Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-04-20
THE CENSUS BY ATTITUDES.
THE POPULATION OF THE REGIONS AT THE
DIFFERENT HEIGHTS.

The Census office has issued bullc,
tin showing the distribution OF the pop,
ulation of the United States above sea.
level. From this bulletin it appears
that nearlyone-fourth oftheinhabitants
live below one hundred feet, /. C., along
the immediate seaboard and in the
swampy and alluvial regions OF the
South more than two. .tiths below
500 more than three-iourths below
1000 feet, while 81 per cent. live below
1000 feet. In the area below 500 feet
is included nearly all that part of the
population which is engaged in manu-
featuring, and most of that engaged in
the culture Of cotton, rice and sugar
The intervals between the 500 and
the 1900 feet contours comprises the
greater part of the prairie States, and
the grain producing States OF the
Northwest, East of the 9Sth meridian
the contour of 1900 feet is practically
the upper limit Of population, all the
country lying upon that elevation being
mountains.
The population between 1000 and
5000 feet is found mainly on the slope
Of the great western plains. In this
region the fall between 1000 and 5000
feet is almost everywhere the debata-
bic ground between the arid region OF
tho Cordillerau plateau and the humid
region of the Mississippi Valley. Above
5000 feet irrigation is almost univers-
ally necessary for success in agricul. |
tural operations.
Between 1000 and 5000 feet, and |
more marked between 5000 and 6,0OO
feet, the population is decidedly in ex.
cess of the grade or grades below it.
This is mainly due to the fact that the
densest settlement at high attitudes in
the Cordilleran region is at the base Of
the Rocky mountains and in the valley
Of the great Salt lake, which regions
lie between 1000 and 6,00O feet. OF
these the extensive settlements at the
base of the mountains in Colorado are
mainly between 5000 and 5000 feet.
Above 6,OO0 feet the population, which
s confined of course to the Cordilleran
region, is almost entirely engaged in
.he pursuit Of mining, and the great
part of it is located in Colorado, New
Mexico, Nevada and California. Ex.
the increase in population in
he several divisions during the past
iecade there is noticed a decided
Increase in the lowest grade, due to
Increase in our seaboard towns and
titles; also gain, though not as de.
ided, in the grade of 100 to 500 feet,
With more marked increase between
100 to 1000 feet. Between 1000 and
1000 feet the increase has been nearly |
% per cent.
In this grade, the effect Of immigra. I
ion in new snd previously unsettled I
egions appears, in part in Texas, t
Kansas, Nebraska, Dakotah, Minnesota. c
lbove 1000 feet, the increase, though $
mall numerically, is proportionally I
cry great Between 1000 and 5000
is more than 100 per cent, due
lainly to the newly-awakened interest
D mining, To this cause may also be
lrgely attributed the increase in popu- '
ltion in the higher attitudes. A com.
utation based upon the few facts here
admitted shows that the mean eleva. U
on of the population above the sea
about 700 feet The mean elevation e
{ the surface OF the United States has !
cen estimated at 1900 feet. !