 22.3 18.3

Virginia .......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4.9 6.2 8.2 6.9 7.8 8.2 7.1

Washington ....... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 9.0 9.1 11.4 9.4 8.8 7.9 7.3

West Virginia ...... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 3.2 4.7 9.3 8.4 8.2 11.9 12.8

Wisconsin ........ (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.9 8.4 11.0 9.8 11.4 11.4 10.2

Wyoming ......... (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 9.7 8.6 12.3 10.1 12.0 17.0 13.5

NA Not available. X Not applicable.

1

Data for 1910 and 1920 include a small number of ‘‘quasi-households’’ and are not strictly comparable with data for other years.

2

Based on occupied housing units, excluding occupied units with tenure unknown in 1900 to 1930.

Note: In 1960, numbers in italics for owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing units are based on sample data, and for total housing units and the percent vacant

housing units, numbers are based in part on sample data.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 1930; decennial census of housing, 1940 to 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-43
Table 13. Households by Size for the United States: 1900 to 2000

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Subject 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

POPULATION AND

HOUSEHOLDS

Total

population.... 75,994,575 91,972,266 105,710,620 122,775,046 131,669,275 150,697,361 179,323,175 203,211,926 226,545,805 248,709,873 281,421,906

In households ...... 73,410,992 (NA) (NA) 119,812,185 128,427,069 145,030,888 174,373,302 197,399,913 220,796,157 242,012,129 273,643,273

In group quarters .... 2,583,583 (NA) (NA) 2,962,861 3,242,206 5,666,473 4,949,873 5,812,013 5,749,648 6,697,744 7,778,633

Households1 ..... 15,963,965 20,255,555 24,351,676 29,904,663 34,854,532 42,857,335 53,021,061 63,449,747 80,389,673 91,947,410 105,480,101

Average household

size ............. 4.60 (NA) (NA) 4.01 3.68 3.38 3.29 3.11 2.75 2.63 2.59

HOUSEHOLDS BY

SIZE2

Total

households . . . 15,963,965 (NA) (NA) 29,904,663 34,854,532 42,826,281 53,023,875 63,449,747 80,389,673 91,947,410 105,480,101

1-person .......... 818,744 (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,677,281 3,993,399 7,074,971 11,146,184 18,247,536 22,580,420 27,230,075

2-person .......... 2,427,135 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8,630,461 12,023,065 14,858,746 18,781,101 25,175,607 29,453,593 34,418,046

3-person .......... 2,843,436 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7,796,168 9,762,531 10,007,178 10,909,079 13,972,483 15,970,269 17,439,027

4-person .......... 2,743,049 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6,324,525 7,878,063 9,130,447 9,802,774 12,371,401 13,860,094 14,973,089

5-person .......... 2,303,968 (NA) (NA) (NA) 4,012,525 4,466,292 5,878,067 6,198,421 6,120,589 6,188,938 6,936,886

6-person .......... 1,768,538 (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,359,857 2,257,898 3,129,244 3,360,559 2,600,324 2,300,520 2,636,134

7-or-more-person.... 3,059,095 (NA) (NA) (NA) 3,053,715 2,445,033 2,945,222 3,251,629 1,901,733 1,593,576 1,846,844

Percent

distribution..... 100.0 (NA) (NA) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

1-person . . . . . . . . . . 5.1 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.7 9.3 13.3 17.6 22.7 24.6 25.8

2-person .......... 15.2 (NA) (NA) (NA) 24.8 28.1 28.0 29.6 31.3 32.0 32.6

3-person .......... 17.8 (NA) (NA) (NA) 22.4 22.8 18.9 17.2 17.4 17.4 16.5

4-person .......... 17.2 (NA) (NA) (NA) 18.1 18.4 17.2 15.4 15.4 15.1 14.2

5-person .......... 14.4 (NA) (NA) (NA) 11.5 10.4 11.1 9.8 7.6 6.7 6.6

6-person . . . . . . . . . . 11.1 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.8 5.3 5.9 5.3 3.2 2.5 2.5

7-or-more-person.... 19.2 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.8 5.7 5.6 5.1 2.4 1.7 1.8

HOUSEHOLD

POPULATION BY

SIZE OF

HOUSEHOLD2

Total household

population .... 73,410,992 (NA) (NA) 119,812,185 128,427,069 145,030,888 175,263,469 197,399,913 220,796,157 242,012,129 273,643,273

1-person .......... 818,744 (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,677,281 3,993,399 7,074,971 11,146,184 18,247,536 22,580,420 27,230,075

2-person .......... 4,854,270 (NA) (NA) (NA) 17,260,922 24,046,130 29,717,492 37,562,202 50,351,214 58,907,186 68,836,092

3-person .......... 8,530,308 (NA) (NA) (NA) 23,388,504 29,287,593 30,021,534 32,727,237 41,917,449 47,910,807 52,317,081

4-person .......... 10,972,196 (NA) (NA) (NA) 25,298,100 31,512,252 36,521,788 39,211,096 49,485,604 55,440,376 59,892,356

5-person .......... 11,519,840 (NA) (NA) (NA) 20,062,625 22,331,460 29,390,335 30,992,105 30,602,945 30,944,690 34,684,430

6-person .......... 10,611,228 (NA) (NA) (NA) 14,159,142 13,547,388 18,775,464 20,163,354 15,601,944 13,803,120 15,816,804

7-or-more-person.... 26,104,406 (NA) (NA) (NA) 25,580,495 20,312,666 23,761,885 25,597,735 14,589,465 12,425,530 14,866,435

Percent

distribution..... 100.0 (NA) (NA) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

1-person . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 (NA) (NA) (NA) 2.1 2.8 4.0 5.6 8.3 9.3 10.0

2-person . . . . . . . . . . 6.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 13.4 16.6 17.0 19.0 22.8 24.3 25.2

3-person . . . . . . . . . . 11.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 18.2 20.2 17.1 16.6 19.0 19.8 19.1

4-person .......... 14.9 (NA) (NA) (NA) 19.7 21.7 20.8 19.9 22.4 22.9 21.9

5-person .......... 15.7 (NA) (NA) (NA) 15.6 15.4 16.8 15.7 13.9 12.8 12.7

6-person .......... 14.5 (NA) (NA) (NA) 11.0 9.3 10.7 10.2 7.1 5.7 5.8

7-or-more-person.... 35.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 19.9 14.0 13.6 13.0 6.6 5.1 5.4

NA Not available.

1

Data for 1910 and 1920 include a small number of quasi-households and are not strictly comparable with data for other years.

2

Data for 1900 derived by assuming all group quarters (223,750) had 7 or more people.

Note: Numbers in italics are based on sample data. In 1960, two numbers for both the number of households and the total household population are shown, since one

total is based on 100-percent data and the other is based on sample data. In 1950, two total household numbers are shown. The separate computer processing of the

population data and the housing data from the 1950 census produced two different totals from the 100-percent data: 42,857,335 from the census of population and

42,826,281 from the census of housing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 2000; decennial census of housing, 1940 to 2000.

A-44 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 14. Households by Size for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000

Part A. Total Households

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 15,963,965 20,255,555 24,351,676 29,904,663 34,854,532 42,826,281 53,023,875 63,449,747 80,389,673 91,947,410 105,480,101

Region

Northeast......... 4,557,266 5,700,617 6,788,892 8,355,879 9,479,318 11,228,076 13,522,151 15,482,778 17,470,616 18,872,713 20,285,622

Midwest .......... 5,632,548 6,806,889 8,101,762 9,680,704 10,963,388 12,971,966 15,378,749 17,537,256 20,859,206 22,316,975 24,734,532

South............ 4,886,813 6,163,207 7,211,819 8,653,481 10,278,204 12,632,607 15,502,595 19,258,163 26,486,217 31,822,254 38,015,214

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 887,338 1,584,842 2,249,203 3,214,599 4,133,622 5,993,632 8,620,380 11,171,550 15,573,634 18,935,468 22,444,733

State

Alabama ......... 370,980 454,767 508,769 591,625 673,815 786,839 884,116 1,034,113 1,341,856 1,506,790 1,737,080

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 57,250 79,059 131,463 188,915 221,600

Arizona .......... 27,817 47,927 80,208 105,992 131,133 210,374 366,630 539,157 957,032 1,368,843 1,901,327

Arkansas ......... 262,421 333,368 390,960 438,639 495,825 524,391 523,552 615,424 816,065 891,179 1,042,696

California ......... 324,690 563,636 900,232 1,610,030 2,138,343 3,333,406 4,982,108 6,573,861 8,629,866 10,381,206 11,502,870

Colorado ......... 122,349 194,467 230,843 267,324 316,000 391,235 529,419 690,928 1,061,249 1,282,489 1,658,238

Connecticut ....... 200,640 246,659 311,610 388,645 448,682 569,638 752,736 933,269 1,093,678 1,230,479 1,301,670

Delaware ......... 39,007 44,951 52,070 59,092 70,541 90,390 128,582 164,804 207,081 247,497 298,736

District of Columbia . 55,465 71,339 96,194 125,554 173,445 224,142 252,066 262,538 253,143 249,634 248,338

Florida ........... 113,629 171,422 234,133 376,499 519,887 821,501 1,550,414 2,284,786 3,744,254 5,134,869 6,337,929

Georgia .......... 450,712 553,264 628,525 652,793 752,241 889,269 1,070,325 1,369,225 1,871,652 2,366,615 3,006,369

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 153,064 203,088 294,052 356,267 403,240

Idaho ............ 35,819 73,669 100,500 108,044 141,727 169,110 193,839 218,960 324,107 360,723 469,645

Illinois ........... 1,024,189 1,264,717 1,534,077 1,929,396 2,192,724 2,582,000 3,084,971 3,502,138 4,045,374 4,202,240 4,591,779

Indiana........... 567,072 654,891 737,707 843,066 961,498 1,168,916 1,387,878 1,609,494 1,927,050 2,065,355 2,336,306

Iowa............. 476,710 512,515 586,070 635,704 701,824 780,167 841,357 896,311 1,053,033 1,064,325 1,149,276

Kansas .......... 319,422 395,771 435,600 487,188 511,109 586,650 672,899 727,364 872,239 944,726 1,037,891

Kentucky ......... 434,228 494,788 546,306 609,405 698,538 778,754 851,867 983,665 1,263,355 1,379,782 1,590,647

Louisiana ......... 281,449 344,144 389,913 485,363 592,528 724,945 892,344 1,052,038 1,411,788 1,499,269 1,656,053

Maine............ 161,588 177,960 186,106 197,826 218,968 254,443 280,355 302,923 395,184 465,312 518,200

Maryland ......... 239,837 274,824 324,742 385,179 465,683 641,222 863,001 1,175,073 1,460,865 1,748,991 1,980,859

Massachusetts..... 604,873 734,013 874,798 1,021,160 1,120,694 1,305,194 1,534,985 1,759,692 2,032,717 2,247,110 2,443,580

Michigan ......... 542,358 657,418 862,745 1,180,554 1,396,014 1,790,702 2,239,079 2,653,059 3,195,213 3,419,331 3,785,661

Minnesota ........ 337,284 416,452 526,026 606,496 728,359 845,265 991,981 1,153,946 1,445,222 1,647,853 1,895,127

