The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-02-27
NEW ENGLAND CITIES.
Some Facts Connected with Their In
creasingly Rapid Growth

Some Facts Connected with Their In
creasingly Rapid Growth
Whatever the fate of the farming dis
tricts of New England, it is evident
that the cities are destined to expert
ence u continuous expansion for some
time to come. The movement toward
the suburbs, occasioned largely by the ex-
tension of the trolley roads, has checked
the growth of population within the
municipal limits in some instances, as
here in Providence, but this is sure to
be followed at no distant day by the an
ncxation of the neighboring districts.
Providence is much smaller in actual
area than many other American cit
les of less population, and could take
in considerable outlying territory
without creating u bulky and unwield-
~ municipality. Hartford, Haverhill,
Manchester, New Bedford, Newton,
Springfield and Worcester are among
the New England cities which spread
ozer a greater extent of territory than
we.
When the edera census was k
in 1890 only nine cities east of the Hud-
son has a population of $4,000 or over.
They were Boston, with 44s,47T; Provi-
dence, 1872, 146; Worcester, S4,655; New
Haven, sI,29s; Lowell, 77,696; Fall River.
74,39s; Cambridge, 70,02S; Lynn, 55.727,
and Hartford, SO,230. Seven years later
no less than 16 have reached or passed
the SO, 1000 mark. From estimates made
by city officials, it appears thatthe pres
ent. population of the first 16 cities of
New England Is: Boston, $4,000;
Providence, 10000; New Haven, 1885,
900; Worcester, 102, 900; Fall River, 9s,-
600; Lowell, $4,000; Cambridge, $1,000;
Hartford, 10000 (another estimate says
72,000); Lynn, 5000; New Bedford. So
14s; bridgeport, 6o,O00; Manchester,
$4,000; ~Somerville, $4,000; Springfield,
$4,000; Lawrence, $4,000, and Portland,
$4,000.
New Haven has passed Worcester in
the interval since 1890, and regained its
old position of third in the race. Lowell
has sunk from fifth to sixth, and may
be overtaken in the next few months by
Cambridge, while Fall River has risen
from fifth to sixth position. Hart
ford has experienced a remarkable
growth, leaving it's old rival, Bridge
port, far behind, but the greatest pro-
portionate gain of all has been made
by New Bedford, which has increased
nearly so per cent. There is something
especially gratifying in the growth of
his old whaling port. At one time
engaged more extensively in the whal-
ing industry han any other American
town, it fell into rapid decay, in com
mon with the other whaling ports of
New England, in the early hfties. The
famous ships of the preceding decade
rotted at it's wharves and its streets
were strangely quiet. But all this is
changed. The town has taken on new
life, and is at present II of The most
-rosperous in New England. If ITS
growth since 1890 is maintained dur
ing the next three years and a half. it
will have $4,000 people or more when
the next federal enumeration Is made.
There is a group of smaller cities,
which are rapidly approaching the So
600 mark, and will probably reach it
before many years have rolled by. Hol-
yoke is already a town of Al, 5000 inhabit-
ants, and Chelsea. HaEeFhnl, Brockton,
Pawtucket, Waterbury. Salem and Nal
den run all the way from 10000 to 49,
600. And what is true of the cities OF
New England is true of the cities of
the rest of the country. They show,
almost without exception. q consider
able gain since 1890. and the census OF
1900 will inevitably find a much largeE
proportion of the total population of
the United States conferred in the cit
les and large towns than ever before.
The proportion of urban population to
the whole in 1890 was 29.l2 per cent,
It will be more than 80 1-3 per cent
when the next census is taken.-Provi-
deuoa .JonruaI