Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-10
The Center Of Populatio N.


A volume recently issued from the Census
office, embracing a. portion Of the statistics
gathered at the enumeration of 1880, contains,
among many valuable maps illustrating the
distribution, density and character of popula-
ton, diagram which shows how the center of
population has shifted from decade to decade,
since 1870, in its steady march westward
What statisticians understand by the term
center of population, it may be well to explain,
is the point at which equilibrium would be
reached were the country taken as a plane sur
face without weight, but capable of sustaining
weight and the inhabitants distributed over it
in number and position they are found at
the period under consideration, each inhabit-
ant being supposed to be OF equal weight. and
consequently to exert pressure on the pivotal
point in direct proportion to his distance there
from. The first census of the United States,
taken in 1890, showed the center Of population
to be on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, about
twenty-five miles from Baltimore, and near.the
thirty-nipth parallel of latitude. From that
point it has moved westward at the average
rate OF about fifty-One miles in decade, never
deviating as much as degree to the north or
south of the thirty-nnth parallel. BY 1900 it
had moved fOrty-One miles, and was found at a
point eighteen miles west of Baltimore. In 1910
it was near the Potomac, in Virginia, at place
forty miles northwest of Washington, having
travelled thirty-six miles during the preceding
decade Its progress in the following ten years
IL
OF Virginia. sixteen miles north of Woodstock
The census of 1880 discovered that the
center OF population. previously little north
OF the thirty-ninth parallel, had passed that
line and was tribe to the south of it, at
point in the Allegheny mountains nineteen
miles west of Moorefeld, Virginia, the progress
westward since 1920 being thirty-nine miles
This was the most decided southwark move
ment it has made in any decade. and is ex-
planned by the acquisition of Florida and the
nf oh mo AiccioS ipv,i 7 ;eSo
and Arkansas. In the ensuing decade the
center recrossed the thirty-ninth parallel.
moved ffty-five miles westward, and was
found at point sixteen miles south of Clarks-
burg, Virginia. Southern Michigan and Wis
consin and northern Indiana and Illinois had
begun to I'LL up, and their population turned
the balance to the n0rthward. In 1850 it was
still in Virginia. but close to the Ohio river
having moved fifty-fve miles and being at
point twenty-three miles southeast of Parkers-
burg. Again it was south of tire thirty-ninth
parallel, but only distance of about mile the
DETECTION being explained by the annexation Of
Texas. By 1S60it had reached point twenty miles
south of Chillicothe, Ohio, and little north of
the thirty-ninth parallel. having made the
greatest progress ever made in decade. the dis
lance from the last point being eighty-one miles,
This remarkable movement was caused by the
settlement Of the Pacific coast-twelve persons
in San Francisco, by reason of their distance
from the pivotal point. cOunterbalancing forty
miles westward and about twelve nOrthward
which brought the center into Highland county
Ohio, about fOrty-eight miles east by north of
Cincinnati. 1t is believed that the apparent
northern movement during this decade was
caused by a defective enumeration of the col
cred population of the southern states at the
census Of 1870. In 1850 the center was near the
village of Taylorsville. Kentucky. about eight
miles west by south Of Cincinnati. the westward
progress being ffty-eight miles and the defiec-
ton to the south about eight. The census of
1890 will probably discover it in Jennings county
in southeastern Indiana.
II there is 40 great change In the rate of
western movement of population, the central
point, still travelling, as 1t doubtless will, on a
line closely corresponding to the thirty-ninth
parallel of latitude, will not cross the Missis-
sippi river until 1850, when it will be found
not far from the mouth Of the Missouri. It is
not improbable, however, that it will never
reach that stream, but will remain nearly sta
tionary somewhere in southern Illinois. There
are large areas Of country in the far west unfit
for habitatiOn. save where deposits of the pre-
cious metals are found. and other considerable
areas where grazing which supports but scanty
population will always be the chief industry.
The increase of population in the trans Missis-
sippi region may not, therefore, much more than
counterbalance the increase in the older settled
portion OF the country after the close of the
present century. In estimating the changes
and progress of the future we must not forget
that marvellous as is the growth of the New
West, it is only little more rapid than that of
the great middle region between the Hudson
and the Mississippi. The state of New York, it
must be remembered added zoo, 600 to her pop
ulatiOn between 1870 and 1880. PENNSYLVANIA
AGO, 600. and Ohio 532 000 The increase in each
of these old states would make western state
as pOpulOus as Nebraska