Mississippi ........ 316,114 384,724 403,198 471,704 534,956 554,765 568,070 636,724 827,169 911,374 1,046,434

Missouri .......... 646,872 749,812 829,043 939,476 1,068,642 1,197,597 1,360,054 1,520,567 1,793,399 1,961,206 2,194,594

Montana ......... 52,125 86,602 139,912 136,210 159,963 175,470 202,240 217,304 283,742 306,163 358,667

Nebraska ......... 217,990 265,549 303,436 342,999 360,744 394,148 433,448 473,721 571,400 602,363 666,184

Nevada .......... 10,472 23,677 21,862 25,469 33,291 50,241 91,520 160,052 304,327 466,297 751,165

New Hampshire.... 96,534 103,156 108,334 119,337 132,936 155,203 180,020 225,378 323,493 411,186 474,606

New Jersey ....... 408,993 558,202 721,841 985,636 1,100,260 1,373,637 1,806,439 2,218,182 2,548,594 2,794,711 3,064,645

New Mexico....... 45,510 78,883 83,706 98,546 129,475 176,993 251,209 289,389 441,466 542,709 677,971

New York . . . . . . . . . 1,608,170 2,046,845 2,441,125 3,153,124 3,662,113 4,325,139 5,248,710 5,913,861 6,340,429 6,639,322 7,056,860

North Carolina ..... 367,565 440,334 513,377 644,033 789,659 994,356 1,204,715 1,509,564 2,043,291 2,517,026 3,132,013

North Dakota ...... 63,360 120,910 134,881 145,005 152,043 162,105 173,362 181,613 227,664 240,878 257,152

Ohio............. 934,674 1,138,165 1,414,068 1,697,918 1,897,796 2,313,990 2,852,557 3,289,432 3,833,828 4,087,546 4,445,773

Oklahoma ........ 161,946 351,167 444,524 564,164 610,481 663,203 734,593 850,803 1,118,561 1,206,135 1,342,293

Oregon .......... 87,545 151,858 202,890 266,328 337,492 479,047 558,214 691,631 991,593 1,103,313 1,333,723

Pennsylvania ...... 1,303,174 1,630,628 1,922,114 2,235,620 2,515,524 2,915,879 3,350,839 3,705,410 4,219,606 4,495,966 4,777,003

Rhode Island ...... 92,735 117,976 137,160 165,343 187,706 225,447 257,335 291,965 338,590 377,977 408,424

South Carolina..... 267,859 315,204 349,126 365,680 434,968 514,638 603,551 734,373 1,029,981 1,258,044 1,533,854

South Dakota...... 82,290 131,060 142,793 161,013 165,428 182,978 194,821 200,807 242,523 259,034 290,245

Tennessee ........ 399,017 462,553 519,108 600,625 714,894 871,474 1,003,301 1,213,187 1,618,505 1,853,725 2,232,905

Texas............ 582,055 798,426 1,017,413 1,380,096 1,678,396 2,189,178 2,778,116 3,433,996 4,929,267 6,070,937 7,393,354

Utah............. 55,208 77,339 98,346 115,936 139,487 187,825 241,532 297,934 448,603 537,273 701,281

Vermont .......... 80,559 85,178 85,804 89,188 92,435 103,496 110,732 132,098 178,325 210,650 240,634

Virginia .......... 360,749 419,452 483,363 529,089 627,532 845,259 1,072,840 1,390,636 1,863,073 2,291,830 2,699,173

Washington ....... 107,171 254,692 342,228 423,833 537,337 735,746 894,168 1,105,587 1,540,510 1,872,431 2,271,398

West Virginia ...... 183,780 248,480 310,098 373,941 444,815 518,281 521,142 547,214 686,311 688,557 736,481

Wisconsin ........ 420,327 499,629 595,316 711,889 827,207 967,448 1,146,342 1,328,804 1,652,261 1,822,118 2,084,544

Wyoming ......... 18,632 32,092 48,476 56,887 69,374 84,185 99,187 104,600 165,624 168,839 193,608

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-45
Table 14. Households by Size for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part B. One-Person Households

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 818,744 (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,677,281 3,993,399 7,074,971 11,146,184 18,247,536 22,580,420 27,230,075

Region

Northeast......... 194,589 (NA) (NA) (NA) 662,028 972,270 1,828,621 2,831,842 4,147,787 4,828,378 5,519,312

Midwest .......... 254,475 (NA) (NA) (NA) 836,339 1,215,304 2,019,113 3,052,733 4,750,808 5,588,295 6,644,087

South............ 252,445 (NA) (NA) (NA) 638,444 1,004,776 1,783,875 3,068,252 5,675,568 7,640,662 9,630,163

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 117,235 (NA) (NA) (NA) 540,470 801,049 1,443,362 2,193,357 3,673,373 4,523,085 5,436,513

State

Alabama ......... 23,436 (NA) (NA) (NA) 35,213 52,479 84,065 151,108 273,632 358,078 453,898

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 9,266 10,839 26,467 41,826 52,060

Arizona .......... 5,690 (NA) (NA) (NA) 15,120 25,710 49,723 88,863 199,699 337,681 472,006

Arkansas ......... 12,002 (NA) (NA) (NA) 31,243 45,566 65,719 105,966 173,842 213,778 266,585

California ......... 41,055 (NA) (NA) (NA) 288,913 466,018 889,633 1,378,643 2,130,878 2,429,867 2,708,308

Colorado ......... 13,330 (NA) (NA) (NA) 36,189 48,844 81,847 124,444 249,781 340,962 435,778

Connecticut ....... 9,727 (NA) (NA) (NA) 27,124 41,609 87,455 149,429 235,768 297,161 344,224

Delaware ......... 1,428 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5,108 7,679 14,047 25,219 43,210 57,451 74,639

District of Columbia . 2,421 (NA) (NA) (NA) 17,211 32,023 68,070 84,239 100,021 103,626 108,744

Florida ........... 10,848 (NA) (NA) (NA) 49,740 90,401 225,568 426,321 885,498 1,309,954 1,687,303

Georgia .......... 28,666 (NA) (NA) (NA) 42,115 61,252 108,082 197,180 383,806 537,702 710,523

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 18,495 25,901 50,304 68,985 88,153

Idaho ............ 6,796 (NA) (NA) (NA) 14,605 18,437 25,774 36,208 64,540 80,800 105,175

Illinois ........... 39,431 (NA) (NA) (NA) 167,013 252,958 443,874 646,348 970,057 1,081,113 1,229,807

Indiana........... 21,281 (NA) (NA) (NA) 72,291 107,490 171,247 265,072 412,992 496,841 605,428

Iowa............. 20,242 (NA) (NA) (NA) 56,975 79,359 115,947 165,709 245,931 275,466 313,083

Kansas .......... 16,803 (NA) (NA) (NA) 46,722 66,178 94,090 134,179 207,287 245,156 280,387

Kentucky ......... 15,430 (NA) (NA) (NA) 39,886 56,902 90,353 149,531 252,075 321,247 414,095

Louisiana ......... 20,248 (NA) (NA) (NA) 41,766 66,544 109,742 168,389 300,842 356,060 419,200

Maine............ 8,646 (NA) (NA) (NA) 18,122 24,828 35,210 50,957 84,293 108,474 139,969

Maryland ......... 9,893 (NA) (NA) (NA) 31,768 47,669 87,060 175,126 304,207 394,572 495,459

Massachusetts..... 27,725 (NA) (NA) (NA) 81,004 115,334 218,107 331,247 495,677 580,774 684,345

Michigan ......... 24,728 (NA) (NA) (NA) 91,065 145,009 260,252 412,505 672,901 809,449 993,607

Minnesota ........ 19,388 (NA) (NA) (NA) 59,617 84,200 135,415 204,600 335,791 413,531 509,468

Mississippi ........ 21,512 (NA) (NA) (NA) 33,449 42,681 60,798 97,832 168,444 212,949 257,708

Missouri .......... 25,197 (NA) (NA) (NA) 88,622 130,367 206,344 293,412 427,373 510,684 599,808

Montana ......... 10,335 (NA) (NA) (NA) 24,113 25,332 33,987 43,037 66,350 80,491 98,422

Nebraska ......... 12,437 (NA) (NA) (NA) 31,252 41,331 61,517 91,537 138,942 159,671 183,550

Nevada .......... 2,742 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5,897 8,061 17,266 31,047 74,843 119,627 186,745

New Hampshire.... 6,426 (NA) (NA) (NA) 12,164 16,584 23,602 38,238 68,643 90,364 116,014

New Jersey ....... 16,111 (NA) (NA) (NA) 62,195 97,600 203,456 351,545 537,510 646,171 751,287

New Mexico....... 5,134 (NA) (NA) (NA) 10,832 16,056 26,866 43,136 92,862 124,883 172,181

New York . . . . . . . . . 74,623 (NA) (NA) (NA) 279,996 416,898 811,702 1,194,544 1,649,325 1,806,263 1,982,742

North Carolina ..... 17,118 (NA) (NA) (NA) 31,905 53,394 99,641 200,840 407,650 596,959 795,271

North Dakota ...... 7,774 (NA) (NA) (NA) 12,042 14,679 20,672 30,933 52,028 63,953 75,420

Ohio............. 41,226 (NA) (NA) (NA) 138,000 196,419 344,686 547,009 859,331 1,020,450 1,215,614

Oklahoma ........ 10,468 (NA) (NA) (NA) 44,890 71,031 113,575 162,844 261,764 309,369 358,560

Oregon .......... 10,174 (NA) (NA) (NA) 44,608 61,608 90,272 132,825 232,957 278,716 347,624

Pennsylvania ...... 42,914 (NA) (NA) (NA) 160,227 229,609 400,108 640,571 955,900 1,150,694 1,320,941

Rhode Island ...... 4,157 (NA) (NA) (NA) 13,842 20,050 35,158 53,075 81,388 99,111 116,678

South Carolina..... 16,683 (NA) (NA) (NA) 25,051 35,171 56,640 101,385 197,379 281,347 383,142

South Dakota...... 7,375 (NA) (NA) (NA) 14,498 18,139 24,922 36,428 56,909 68,308 80,040

Tennessee ........ 14,033 (NA) (NA) (NA) 36,627 56,180 96,999 174,781 330,052 442,129 576,401

Texas............ 25,376 (NA) (NA) (NA) 114,837 194,799 349,591 559,054 1,068,518 1,452,936 1,752,141

Utah............. 4,312 (NA) (NA) (NA) 11,084 17,059 28,876 42,764 77,096 101,640 124,756

Vermont .......... 4,260 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7,354 9,758 13,823 22,236 39,283 49,366 63,112

Virginia .......... 17,728 (NA) (NA) (NA) 34,854 55,555 101,271 200,672 382,597 523,770 676,907

Washington ....... 14,262 (NA) (NA) (NA) 80,242 103,607 157,125 216,864 372,269 476,320 594,325

West Virginia ...... 5,155 (NA) (NA) (NA) 22,781 35,450 52,654 87,765 142,031 168,735 199,587

Wisconsin ........ 18,593 (NA) (NA) (NA) 58,242 79,175 140,147 225,001 371,266 443,673 557,875

Wyoming ......... 3,405 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8,867 10,317 14,232 18,786 35,327 41,287 50,980

See footnotes at end of table.

