The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-11
Some Census Statistics.

Census Bulletin number 269 presents in
teresting statistics Of the density of popula-
ton as ascertained by the census of 1880,
and comparisons with the corresponding
results of previous enumerations The low
est grade of settlement taken for this pur-
pose is that which contains population of
two to the square mile. ALI the region out
side this line may be regarded as practically
unsettled territory, peopled, if at all, by a
few scattering graziers, wandering prospect
ors, or hunters. Upon the definition thus
taken, the settled area of 1880 is mainly COM
prised in one large body, stretching from
the northern to the southern limits of the
country, and from the Atlantic coast west
ward to the plains. In this body is COM
prised 95 per cent. of the total population
of the country, the remainder being in de-
tached bodies of comparatively small size,
the most considerable being on the Pacific
slope in California and Oregon. Within the
great settled area in the eastern half of the
country there are, on the other hand, sever
al regions which are practically unsettled /;
Maine and the Adirondack region in North
ern New York, the Southern extremity of
Florida, and Northern Wisconsin and Min
nesuta.
The total area of settled country is now /,
569,570 square miles. This is divided into
five groups, whose density of population is
as folIows:-2 TO 6 to the square mile; 6 to
IS; IS to As; As to 90; above 80. The great
est area is of the third class, having a popu-
lation of IS to 45 to the mile. This includes
$4,000 miles, or over one third of all. The
next in size is that of the first class, 2 to g.
1t is the frontier region, sparsely
settled and constantly filling and
all the time extending. In 1870 the area
then having to 6 to the square mile was
SO, ,43 6miles. In 1880 it was 8S4, ,s2O miles.
Manufacture and city life claim that which
has population of over 45 to the square
mile.
In 1901 there were 1861 miles with 45 to
90 people to the mile, and 800 miles were ov-
er 90. In 1880 there was 232,010 with 45 to
90, and 24,550 with over 80 to the mile. The
settled territory of the United States in 1880
is seven times what it was in 1890. The ter
ritory of mechanical population has in that
period increased its area almost twenty fold
and that of the still denser population-over
80 to the square mile-has increased about
thirty fold. And yet naturally it is only a
small area. In the 1880 census there are
"a, $50 miles, out of over 100000 miles that
have the other 80 population. This is about
one sixtieth. About sixth of the whole
settled area is given to those pursuits
that call for larger populations than farm
ing.
Some interesting facts as to the different
states come out from study of the table.
More than half of Rhode Island has over 80
to the square mile. More of New Jersey is
in that class than any other. Connecticut
has nowhere less than As to the square mile.
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Mas
sachusetts, New Jersey and Ohio, have no
area with less than IS to the mile. Arizona
and Montana and Wyoming have none with
over 2 to 6 to the mile. Dakota, New Mex-
co, Oregon and Washington territory have
no area of over to IS to the mile. Twelve
states (including the District of Columbia)
reach to the fifth or over 80 to the mile
class. They are with their miles of such
population tion:-Connecticut, 7S0; tae District
of Columbia, 65; Illinois. 700; Kentucky,
600; Massachusetts,, $500; New Hamp-
shire, Is; New Jersey, 3,065; New York,
2,42O; Ohio, 1000; Pennsylvania, 1o,75O;
Rhode Island, 6s5, and Wisconsin, 45O
Maine shows total area of settlement of II,
s95 square miles; 5000 containing 2 to 6 to
the mile; $500 containing 8 to IS; 5000
containing IS to As; and 2,795 containing
As to 80.