Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-04-03
- "A I1X
POST ITTELLIGENCER.
DWELLINGS AND FAMILIES.


Half dozen pages in the conTen-
dunn Of tie censas are occupied WITH
irving statistics relative to the nsmber
of dwellings and size of families IN the
different States and one hundred of the
principal cities. Perhaps the most Inn
portant fact observable By these agEEes'
re-nasls tho Aifa, il that the ce1esai
idcs OF progressive deorease IN the
size of families il, at leaat apparently,
sustained. The average number OF PSF
sons ia family ct different decsnniai
periods was az foIloTs: $50, SIG; 1860,
SIS: 1870, 5.o9; 1880, SOL. The figures
for 1880 and 1860 did not inciuds the
slave population. It would not do 70
assume ON the evidence of these figures
that the decrease in numbers OF the
family Is absolutely proved, because
this is department Of the csnsus stalls
tics in which errors arising from differ
ence of method might most reasonably
be expected to occur. An increase IN
the number of dwellings, In proportion
10 the population, such as might be an
.iclpated "a tho country grows older,
vouidnaturalIy load to an apparent
diminution in the size Of the family,
because census officers will not spend
much time tracing out family ceneaio-
Cios and relationships. Again, the
habit Of travel and emigration from one
part of the country TO another are in
Dressing with the Improvement OF trans
portation facilities, and this would also
account for an apparent increase in the
number and diminution in the average
size of families.
AZ between the different States and
Territories, the range in the size OF
families is not largo, IL we except few
of the newIy-settled regions, in which
special causes EXIT. IN Montana the
average il smallest, being but 3.94, and
in West Virginia the largest, 6.5a. AS
rule the largest families are in the
Southern States and in tho older States
Of the Mississippi valley, being Just the
parts Of the country where, from a
knowledge of anteccdent conditions, We
should expect to end that to DO the case.
In the New England States, New York.
New Jersey aud Ohio, the size is below
the average. California, also, is below
the average, circumstance which is
attributable, aside from the regency OF
settlement. to the presence OF Chinese.
But there has been rapid increase in
the average in thirty years. M shown by
the following figures: 1850, 3.77; 1860,
1856; 1870, 4.35; 1880, 4.s7. II is worthy
CT note that in Oregon, where there are
less Chinese than in California, the
average family consists Of 5.22 persons.
In the cities the size Of families ex-
hibits about the Same variations as in
the States NJ whole, bat the average ID
perhaps a lit!le higher-which contra
diets the popular idea tina. families
arc larger in the country. In San
francisco the average IL 538 persons.
while in tho State. as has been said. Is
bet 4.s7. In 1880, the number Of dwell
incs in Tie United States was nearly
100000; In 1870 il was q little over
7,0to,0oo. The average number Of per-
sons to dwelling is5.60. which is moro
than in 1870 and 1860, but less than in
1850. Asa rule, the number of persons
to dwelling is largest in tho largest
cities, but there ara marked exceptions.
In New York it is the highest, being
1861; bat The two nex. highest averages
are found III Hoboksn, N. j., and Holy
oke. Mass, being 1i.50 and 1859. re-
spcctisely. IN Chicago it iss.2s; Brook
lyn, oil; Philadelphia, 5.7s; San Fran
CISCO, 6.S6.