A-46 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 14. Households by Size for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part C. Two-or-More Person Households

(For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source)

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 15,145,221 (NA) (NA) (NA) 32,177,251 38,832,882 45,948,904 52,303,563 62,142,137 69,366,990 78,250,026

Region

Northeast......... 4,362,677 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8,817,290 10,255,806 11,693,530 12,650,936 13,322,829 14,044,335 14,766,310

Midwest .......... 5,378,073 (NA) (NA) (NA) 10,127,049 11,756,662 13,359,636 14,484,523 16,108,398 16,728,680 18,090,445

South............ 4,634,368 (NA) (NA) (NA) 9,639,760 11,627,831 13,718,720 16,189,911 20,810,649 24,181,592 28,385,051

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 770,103 (NA) (NA) (NA) 3,593,152 5,192,583 7,177,018 8,978,193 11,900,261 14,412,383 17,008,220

State

Alabama ......... 347,544 (NA) (NA) (NA) 638,602 734,360 800,051 883,005 1,068,224 1,148,712 1,283,182

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 47,984 68,220 104,996 147,089 169,540

Arizona .......... 22,127 (NA) (NA) (NA) 116,013 184,664 316,907 450,294 757,333 1,031,162 1,429,321

Arkansas ......... 250,419 (NA) (NA) (NA) 464,582 478,825 457,833 509,458 642,223 677,401 776,111

California ......... 283,635 (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,849,430 2,867,388 4,092,475 5,195,218 6,498,988 7,951,339 8,794,562

Colorado ......... 109,019 (NA) (NA) (NA) 279,811 342,391 447,572 566,484 811,468 941,527 1,222,460

Connecticut ....... 190,913 (NA) (NA) (NA) 421,558 528,029 665,281 783,840 857,910 933,318 957,446

Delaware ......... 37,579 (NA) (NA) (NA) 65,433 82,711 114,535 139,585 163,871 190,046 224,097

District of Columbia . 53,044 (NA) (NA) (NA) 156,234 192,119 183,996 178,299 153,122 146,008 139,594

Florida ........... 102,781 (NA) (NA) (NA) 470,147 731,100 1,324,846 1,858,465 2,858,756 3,824,915 4,650,626

Georgia .......... 422,046 (NA) (NA) (NA) 710,126 828,017 962,243 1,172,045 1,487,846 1,828,913 2,295,846

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 134,569 177,187 243,748 287,282 315,087

Idaho ............ 29,023 (NA) (NA) (NA) 127,122 150,673 168,065 182,752 259,567 279,923 364,470

Illinois ........... 984,758 (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,025,711 2,329,042 2,641,097 2,855,790 3,075,317 3,121,127 3,361,972

Indiana........... 545,791 (NA) (NA) (NA) 889,207 1,061,426 1,216,631 1,344,422 1,514,058 1,568,514 1,730,878

Iowa............. 456,468 (NA) (NA) (NA) 644,849 700,808 725,410 730,602 807,102 788,859 836,193

Kansas .......... 302,619 (NA) (NA) (NA) 464,387 520,472 578,809 593,185 664,952 699,570 757,504

Kentucky ......... 418,798 (NA) (NA) (NA) 658,652 721,852 761,514 834,134 1,011,280 1,058,535 1,176,552

Louisiana ......... 261,201 (NA) (NA) (NA) 550,762 658,401 782,602 883,649 1,110,946 1,143,209 1,236,853

Maine............ 152,942 (NA) (NA) (NA) 200,846 229,615 245,145 251,966 310,891 356,838 378,231

Maryland ......... 229,944 (NA) (NA) (NA) 433,915 593,553 775,941 999,947 1,156,658 1,354,419 1,485,400

Massachusetts..... 577,148 (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,039,690 1,189,860 1,316,878 1,428,445 1,537,040 1,666,336 1,759,235

Michigan ......... 517,630 (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,304,949 1,645,693 1,978,827 2,240,554 2,522,312 2,609,882 2,792,054

Minnesota ........ 317,896 (NA) (NA) (NA) 668,742 761,065 856,566 949,346 1,109,431 1,234,322 1,385,659

Mississippi ........ 294,602 (NA) (NA) (NA) 501,507 512,084 507,272 538,892 658,725 698,425 788,726

Missouri .......... 621,675 (NA) (NA) (NA) 980,020 1,067,230 1,153,710 1,227,155 1,366,026 1,450,522 1,594,786

Montana ......... 41,790 (NA) (NA) (NA) 135,850 150,138 168,253 174,267 217,392 225,672 260,245

Nebraska ......... 205,553 (NA) (NA) (NA) 329,492 352,817 371,931 382,184 432,458 442,692 482,634

Nevada .......... 7,730 (NA) (NA) (NA) 27,394 42,180 74,254 129,005 229,484 346,670 564,420

New Hampshire.... 90,108 (NA) (NA) (NA) 120,772 138,619 156,418 187,140 254,850 320,822 358,592

New Jersey ....... 392,882 (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,038,065 1,276,037 1,602,983 1,866,637 2,011,084 2,148,540 2,313,358

New Mexico....... 40,376 (NA) (NA) (NA) 118,643 160,937 224,343 246,253 348,604 417,826 505,790

New York . . . . . . . . . 1,533,547 (NA) (NA) (NA) 3,382,117 3,908,241 4,437,008 4,719,317 4,691,104 4,833,059 5,074,118

North Carolina ..... 350,447 (NA) (NA) (NA) 757,754 940,962 1,105,074 1,308,724 1,635,641 1,920,067 2,336,742

North Dakota ...... 55,586 (NA) (NA) (NA) 140,001 147,426 152,690 150,680 175,636 176,925 181,732

Ohio............. 893,448 (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,759,796 2,117,571 2,507,871 2,742,423 2,974,497 3,067,096 3,230,159

Oklahoma ........ 151,478 (NA) (NA) (NA) 565,591 592,172 621,018 687,959 856,797 896,766 983,733

Oregon .......... 77,371 (NA) (NA) (NA) 292,884 417,439 467,942 558,806 758,636 824,597 986,099

Pennsylvania ...... 1,260,260 (NA) (NA) (NA) 2,355,297 2,686,270 2,950,731 3,064,839 3,263,706 3,345,272 3,456,062

Rhode Island ...... 88,578 (NA) (NA) (NA) 173,864 205,397 222,177 238,890 257,202 278,866 291,746

South Carolina..... 251,176 (NA) (NA) (NA) 409,917 479,467 546,911 632,988 832,602 976,697 1,150,712

South Dakota...... 74,915 (NA) (NA) (NA) 150,930 164,839 169,899 164,379 185,614 190,726 210,205

Tennessee ........ 384,984 (NA) (NA) (NA) 678,267 815,294 906,302 1,038,406 1,288,453 1,411,596 1,656,504

Texas............ 556,679 (NA) (NA) (NA) 1,563,559 1,994,379 2,428,525 2,874,942 3,860,749 4,618,001 5,641,213

Utah............. 50,896 (NA) (NA) (NA) 128,403 170,766 212,656 255,170 371,507 435,633 576,525

Vermont .......... 76,299 (NA) (NA) (NA) 85,081 93,738 96,909 109,862 139,042 161,284 177,522

Virginia .......... 343,021 (NA) (NA) (NA) 592,678 789,704 971,569 1,189,964 1,480,476 1,768,060 2,022,266

Washington ....... 92,909 (NA) (NA) (NA) 457,095 632,139 737,043 888,723 1,168,241 1,396,111 1,677,073

West Virginia ...... 178,625 (NA) (NA) (NA) 422,034 482,831 468,488 459,449 544,280 519,822 536,894

Wisconsin ........ 401,734 (NA) (NA) (NA) 768,965 888,273 1,006,195 1,103,803 1,280,995 1,378,445 1,526,669

Wyoming ......... 15,227 (NA) (NA) (NA) 60,507 73,868 84,955 85,814 130,297 127,552 142,628

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-47
Table 14. Households by Size for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000—Con.

Part D. Percent One-Person Households

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Area 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

United States . 5.1 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.7 9.3 13.3 17.6 22.7 24.6 25.8

Region

Northeast. . . . . . . . . 4.3 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.0 8.7 13.5 18.3 23.7 25.6 27.2

Midwest . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.6 9.4 13.1 17.4 22.8 25.0 26.9

South. . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.2 8.0 11.5 15.9 21.4 24.0 25.3

West . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.2 (NA) (NA) (NA) 13.1 13.4 16.7 19.6 23.6 23.9 24.2

State

Alabama . . . . . . . . . 6.3 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.2 6.7 9.5 14.6 20.4 23.8 26.1

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 16.2 13.7 20.1 22.1 23.5

Arizona .......... 20.5 (NA) (NA) (NA) 11.5 12.2 13.6 16.5 20.9 24.7 24.8

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . 4.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.3 8.7 12.6 17.2 21.3 24.0 25.6

California ......... 12.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 13.5 14.0 17.9 21.0 24.7 23.4 23.5

Colorado ......... 10.9 (NA) (NA) (NA) 11.5 12.5 15.5 18.0 23.5 26.6 26.3

Connecticut . . . . . . . 4.8 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.0 7.3 11.6 16.0 21.6 24.2 26.4

Delaware . . . . . . . . . 3.7 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.2 8.5 10.9 15.3 20.9 23.2 25.0

District of Columbia . 4.4 (NA) (NA) (NA) 9.9 14.3 27.0 32.1 39.5 41.5 43.8

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5 (NA) (NA) (NA) 9.6 11.0 14.5 18.7 23.6 25.5 26.6

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . 6.4 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.6 6.9 10.1 14.4 20.5 22.7 23.6

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 12.1 12.8 17.1 19.4 21.9

Idaho ............ 19.0 (NA) (NA) (NA) 10.3 10.9 13.3 16.5 19.9 22.4 22.4

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . 3.8 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.6 9.8 14.4 18.5 24.0 25.7 26.8

Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . 3.8 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.5 9.2 12.3 16.5 21.4 24.1 25.9

Iowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.1 10.2 13.8 18.5 23.4 25.9 27.2

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . 5.3 (NA) (NA) (NA) 9.1 11.3 14.0 18.4 23.8 25.9 27.0

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . 3.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.7 7.3 10.6 15.2 20.0 23.3 26.0

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . 7.2 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.0 9.2 12.3 16.0 21.3 23.7 25.3

Maine. . . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.3 9.8 12.6 16.8 21.3 23.3 27.0

Maryland . . . . . . . . . 4.1 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.8 7.4 10.1 14.9 20.8 22.6 25.0

Massachusetts. . . . . 4.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.2 8.8 14.2 18.8 24.4 25.8 28.0

Michigan . . . . . . . . . 4.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.5 8.1 11.6 15.5 21.1 23.7 26.2

Minnesota . . . . . . . . 5.7 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.2 10.0 13.7 17.7 23.2 25.1 26.9

Mississippi . . . . . . . . 6.8 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.3 7.7 10.7 15.4 20.4 23.4 24.6

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . 3.9 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.3 10.9 15.2 19.3 23.8 26.0 27.3

Montana ......... 19.8 (NA) (NA) (NA) 15.1 14.4 16.8 19.8 23.4 26.3 27.4

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . 5.7 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.7 10.5 14.2 19.3 24.3 26.5 27.6

Nevada .......... 26.2 (NA) (NA) (NA) 17.7 16.0 18.9 19.4 24.6 25.7 24.9

New Hampshire. . . . 6.7 (NA) (NA) (NA) 9.2 10.7 13.1 17.0 21.2 22.0 24.4

New Jersey . . . . . . . 3.9 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.7 7.1 11.3 15.8 21.1 23.1 24.5

New Mexico. . . . . . . 11.3 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.4 9.1 10.7 14.9 21.0 23.0 25.4

New York . . . . . . . . . 4.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.6 9.6 15.5 20.2 26.0 27.2 28.1

North Carolina . . . . . 4.7 (NA) (NA) (NA) 4.0 5.4 8.3 13.3 20.0 23.7 25.4

North Dakota ...... 12.3 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.9 9.1 11.9 17.0 22.9 26.5 29.3

Ohio. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.3 8.5 12.1 16.6 22.4 25.0 27.3

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . 6.5 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.4 10.7 15.5 19.1 23.4 25.6 26.7

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . 11.6 (NA) (NA) (NA) 13.2 12.9 16.2 19.2 23.5 25.3 26.1

Pennsylvania . . . . . . 3.3 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.4 7.9 11.9 17.3 22.7 25.6 27.7

Rhode Island . . . . . . 4.5 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.4 8.9 13.7 18.2 24.0 26.2 28.6

South Carolina. . . . . 6.2 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.8 6.8 9.4 13.8 19.2 22.4 25.0

South Dakota. . . . . . 9.0 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.8 9.9 12.8 18.1 23.5 26.4 27.6

Tennessee . . . . . . . . 3.5 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.1 6.4 9.7 14.4 20.4 23.9 25.8

Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4 (NA) (NA) (NA) 6.8 8.9 12.6 16.3 21.7 23.9 23.7

Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.8 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.9 9.1 12.0 14.4 17.2 18.9 17.8

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . 5.3 (NA) (NA) (NA) 8.0 9.4 12.5 16.8 22.0 23.4 26.2

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . 4.9 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.6 6.6 9.4 14.4 20.5 22.9 25.1

Washington ....... 13.3 (NA) (NA) (NA) 14.9 14.1 17.6 19.6 24.2 25.4 26.2

West Virginia . . . . . . 2.8 (NA) (NA) (NA) 5.1 6.8 10.1 16.0 20.7 24.5 27.1

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . 4.4 (NA) (NA) (NA) 7.0 8.2 12.2 16.9 22.5 24.3 26.8

Wyoming ......... 18.3 (NA) (NA) (NA) 12.8 12.3 14.3 18.0 21.3 24.5 26.3

NA Not available. X Not applicable.

Note: Numbers in italics are based on sample data. Total households are available in 1960 on a 100-percent basis for each state, but not by size of household.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1900 to 1930; decennial census of housing, 1940 to 2000.

A-48 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 15. Households by Type, by Presence of Own Children Under 18 Years, and by Age of

Householder for the United States: 1950 to 2000

Part A. Number

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Subject 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE

Total households ....................... 42,251,415 53,023,935 63,449,747 80,389,673 91,947,410 105,480,101

Family households........................... 37,775,167 45,027,130 50,968,827 58,882,153 64,517,947 71,787,347

Nonfamily households ........................ 4,476,248 7,996,805 12,480,920 21,507,520 27,429,463 33,692,754

1 member................................ 3,993,399 7,074,971 11,146,184 18,247,536 22,580,420 27,230,075

2 or more members ........................ 482,849 921,834 1,334,736 3,259,984 4,849,043 6,462,679

FAMILY TYPE BY PRESENCE OF

OWN CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS

Total families........................... 37,775,167 45,148,571 50,968,827 58,882,153 64,517,947 71,787,347

No own children under 18 years ................ 18,165,235 19,458,099 22,996,376 28,745,643 33,640,272 37,198,979

With own children under 18 years ............... 19,609,932 25,690,472 27,972,451 30,136,510 30,877,675 34,588,368

Under 6 years only......................... (NA) 6,288,844 6,474,587 7,327,264 7,884,751 8,020,067

Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years .............. (NA) 7,635,090 6,846,335 5,739,636 6,403,526 6,875,512

6 to 17 years only ......................... (NA) 11,766,538 14,651,529 17,069,610 16,589,398 19,692,789

Married-couple families .................... 33,019,225 39,657,318 44,062,376 48,371,006 50,708,322 54,493,232

No own children under 18 years ................ 14,828,451 16,159,528 19,517,793 24,105,601 27,213,596 29,657,727

With own children under 18 years ............... 18,190,774 23,497,790 24,544,583 24,265,405 23,494,726 24,835,505

Under 6 years only......................... (NA) 5,977,672 5,928,301 6,195,718 6,226,406 5,892,433

Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years .............. (NA) 7,160,658 6,135,849 4,847,310 5,141,106 5,316,384

6 to 17 years only ......................... (NA) 10,359,460 12,480,433 13,222,377 12,127,214 13,626,688

Female householder, no husband present..... 3,424,976 4,196,405 5,504,104 8,409,168 10,666,043 12,900,103

No own children under 18 years ................ 2,262,165 2,304,893 2,497,260 3,346,988 4,637,634 5,338,229

With own children under 18 years ............... 1,162,811 1,891,512 3,006,844 5,062,180 6,028,409 7,561,874

Under 6 years only......................... (NA) 269,691 491,893 947,921 1,272,224 1,532,745

Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years .............. (NA) 426,360 650,471 812,046 1,086,510 1,274,233

6 to 17 years only ......................... (NA) 1,195,461 1,864,480 3,302,213 3,669,675 4,754,896

Male householder, no wife present........... 1,330,966 1,294,848 1,402,347 2,101,979 3,143,582 4,394,012

No own children under 18 years ................ 1,074,619 993,678 981,323 1,293,054 1,789,042 2,203,023

With own children under 18 years ............... 256,347 301,170 421,024 808,925 1,354,540 2,190,989

Under 6 years only......................... (NA) 41,481 54,393 183,625 386,121 594,889

Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years .............. (NA) 48,072 60,015 80,280 175,910 284,895

6 to 17 years only ......................... (NA) 211,617 306,616 545,020 792,509 1,311,205

HOUSEHOLDS BY AGE OF HOUSEHOLDER

Total households ....................... 42,251,415 53,023,935 63,449,747 80,389,673 91,947,410 105,480,101

Under 65 years ............................. 35,823,795 43,731,893 51,210,316 64,255,684 71,974,709 83,339,347

Under 25 years ........................... 2,013,665 2,698,745 4,633,593 6,708,863 5,049,358 5,533,613

25 to 34 years ............................ 8,680,145 9,767,291 11,642,735 18,350,679 19,849,651 18,297,815

35 to 44 years ............................ 9,610,730 11,706,785 11,775,650 13,948,436 20,393,073 23,968,233

45 to 54 years1 ........................... 8,536,995 10,801,219 23,158,338 12,630,383 14,303,214 21,292,629

55 to 64 years ............................ 6,982,260 8,757,853 (NA) 12,617,323 12,379,413 14,247,057

65 years and over ........................... 6,427,620 9,292,042 12,239,431 16,133,989 19,972,701 22,140,754

65 to 74 years ............................ 4,570,870 6,424,134 (NA) 9,967,479 11,516,582 11,507,562

75 to 84 years2 ........................... 1,856,750 2,517,674 (NA) 6,166,510 6,786,873 8,205,480

85 years and over ......................... (NA) 350,234 (NA) (NA) 1,669,246 2,427,712

ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS BY SEX AND

AGE OF HOUSEHOLDER

Total.................................. 3,993,399 7,063,326 11,114,833 18,202,015 22,580,420 27,230,075

Male ..................................... (NA) 2,627,509 3,965,316 7,075,115 9,206,811 11,779,106

Female ................................... (NA) 4,435,817 7,149,517 11,126,900 13,373,609 15,450,969

Under 65 years ........................... (NA) 4,165,410 6,185,127 11,135,476 13,755,575 17,507,218

Male ..................................... (NA) 1,774,556 2,741,681 5,628,308 7,304,197 9,383,473

Female ................................... (NA) 2,390,854 3,443,446 5,507,168 6,451,378 8,123,745

65 years and over ........................ (NA) 2,897,916 4,929,706 7,066,539 8,824,845 9,722,857

Male ..................................... (NA) 852,953 1,223,635 1,446,807 1,902,614 2,395,633

Female ................................... (NA) 2,044,963 3,706,071 5,619,732 6,922,231 7,327,224

See footnotes at end of table.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-49
Table 15. Households by Type, by Presence of Own Children Under 18 Years, and by Age of

Householder for the United States: 1950 to 2000—Con.

Part B. Percent

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Subject 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE

Total households ....................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Family households........................... 89.4 84.9 80.3 73.2 70.2 68.1

Nonfamily households ........................ 10.6 15.1 19.7 26.8 29.8 31.9

1 member................................ 9.5 13.3 17.6 22.7 24.6 25.8

2 or more members ........................ 1.1 1.7 2.1 4.1 5.3 6.1

FAMILY TYPE BY PRESENCE OF

OWN CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS

Total families........................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

No own children under 18 years ................ 48.1 43.1 45.1 48.8 52.1 51.8

With own children under 18 years ............... 51.9 56.9 54.9 51.2 47.9 48.2

Under 6 years only......................... (NA) 13.9 12.7 12.4 12.2 11.2

Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years .............. (NA) 16.9 13.4 9.7 9.9 9.6

6 to 17 years only ......................... (NA) 26.1 28.7 29.0 25.7 27.4

Married-couple families .................. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

No own children under 18 years ................ 44.9 40.7 44.3 49.8 53.7 54.4

With own children under 18 years ............... 55.1 59.3 55.7 50.2 46.3 45.6

Under 6 years only......................... (NA) 15.1 13.5 12.8 12.3 10.8

Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years .............. (NA) 18.1 13.9 10.0 10.1 9.8

6 to 17 years only ......................... (NA) 26.1 28.3 27.3 23.9 25.0

Female householder, no husband present . 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

No own children under 18 years ................ 66.0 54.9 45.4 39.8 43.5 41.4

With own children under 18 years ............... 34.0 45.1 54.6 60.2 56.5 58.6

Under 6 years only......................... (NA) 6.4 8.9 11.3 11.9 11.9

Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years .............. (NA) 10.2 11.8 9.7 10.2 9.9

6 to 17 years only ......................... (NA) 28.5 33.9 39.3 34.4 36.9

Male householder, no wife present ....... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

No own children under 18 years ................ 80.7 76.7 70.0 61.5 56.9 50.1

With own children under 18 years ............... 19.3 23.3 30.0 38.5 43.1 49.9

Under 6 years only......................... (NA) 3.2 3.9 8.7 12.3 13.5

Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years .............. (NA) 3.7 4.3 3.8 5.6 6.5

6 to 17 years only ......................... (NA) 16.3 21.9 25.9 25.2 29.8

HOUSEHOLDS BY AGE OF HOUSEHOLDER

Total households ....................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Under 65 years ............................. 84.8 82.5 80.7 79.9 78.3 79.0

Under 25 years ........................... 4.8 5.1 7.3 8.3 5.5 5.2

25 to 34 years ............................ 20.5 18.4 18.3 22.8 21.6 17.3

35 to 44 years ............................ 22.7 22.1 18.6 17.4 22.2 22.7

45 to 54 years1 ........................... 20.2 20.4 36.5 15.7 15.6 20.2

55 to 64 years ............................ 16.5 16.5 (NA) 15.7 13.5 13.5

65 years and over ........................... 15.2 17.5 19.3 20.1 21.7 21.0

65 to 74 years ............................ 10.8 12.1 (NA) 12.4 12.5 10.9

75 to 84 years2 ........................... 4.4 4.7 (NA) 7.7 7.4 7.8

85 years and over ......................... (NA) 0.7 (NA) (NA) 1.8 2.3

ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS BY SEX AND

AGE OF HOUSEHOLDER

Total.................................. (NA) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Male ..................................... (NA) 37.2 35.7 38.9 40.8 43.3

Female ................................... (NA) 62.8 64.3 61.1 59.2 56.7

Under 65 years ........................... (NA) 59.0 55.6 61.2 60.9 64.3

Male ..................................... (NA) 25.1 24.7 30.9 32.3 34.5

Female ................................... (NA) 33.8 31.0 30.3 28.6 29.8

65 years and over ........................ (NA) 41.0 44.4 38.8 39.1 35.7

Male ..................................... (NA) 12.1 11.0 7.9 8.4 8.8

Female ................................... (NA) 29.0 33.3 30.9 30.7 26.9

NA Not available.

1

Data for 1970 represent householders age 45 to 64 years.

2

Data for 1980 represent householders age 75 years and over.

Note: Numbers in italics are based on sample data. In 1960, 1970, and 1980, two numbers for one-person households are shown. In 1960, this results from data tabulations based on two different samples (7,074,971 from a 25-percent sample of the housing census and 7,063,326 from a 5-percent sample of the population census). In

1970 and 1980, one total is based on 100-percent data and the other is based on sample data. In 1950 and 1960, family households could include more than one family.

For 1950, the data in the table represent primary families and reflect the exclusion of secondary families from the published distributions of total family households and

families to increase comparability. In 1960, available data only permitted this adjustment to the number of family households based on a 25-percent sample. The distribution

of the number of families by type and presence of own children under 18 shown in 1960 includes both primary and secondary families and is based on a 5-percent sample.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1940 to 2000; decennial census of housing, 1940 to 2000.

A-50 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Table 16. Selected Population and Housing Characteristics by Metropolitan Status and Race

and Hispanic Origin for the United States: 1950 to 2000

[For information on nonsampling error and definitions, see source]

Subject 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

CHARACTERISTICS BY

METROPOLITAN STATUS

Population Density

Metropolitan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407 364 360 299 332 320

Central city................... 7,517 5,336 4,462 3,001 2,813 2,716

Suburb (outside central city) . . . . . 175 183 203 187 208 208

Nonmetropolitan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 21 20 19 19 20

Sex Ratio

Metropolitan.................... 96.4 95.6 94.0 93.9 94.9 95.8

Central city................... (NA) 92.9 90.7 90.9 92.7 94.6

Suburb (outside central city) ..... (NA) 98.6 96.8 96.0 96.4 96.6

Nonmetropolitan ................ 101.6 99.6 96.7 96.0 96.0 98.3

Percent Owner-Occupied

Housing Units

Metropolitan.................... (NA) 58.9 59.5 61.6 61.8 64.2

Central city................... (NA) 47.4 48.1 49.0 49.0 50.5

Suburb (outside central city) ..... (NA) 72.7 70.3 70.8 71.0 73.0

Nonmetropolitan ................ (NA) 67.1 70.4 73.1 72.4 73.9

CHARACTERISTICS BY RACE

AND HISPANIC ORIGIN

Sex Ratio

White ......................... 99.0 97.4 95.3 94.8 95.4 96.4

Black ......................... 94.3 93.4 90.8 89.6 89.6 90.5

American Indian and Alaska Native . . 108.7 101.2 96.2 97.8 97.5 99.4

Asian and Pacific Islander ......... 145.3 116.6 101.4 93.7 95.8 93.8

Two or more races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 100.4

Hispanic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) 99.3 103.8 105.9

White non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) 94.7 95.0 95.7

Percent Metropolitan

White ......................... (NA) 62.8 67.8 73.3 75.6 77.8

Black ......................... (NA) 64.6 74.3 81.1 83.8 86.3

American Indian and Alaska Native . . (NA) (NA) 38.8 49.0 51.2 57.4

Asian and Pacific Islander ......... (NA) (NA) 87.7 91.4 93.8 95.5

Two or more races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) (X) (X) 87.8

Hispanic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) 87.6 90.4 91.1

White non-Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (X) (X) (X) 72.7 74.7 76.6

NA Not available. X Not applicable.

Note: Numbers in italics are based on sample data.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial census of population, 1950 to 2000; decennial census of housing, 1950 to 2000.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century A-51
Age — The number of complete years an individual

has lived. The age classification is based on the age

of the person at his or her last birthday.

Age Structure — The distribution of a population by

age, usually in 5-year age groups.

Aging — In this report, used to indicate an increase in

the proportion of the population in the older ages.

May also be an increase in the median age of the population.

American Indian and Alaska Native — Term used

in Census 2000 for a person having origins in any of

the original peoples of North and South America

(including Central America), who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment. Over time, the terminology used for this race category changed to

reflect the data collected during each decennial census. The terms used included Indian; American Indian;

American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut; and American

Indian and Alaska Native. For Census 2000, American

Indian and Alaska Native includes people who classify

themselves as described below.

American Indian — Includes people who indicated

their race as American Indian, entered the name of

an Indian tribe, or reported such entries as

Canadian Indian, French-American Indian, or

Spanish-American Indian.

Alaska Native — Includes written responses of

Eskimos, Aleuts, and Alaska Indians as well as

entries such as Arctic Slope, Inupiat, Yupik, Alutiiq,

Egegik, and Pribilovian. The Alaska tribes are the

Alaskan Athabaskan, Tlingit, and Haida. The terminology included in Census 2000 is derived from the

American Indian Detailed Tribal Classification List

for the 1990 census, expanded to include the individual Alaska Native Villages.

For the purpose of this report, people who were

classified or classified themselves as Indian or

American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut prior to Census

2000 were classified as American Indian and Alaska

Native in order to maintain consistency in terminology.

Asian — Term used in Census 2000 for a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far

East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent (for

example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea,

Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand,

and Vietnam). See Asian and Pacific Islander.

Asian and Pacific Islander — For the purpose of

this report, the 1990 designated term Asian and

Pacific Islander was used for the entire century to

identify respondents who were enumerated as or identified themselves as any of the Asian, Native Hawaiian,

or Pacific Islander races. The term Asian and Pacific

Islander was used in order to maximize data comparability over the century despite changes that took

place in the terms used to describe each race, the race

categories collected on the questionnaire, and the

manner in which the data was tabulated. 

In 1900, the only individual Asian and Pacific Islander

categories available were Chinese and Japanese. From

1910 to 1940, the racial classification included an Other

race category with write-in responses to obtain separate

figures on other groups such as Filipinos and Koreans.

In this report, each detailed Asian and Pacific Islander

group tabulated separately in censuses prior to 1950

was classified into the total Asian and Pacific Islander

group. However, in the 1950 census, the only Asian

and Pacific Islander categories published separately for

every state were Chinese and Japanese. Other people

who were Asians and Pacific Islanders who did not fit

into one of these two categories were classified under

the Other race category. In 1960 and 1970, the category Asian and Pacific Islander in this report includes

Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino. (Separate categories

for Hawaiians and Part-Hawaiians were included on the

1960 census questionnaire in Hawaii only and, in the

1970 census, a separate classification for Koreans and

Hawaiians was included in tabulations for the conterminous United States and Hawaii.) In 1980, Asian and

Pacific Islanders included Chinese, Japanese, Filipino,

Korean, Asian Indian, Vietnamese, Hawaiian,

Guamanian, and Samoan. In 1990, Asian and Pacific

Islanders included more detailed categories, plus all

other Asian and all other Pacific Islander classifications.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century B-1

Appendix B.

GLOSSARY
The 1990 Asian and Pacific Islander category was divided in Census 2000 into two groups: Asian and Native

Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. In order to maintain data comparability, these two groups (race alone)

were added together under the category Asian and

Pacific Islander. See Asian and Native Hawaiian and

Other Pacific Islander. 

Average Household Size — A measure obtained by

dividing the number of people in households by the

total number of households (or householders).

Baby Boom — A term used to refer to the period of

relatively high fertility after World War II, commonly

considered as the period from 1946 to 1964. People

born during this period are often referred to as “baby

boomers,” the baby-boom generation, or the babyboom cohort.

Baby Bust — A term used to refer to the period of

declining fertility following the baby boom from 1965

to 1976.

Birth Cohort — A group of individuals born in the

same calendar year or group of years.

Birth Rate — The average annual number of births

during a year per 1,000 population at midyear. Also

known as the crude birth rate.

Black (or African American) — A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. Over

time, the terminology used for this race category has

included Black, Negro, and African American. It

includes written entries such as African American,

Afro American, Kenyan, Nigerian, or Haitian.

Census Coverage — The difference between the true

population and the number of population members

included in the census, regardless of whether they

were properly classified. A smaller census count than

the true population implies net undercoverage and a

larger census count than the true population implies

net overcoverage of the population.

Central City — The largest city in a metropolitan

area. Additional cities qualify if specified requirements are met concerning both population size and

levels of employment. See Metropolitan Area (MA) and

Suburb.

Components of Population Change — The components are: fertility, mortality, and migration.

Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area

(CMSA) — A geographic entity defined by the Federal

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal statistical agencies. An area becomes a CMSA if: it

meets the requirements to qualify as a metropolitan

statistical area (MSA); it has a population of 1,000,000

or more; its component parts are recognized as primary

metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs); and local opinion

favors the designation. The term CMSA was introduced

in 1983 and replaced what were formerly known as

Standard Consolidated Areas and Standard

Consolidated Statistical Areas in previous censuses. See

Standard Consolidated Area (SCA) and Standard

Consolidated Statistical Area (SCSA).

Conterminous States — The coterminous 48 states

and the District of Columbia; that is, the United States

excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

Crude Birth Rate — See Birth Rate.

Crude Death Rate — See Death Rate.

Death Rate — The average annual number of deaths

during a year per 1,000 population at midyear. Also

known as the crude death rate.

Decennial Census — The census of population and

housing, taken by the Census Bureau in years ending

in 0 (zero). Article I of the U.S. Constitution requires

that a census be taken every 10 years for the purpose

of reapportioning the U.S. House of Representatives.

The first census of population occurred in 1790; the

census of housing has been conducted since 1940.

Depression Era — For the purpose of this report, the

period of time from the 1930 to the 1940 census, or

the decade of the 1930s. 

Elderly — For the purpose of this report, elderly

refers to people age 65 years and over. This term is

used for the chronological demarcation of age categories and is not meant to obscure the diversity of this

broad age group, spanning more than 40 years of life.

Emigration — The movement of population out of its

original country of residence. For example, a person

who emigrates from the United States leaves the

United States to live in another country.

Family Household (Family) — A family household

consists of a householder and one or more people living together in the same household who are related to

the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. All

people in a household who are related to the householder are regarded as members of his or her family.

A family household may contain people not related to

the householder, but those people are not included as

part of the householder’s family in census tabulations.

In 1950 and 1960, a household enumerated in the

census could contain more than one family. Thus,

there were more families than family households.

From 1970 to 2000, each family household in the

B-2 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
census could contain only one family, resulting in an

equal number of families and family households. Not

all households contain families since a household may

be comprised of a group of unrelated people or one

person living alone. See Nonfamily Household.

Female Householder, No Husband Present — A

woman maintaining a family household with no husband of the householder present. 

Group Quarters — Dwelling places that are not housing units. These include both institutions (such as

prisons) and other group quarters (such as college

dormitories). Compare Housing Unit.

Group Quarters Population — All people who are

not living in households. There are two types of group

quarters populations: institutionalized and noninstitutionalized. Examples of institutionalized populations

are people living in correctional institutions, nursing

homes, (psychiatric) hospitals or wards, and juvenile

institutions. Examples of noninstitutionalized group

quarters populations are people living in college dormitories and military quarters. Compare Household

Population.

Growth Rate — The average annual percent change

in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit)

of births over deaths and the balance of migrants

entering and leaving an area. The rate may be positive or negative. Also known as population growth

rate or average annual rate of growth.

Head of Household — See Householder.

Hispanic or Latino Origin — People who identify

with the terms Hispanic or Latino are those who classify themselves in one of the specific Hispanic or

Latino categories listed on the decennial census questionnaire—“Mexican, Mexican-Am., Chicano,” “Puerto

Rican,” or “Cuban”—as well as those who indicate that

they are “other Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino.” Origin

can be viewed as the heritage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the person or the person’s

parents or ancestors before their arrival in the United

States. People who identify their origin as Spanish,

Hispanic, or Latino may be of any race.

Homeownership Rate — The proportion of households that are owner occupied. It is computed by

dividing the number of owner-occupied housing units

by the total number of occupied housing units, times

100.

Household — One person or a group of people living

in a housing unit. Compare Group Quarters.

Household Population — The total number of people living in households. The household population

added to the group quarters population equals the

total population. Compare Group Quarters

Population.

Householder — The householder refers to the person

(or one of the people) in whose name the housing unit

is owned or rented (maintained) or, if there is no such

person, any adult member, excluding roomers, boarders, or paid employees. Since 1980, if the house was

owned or rented jointly by a married couple, the

householder could be either the husband or the wife.

Prior to 1980, the term head of household was used

and the husband was always classified as the head of

a married-couple household if the husband was living

with his wife at the time of the census. The person

who designates himself or herself as the householder

(or head of household) is the “reference person” to

whom the relationship of all other household members, if any, is recorded.

Housing Unit — A housing unit is a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a single

room that is occupied, or intended for occupancy, as

separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are

those in which the occupant(s) live separately from

any other people in the building and which have direct

access from outside the building or through a common hall. Compare Group Quarters.

Immigration — The movement of population into a

new country of residence. For example, a person who

immigrates to the United States enters from another

country to live in the United States.

Infant Mortality Rate — The number of deaths to

infants less than 1 year of age during a year (or period) per 1,000 births.

Intercensal — Refers to the period between two consecutive decennial censuses.

Internal Migration — A relatively permanent change

in residence between specifically designated political

or statistical areas within the boundaries of a given

country. For the purpose of this report, internal migration refers to migration within the United States.

International Migration — A relatively permanent

change in residence across national boundaries.

Less Developed Countries (LDCs) — The “less

developed” countries include all of Africa, all of Asia

except Japan, the Transcaucasian and Central Asian

republics of the New Independent States (NIS), all of

Latin America and the Caribbean, and all of Oceania,

except Australia and New Zealand.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century B-3
Life Expectancy at Birth — The average number of

years a hypothetical group of people born in a specified year would live if they experienced over their 

lifetime the mortality rates at each year of age that

occurred in the specified year (e.g., 1900 or 2000).

Male Householder, No Wife Present — A man

maintaining a family household with no wife of the

householder present.

Married-Couple Household — A family household

maintained by a householder and his/her spouse in

which the spouse lives in the same household with the

householder. See Family Household.

Mean Center of Population — The point at which an

imaginary, flat, weightless, and rigid map of the

United States would balance perfectly if weights of

identical value were placed on it so that each weight

represented the location of one person on the date of

the census.

Median Age — The median divides the age distribution into two equal parts, one-half of the population

falling below the median age and one-half above the

median.

Median Center of Population — The median center

is located at the intersection of two median lines, a

north-south line constructed so that half of the country’s population lives east and half lives west of it, and

an east-west line selected so that half of the country’s

population lives north and half lives south of it.

Metropolitan Area (MA) — The general concept of a

metropolitan area is that of a large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high

degree of social and economic integration with that

nucleus. The terminology used to describe this concept changed from census to census over the course

of the century. The terms used included: metropolitan

district, standard metropolitan area (SMA), standard

metropolitan statistical area (SMSA), and metropolitan

area (MA). The term metropolitan area was formally

used for the first time in the 1990 census. However,

for the purpose of this report, the term metropolitan

area is used for every decade from 1910 to 2000 in

order to maintain consistency in terminology. See also

Metropolitan District, Standard Consolidated Area

(SCA), Standard Consolidated Statistical Area (SCSA),

Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA),

Standard Metropolitan Area (SMA), and Standard

Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA).

Metropolitan District — A statistical area comprising a central city and adjacent incorporated places,

densely settled Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs) and, in

some cases, enumeration districts (EDs). It was used

in the 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 decennial censuses (with changes in the underlying criteria) and was a

forerunner of the Metropolitan Area and Urbanized

Area concepts.

Midwest — One of the four regions in the United

States. Twelve states compose the Midwest: Illinois,

Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,

Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and

Wisconsin.

Migration — A relatively permanent change in residence between specifically designated political or statistical areas or between type-of-residence areas.

Minority Population — For the purpose of this

report, the Minority population is defined as all people

who are races other than White (White alone in Census

2000) or are Hispanic. In this report, Minority population trends cover the period 1980 to 2000, which coincides with the censuses when data on Hispanic or

Latino origin are available on a 100-percent basis. 

More Developed Countries (MDCs) — The “more

developed” countries and areas include all of North

America and Europe (including the Baltics and the four

European republics of the New Independent States:

Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova), plus Japan,

Australia, and New Zealand. This category matches

the “more developed” classification employed by the

United Nations.

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander — Term

used in Census 2000 for a person having origins in any

of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or

other Pacific Islands. Data on Native Hawaiians and

Other Pacific Islanders were collected in different forms

prior to Census 2000, but the category Native Hawaiian

and Other Pacific Islander was not used. In 1980 and

1990, most census tabulations presented data on

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders under the

term Pacific Islander, and they were included in the

broader race category Asian and Pacific Islander. In

Census 2000, the 1990 category Asian and Pacific

Islander was broken into two categories, Asian and

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. For the

purpose of this report, the Native Hawaiian and Other

Pacific Islander population was added to the Asian population to create the category Asian and Pacific Islander

in order to maintain data comparability with data from

previous censuses. See Asian and Pacific Islander. 

Natural Increase — The number of births minus the

number of deaths. 

B-4 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Nonfamily Household — A household composed of

a person living alone or a household of two or more

people where all are unrelated to the householder.

Compare Family Household.

Nonmetropolitan Area — All areas not located in a

metropolitan area (or metropolitan district prior to

1950).

Northeast — One of the four regions in the United

States. Nine states compose the Northeast:

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,

and Vermont.

Occupancy Rate — The proportion of total housing

units that are occupied. Compare Vacancy Rate.

Occupied Housing Unit — A housing unit is classified as occupied if it is the usual place of residence of

the person or group living in it at the time of enumeration, or if the occupants are only temporarily absent,

that is, away on vacation or business.

One-Person Household — A household composed

of one person living alone.

Other Family Household — Other family households consist of households maintained by a woman

(no husband present) living with at least one other relative, or maintained by a man (no wife present) living

with at least one other relative. Other family households comprise all family households excluding married-couple households. In order to qualify as a family household, the household must contain a

householder and one or more people who are related

to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption.

See also Family Household.

Other Nonfamily Household — Other nonfamily

households consist of households of two or more

members, none of whom is related to the householder. Other nonfamily households include all nonfamily

households excluding one-person households. See

also Nonfamily Household.

Own Children — Children under 18 years of age who

are sons or daughters of the householder by birth,

marriage (a stepchild), or adoption. Prior to 2000,

100-percent data on own children included only children who were never married. In the 100-percent data

from Census 2000, own children included all children

under 18 years of age, regardless of marital status.

Owner-Occupied Housing Unit — A housing unit is

owner occupied if the owner or co-owner lives in the

unit even if it is mortgaged or not fully paid for.

Population Density — A measurement calculated by

dividing population by land area (people per square

mile or square kilometer of land area). Population density is used as a measurement of the level of concentration of population in a particular geographic area.

Population Estimates — A calculation of population

size derived for current or past dates using data from

population censuses, administrative records, sample

surveys, and/or other sources.

Population Projections — A calculation of population size derived for future dates using assumptions

about future trends and data from population censuses, administrative records, sample surveys, and/or

other sources.

Population Pyramid — A specialized type of graph

designed to give a detailed picture of the age-sex

structure of a population, indicating single ages, 5-

year age groups, or other age groups. Pyramids may

be constructed on the basis of either numbers or percent distributions.

Race — Over the course of the century, the concept of

race as used by the Census Bureau has reflected enumerator identification and/or self-identification of

people. Prior to 1980, race was determined either

solely by the observation of the enumerator or by a

combination of enumerator observation and self-identification. These categories reflect social usage and

should not be interpreted as being scientific or anthropological in nature. Furthermore, the race categories

include both racial and national-origin groups.

Race Alone Population — The population comprised

of people who responded to the race question on the

Census 2000 questionnaire by indicating only one

race. The race alone population was introduced in

Census 2000 because respondents were given the

option of selecting more than one race for the first

time in census history. The six categories that make

up this population are White alone, Black or African

American alone, American Indian and Alaska Native

alone, Asian alone, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific

Islander alone, and Some other race alone.

Race Alone or in Combination Population — In

Census 2000, respondents who reported only one race

together with those who reported that same race plus

one or more other races are combined to create the race

alone or in combination categories. The six categories

that make up the race alone or in combination population are White alone or in combination, Black or African

American alone or in combination, American Indian and

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century B-5
Alaska Native alone or in combination, Asian alone or in

combination, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific

Islander alone or in combination, and Some other race

alone or in combination. The alone or in combination

categories are tallies of responses rather than respondents. That is, the alone or in combination categories

are not mutually exclusive. Individuals who reported

two races were counted in two separate and distinct

alone or in combination race categories, while those

who reported three races were counted in three categories and so on.

Race in Combination Population — The population

of people for a specified race who responded to the

Census 2000 question on race by choosing more than

one race category. The race in combination population was introduced in Census 2000 because respondents were given the option of selecting more than

one race for the first time in census history. 

Rate of Natural Increase — The difference between

the crude birth rate and the crude death rate.

Region — One of four geographically defined areas in

the United States. The four regions in the United

States are Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. For a

listing of the states in each region, see the separate

region names in the glossary.

Renter-Occupied Housing Unit — All occupied

housing units which are not owner occupied, whether

they are rented for cash or occupied without payment

of cash rent.

Seasonal, Recreational, or Occasional Use

Housing Units — Seasonal, recreational, or occasional use housing units include vacant units used or

intended for use only in certain seasons, for weekends, or other occasional use throughout the year.

Interval ownership units, sometimes called shared

ownership or time-sharing condominiums, are included in this category.

Sex — Either male or female.

Sex Ratio — The sex ratio is an indication of the balance of males and females in a population. It is calculated by dividing the male population by the female

population and multiplying by 100.

Some Other Race — Includes all other responses not

included in the White, Black or African American,

American Indian and Alaska Native, and Asian and

Pacific Islander race categories described above (from

1950 to 1990) and, in Census 2000, includes all

responses not included in any of the race alone or race

in combination categories, which include any of the

following: White, Black or African American,

American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, and Native

Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. Respondents

providing write-in entries such as multiracial, mixed,

interracial, or a Hispanic/Latino group (for example

Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban) in the Some other

race category are included in this category.

South — One of the four regions in the United States.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia compose the

South. The states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware,

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,

Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,

Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Standard Consolidated Area (SCA) — The SCA was

a forerunner of the consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA). Two SCAs (for the New York and

Chicago areas) existed between 1959 and 1975.

These SCAs were combinations of standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMSAs), although the New York

SCA also included two counties in New Jersey that

were not within any SMSA. The SCA was replaced by

the standard consolidated statistical area (SCSA). See

Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA).

Standard Consolidated Statistical Area (SCSA) —

The SCSA was a forerunner of the consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA). An SCSA was a combination of two or more standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMSAs) that had substantial commuting

between them and where at least one of the SMSAs

had a population of 1,000,000 or greater. SCSAs were

first defined in 1975 and used until June 1983. See

Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA).

Standard Metropolitan Area (SMA) — SMA was the

first term used for official metropolitan areas as

defined by the then Bureau of the Budget in 1949 for

the 1950 decennial census. The term was used until

1959, when the term standard metropolitan statistical

area (SMSA) was adopted. See Metropolitan Area (MA).

Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) —

In 1959, the term SMSA replaced standard metropolitan area (SMA) for the official metropolitan areas

defined by the then Bureau of the Budget. The term

SMSA was used until metropolitan definitions were

redefined in 1983. See Metropolitan Area (MA).

Suburb — For the purpose of this report, the area

inside a metropolitan area but outside the central city.

See Metropolitan Area (MA) and Central City.

Tenure — Tenure refers to whether a housing unit is

owner or renter occupied.

B-6 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau
Two or More Races Population — People in Census

2000 who provided more than one race response

either by checking two or more race response check

boxes, by providing multiple write-in responses, or by

some combination of check boxes and write-in

responses. There are 57 possible combinations of

two, three, four, five, or six races. 

Vacancy Rate — The percentage of total housing

units that are vacant.

Vacant Housing Unit — A housing unit is vacant if

no one is living in it at the time of enumeration, unless

its occupants are only temporarily absent. Units temporarily occupied at the time of enumeration entirely

by people who have a usual residence elsewhere are

also classified as vacant.

West — One of the four regions in the United States.

Thirteen states compose the West: Alaska, Arizona,

California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,

New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and

Wyoming.

White — A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

It includes people who indicate their race as White or

report entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese,

Near Easterner, Arab, or Polish.

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century B-7
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century C-1

BACKGROUND AND GENERAL SCOPE

Every population census of the United States from

1790 to 1930 collected all information on a 100-percent basis. Beginning with the 1940 census of population and housing, the Census Bureau collected information on both a 100-percent and a sample basis. 

The scope of information included in the population

trends discussed in this report is limited to those

items collected on a 100-percent basis in Census

2000. So, for example, although marital status information previously had been collected on a 100-percent basis, Census 2000 obtained marital status data

on a sample basis only, and thus such information was

not included here. On the other hand, some items,

particularly related to housing and households,

although collected on a 100-percent basis, were only

available in publications of earlier censuses on a sample basis. In such cases, these items are included

within the scope of this report, and sample data are

indicated by the use of italics in the Appendix Tables. 

In any large-scale statistical operation, such as the U.S.

decennial census, human and machine-related errors

occur. These errors are commonly referred to as nonsampling errors. Such errors include not enumerating

every household or every person in the population,

not obtaining all required information from the

respondents, obtaining incorrect or inconsistent information, and recording information incorrectly. In addition, errors can occur during the manual and electronic processing of the data. Over the course of the 20th

century, the U.S. Census Bureau continuously developed and improved techniques to reduce various

types of nonsampling errors during all phases of data

collection and processing. Implementation of such

procedures improved census coverage and the quality

of the final data.

In a few cases, sample tabulations of data were used

from censuses before Census 2000, as noted above.

Estimates derived from sample data are expected to

be different from the 100-percent figures because they

are subject to sampling and nonsampling errors.

Sampling error in data arises from the selection of persons and housing units to be included in the sample.

The deviation of a sample estimate from the average

of all possible samples is called the sampling error.

For a detailed discussion of sampling and nonsampling error in Census 2000, see

www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/doc/sf3.pdf, and

www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/doc/sf1.pdf, 

respectively.

POPULATION TOTALS

The total populations of the United States shown for

each census, 1900 to 2000, represent the totals published at the time each census was conducted. That

is, no totals have been modified or adjusted to incorporate any subsequent postcensal corrections. 

Population totals shown for the countries and regions

of the world were obtained from the U.S. Census

Bureau’s International Data Base. These estimates

were based on the latest available population census,

fertility, mortality, and international migration data for

each country.

GEOGRAPHIC DATA

States and Regions

Data for states and regions represent the totals for

each area as reported by the results of the census of

population. Population totals for Alaska and Hawaii

are shown as collected by each census throughout the

century but are not included in the West region nor the

United States totals for 1900 through 1950. Beginning

with 1960, the first census year after Alaska and

Hawaii gained statehood, population characteristics

and all West region and U.S. totals include these

states. 

Population totals (and characteristics) are included for

the conterminous 48 states and the District of Columbia

for every census, 1900 to 2000. This includes the populations of the Arizona and New Mexico territories prior

to their statehood in 1912, since these areas were

included in the national population totals for these

years in the original census volumes. In addition, the

population of the Indian territory was included in the

Appendix C.

SOURCES AND QUALITY OF DATA
state total for Oklahoma (statehood in 1907) for the

census of 1900. Each of these totals also is included in

the United States and regional populations for all census

years. 

Metropolitan 

Metropolitan area data in this report include the information tabulated for areas defined as metropolitan

districts from 1910 to 1940 (plus cities and adjacent

territory for cities of 100,000 to 200,000 population

in 1910 and in 1920), as well as the areas defined as

metropolitan after each census since 1950 using the

formal criteria and standards established by the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB). 

The changing criteria and definitions of metropolitan

districts and metropolitan areas (referred to under several name variations) make comparability over time

problematic. However, the broad findings regarding

the trends of the total metropolitan population generally hold, regardless of the data issues. 

The 1910 to 1940 data represent metropolitan district

information as published at the time of each census.

These districts primarily were defined based on central cities and surrounding minor civil divisions meeting a population density threshold. For 1910 and

1920, the metropolitan populations shown also

include cities of 100,000 to 200,000 population and

their adjacent territory at the time of each census.

Since 1950, metropolitan areas have been defined

using counties as the basic geographic unit (with the

exception of New England states, where towns and

cities have been used). In general, commuting patterns and a minimum population size of a central city

have been part of the formal definition of metropolitan

areas. Congressionally mandated exceptions and

other modifications have occurred since the establishment of metropolitan areas, and a two-level hierarchy

concept has been used since a New York standard consolidated area (SCA) and a Chicago SCA were identified

in the 1960 census using criteria established in 1959.1

Metropolitan data are shown in this report by state

and region. Thus, when a specific metropolitan area

included population in multiple states, the portions of

the population living in the individual states are

included in the metropolitan population of the appropriate state. For 1930 to 2000, these data can be

derived from published census volumes. Since information needed to separate the portions of each area’s

population by state was not available for 1910 and

1920, unpublished data and research were used to

classify metropolitan proportions in some areas.2

Land Area

This report includes calculations of population density

for the United States, regions, and states, derived as

the average population per square mile of land area.

The land area of each state as measured for Census

2000 was used as the denominator for all population

density calculations, since only trivial changes have

occurred in the land area of states over the century,

and since a large portion of such changes reflects

improvements in the measurement of land area, rather

than actual changes. As a result, some calculated values of population density in this report pertaining to

earlier census years may slightly differ from those

originally calculated at the time of the census. 

Since Alaska represents the largest state in terms of

land area, its inclusion or exclusion has a large impact

on the total density of the United States. For this reason, the report includes an illustration of population

density levels from 1900 to 1950 both including and

excluding Alaska (and Hawaii).

Center of Population

This report includes trends of two concepts of the center of population, namely, the mean center of population and the median center of population. (For definitions of these terms, see the Glossary.) The

Geography Division of the U.S. Census Bureau provided the results of the calculation of the location of the

mean and median centers. Using formulas provided

by the Geography Division, the authors calculated the

total shift in the mean center of population to the

South and West over the course of the century. 

AGE AND SEX DATA

A question on age and sex has been asked in every

U.S. census since the first one in 1790. The census of

1850 was the first to collect information on the specific age of every individual in the United States. 

Age data may suffer from numerous reporting problems, including coverage error, failure to report age,

and misreporting of age. Coverage errors include people who are missed in the census and those who are

C-2 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

1 For a fuller treatment of the history of the use of metropolitan

areas in the decennial census, see Richard L. Forstall, 2000,

“Metropolitan areas,” in the Encyclopedia of the U.S. Census, Margo J.

Anderson (ed.). 

2 Unpublished tabulations from Todd Gardner, U.S. Census

Bureau, as developed for the study, The Metropolitan Fringe:

Suburbanization in the United States Before World War II, unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Minnesota, 1998.
erroneously included (counted more than once).

Levels of net coverage of the population typically

show particular patterns by age. That is, some ages

tend to have higher levels of underenumeration in censuses than other ages. For example, children under

age 5 tend to have relatively higher levels of underenumeration. Misreporting of age may occur as a

result of age heaping (the tendency to favor particular

digits in the reporting of age, such as 0 or 5) or age

exaggeration (the tendency to inflate one’s age, particularly at very advanced ages). 

The misreporting of data on sex generally is negligible. The quality of the reporting of this item ranks

among the highest among all census items collected.

Although misreporting is minimal, the quality of data

on sex collected in censuses is affected by differential

completeness of coverage of the two sexes. In general, the male population in the United States tended to

have higher levels of underenumeration than the

female population. 

The age data used in this report are, with minor exceptions, based on the 100-percent data collected at the

time of each census, 1900 to 2000. The age data, and

calculations based on these data, generally were

derived based on the distribution of the population in

5-year age groups. 

For the total population, the only use of sample data

concerned the derivation of the population ages 75 to

79 years and 80 to 84 years in 1950. The published

100-percent data on age provided only a total for the

age group 75 to 84 years. Totals for the two 5-year age

groups consistent with the 100-percent total of 75-to84-year olds were obtained through proration. The

proportions of people age 75 to 79 years and 80 to 84

years of the population age 75 to 84 from sample data

totals for the age groups were applied to the population age 75 to 84 years from the 100-percent data.

In general, the 100-percent data tabulations of age by

race were used to calculate median age by race. Age

measures for the Black population in 1950 and 1960

and for the American Indian and Alaska Native and the

Asian and Pacific Islander populations in 1950, 1960,

and 1970 were based on sample data (see Appendix

Table 11).

RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN DATA

Race

Data on race have been collected since the first U.S.

decennial census in 1790. The terms used to describe

each race, the categories collected on the questionnaire,

the method of obtaining responses on race, and the

manner of tabulating the data all changed over the

course of the 20th century. These changes create some

comparability issues with regard to the interpretation

and understanding of historical tabulations of data by

race.3

The race data included in this report represent the

totals as reported at the time of each census, with one

exception. The 1930 census included a separate race

category for the Mexican population, while the 1940

census eliminated this category and revised the 1930

data tabulation to include the Mexican population in

the White population. For increased comparability,

this report uses the 1940 revision of the 1930 race

data. 

Prior to 1950, all published race data could be classified into one of four categories: White, Black, Asian

and Pacific Islander, and American Indian, Eskimo, and

Aleut. Beginning with the 1950 census, the category

“Other” or “Some other race” became a fifth major category. For Census 2000, the Asian and Pacific Islander

category was split into “Asian” and “Native Hawaiian

and Other Pacific Islander.” Also, for the first time,

individuals could identify themselves or other members of their household as more than one race. As a

result, a seventh major category, “Two or more races,”

was added to allow for the tabulation of people who

reported more than one of the six major categories. 

Although the collection of race data for specific population groups varied over the censuses, this report discusses population and housing trends prior to 1950

for the four categories mentioned above, includes the

Some other race category from 1950 through 2000,

and highlights the Two or more races category for

Census 2000. So, for example, although the collection

of data classifying the Eskimo, Aleut, or Alaska Native

population category separately did not occur in all

states until the 1980 census, this report uses the

Census 2000 term, “American Indian and Alaska

Native” for the period 1900 to 2000. 

Another data comparability issue concerns the introduction of the “Other race” category in the 1950 census,

when Asian groups other than Chinese and Japanese

were classified in the “Other” category. Data on the total

number of Filipinos in the United States in 1950

(61,636) were provided in a special report that showed

U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century C-3

3 For a comprehensive discussion of historical population census

data on race, see Campbell Gibson and Kay Jung, 2002, Historical

Census Statistics on Population Totals by Race, 1790 to 1990, and

by Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, for the United States, Regions,

Divisions, and States.
the number of Filipinos by state for those states with a

Filipino population of at least 2,500 (California,

Washington, and New York, see Gibson and Jung, 2002).

For the purposes of this report, the Filipino population

in 1950 is included in the “Other race” population for

states, regions, and the United States. 

Since Census 2000 allowed individuals to self-identify

as more than one race for the first time, the data on race

may be divided into two broad categories: the race

alone population and the race in combination population. People who indicated only one race are referred to

as the race alone population. Individuals who chose

more than one of the six individual race categories are

referred to as the race in combination population, or as

the group who reported more than one race. Adding

the race alone population and the race in combination

population together creates the maximum number of

people reporting an individual race, and is referred to as

the race alone or in combination population. 

All of the people reporting more than one of the six race

categories collectively are termed the Two or more

races population. For graphs shown in this report,

Census 2000 data by race generally pertain to the race

alone population for the individual races, with a separate value shown for the Two or more races population.

Some graphs provide both the race alone and the race

alone or in combination data. The use of one population or the other does not imply any preferred method

of presenting or analyzing the data. In general, either

population may be used, depending on the purpose of

the analysis. The Census Bureau uses both approaches.

The detailed tables provide both sets of data. 

Although the 1990 race category, Asians and Pacific

Islanders was split into “Asian” and “Native Hawaiian

and Other Pacific Islander” in Census 2000, this report

uses the single 1990 designation to maximize comparability throughout the century. People who reported

as the specific two race combination Asian and Native

Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander in Census 2000

are included in the Two or more races category.

Hispanic Origin

Race and Hispanic origin are treated as two separate

concepts. People of Hispanic or Latino origin may be

of any race, and conversely, people of each race may

be either Hispanic or not Hispanic. 

The 1970 census was the first to include a separate

question specifically on Hispanic origin, although it

was only asked of a 5-percent sample of households.4

Prior to 1970, Hispanic origin was determined only

indirectly. For example, the 1950 and 1960 censuses

tabulated data for “persons of Spanish surname” only

in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and

Texas. As noted above, Mexican was included as a category within the question on race in the 1930 census.

Data trends on the Hispanic population in this report

cover the period 1980 to 2000, corresponding to the

census years for which data on Hispanics were

obtained on a 100-percent basis. 

Minority Population

For the period 1980 to 2000, the term Minority population is used in this report to refer to the aggregated

number of all people who are of races other than White

or who are Hispanic. Examining the demographic

trends for this combined population group broadly

illustrates the diversity of the U.S. population.

Furthermore, including an aggregated Minority population group in several graphics permits an overall

comparison with its complement, the White nonHispanic population. 

HOUSING DATA

The 1900 through the 1930 population censuses collected limited information on the number of occupied

housing units in the United States. These censuses

did not collect data on the number of vacant units and

other detailed characteristics of housing units. The

first Census of Housing was conducted in 1940, providing more detailed information on the characteristics of housing units. Information on occupancy status (occupied or vacant) has been collected on a

100-percent basis since 1940. Housing tenure data

(owner occupied or renter occupied) have been available throughout the century, although the population

censuses of 1900 to 1930 include a number of occupied housing units with tenure status not known.

Many other characteristics of housing units were collected in Census 2000, but only on a sample-basis,

and thus are not within the scope of this report. 

The discussion of overall housing tenure trends,

including owner-occupied housing, renter-occupied

housing, and rates of homeownership (percent owneroccupied housing of all occupied units) covers the

period 1900 to 2000. Homeownership rates by other

population characteristics of the householder are only

available for more recent decades from the census of

housing. Similarly, since the population censuses of

1900 to 1930 did not include information on the

number of vacant housing units, the discussion of

C-4 Demographic Trends in the 20th Century U.S. Census Bureau

4 See U.S. Census Bureau, 2001c, The Hispanic Population: 2000,

by Betsy Guzmán.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century C-5

trends in the total number of housing units and the

percent vacant (or percent occupied) of all housing

units is limited to the period 1940 to 2000. 

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Data on the number and size of households, types of

households, and household characteristics were

obtained from both the population and the housing

censuses. In some cases, data on household characteristics available on a 100-percent basis from Census

2000 were only available on a sample basis from earlier censuses. In such cases, the data have been identified in italics in the detailed tables. 

Household Size

Information on the total number of households by size

of household is not available for every census, 1900 to

2000. This occurred because the definition and/or concept of what constituted a household varied somewhat

over the course of the century. In particular, the population censuses of 1910 and 1920 included a small number of “quasi-households,” which, in Census 2000 terms

would often have been considered as part of the group

quarters population, rather than as part of the household population. The 1930 census similarly does not

report the distribution of households by size, excluding

the quasi-household population. Thus, these data are

not strictly comparable with data for other years and

were not included in the discussion of household trends.

The 1900 census of population showed a distribution

of households from 1 to 7 or more people that included group quarters facilities. The distribution of households by size for 1900 shown in this report assumes

that all group quarters facilities had at least seven people. Thus, the reported number of households with 1

to 6 people was accepted and the number of households with 7 or more people (3,059,095) used in this

report was derived by subtracting the number of

group quarters facilities (223,750) from the reported

number of households plus group quarters facilities

with 7 or more people (3,282,845).

Household Type

Family and nonfamily households represent the broadest categories of household type used in census data

tabulations. This report mainly discusses trends for

four major household types. They are comprised of

two types of family households (married-couple

households and other family households) and two

types of nonfamily households (one-person

households and other nonfamily households). The

report discusses some trends of family households

using three categories: married-couple households,

male householder with no wife present, and female

householder with no husband present.

Only population and housing census data from 1950

to 2000 allowed for the derivation of comparable data

trends by type of household. Even some of these data

required minor modifications from their originally

published form. Also, in several cases, tabulations

based on 100-percent data were not available. In such

cases, available sample data tabulations were incorporated. Numbers based on sample data are indicated as

such using italics in the detailed tables. 

Tabulations of the 1950 and 1960 censuses by household type, in particular, required relying on data collected from a sample of U.S. households. Documentation

from these censuses generally notes that sample household results by type slightly overrepresent family households and thus underrepresent nonfamily households.

Since 1970, the number of family households by definition equals the total number of families. In the 1950

and 1960 censuses, it was possible for households to

contain more than one family. The term “primary family” generally represented the family concept as used

in censuses since 1970. To increase comparability, the

tabulated data on all families from the 1950 census

were modified to show primary families only. 

The data on one-person households in several censuses frequently were only published as part of the housing census. In such cases, the number of other nonfamily households was derived as a residual of total

nonfamily households from the population census

minus one-person households from the housing census tabulations. 

Household Characteristics

This report discusses trends in the characteristics of

households as defined by the age, sex, race, and

Hispanic origin of the householder. The characteristic

of the household thus is determined by the characteristic of the householder. In addition, this report

describes the trends in families by the presence and

ages of own children. 

As was true for household type, data availability and

comparability permitted the examination of household

characteristics trends only since 1950. Also, some

data could be obtained only from sample tabulations,

particularly data from the 1950 and 1960 censuses.
U.S. Census Bureau Demographic Trends in the 20th Century D-1

Anderson, Margo J. 2000. Encyclopedia of the U.S.

Census. CQ Press, Washington, DC.

Easterlin, Richard. 2000. “Growth and Composition of

the American Population in the Twentieth

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America, Michael R. Haines and Richard H.

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Forstall, Richard. L. 2000. “Metropolitan areas,” in

Encyclopedia of the U.S. Census, Margo J.

Anderson (ed.). CQ Press, Washington, DC.

Gardner, Todd. 1998. The Metropolitan Fringe:

Suburbanization in the United States Before

World War II. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of

Minnesota.

Gibson, Campbell and Kay Jung. 2002. Historical

Census Statistics on Population Totals by Race,

1790 to 1990, and by Hispanic Origin, 1970 to

1990, for the United States, Regions, Divisions,

and States. U.S. Census Bureau, Population

Division Working Paper No. 56.

Robinson, J. Gregory. 2001. “Accuracy and Coverage

Evaluation: Demographic Analysis Results.”

March 12.

Snipp, C. Matthew. 2000. “American Indians and

Alaska Natives,” in Encyclopedia of the U.S.

Census, Margo J. Anderson (ed.). CQ Press,

Washington, DC.

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Printing Office.

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Population, General Report and Analysis.

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