The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-25
Some Facts About Population.
The Baltlmore Sun says


The Statistical Atlas of the Eleventh
OeI sls, just published, presents, with
the help Of numerous diagrams and
maps, the salient facts Of the census
taken nearly ten years ago. Among
other points Of interest discussed is the
relation Of the centre Of population Of
the United States TO the centre Of area.
Both centres have shifted materially
since the formation Of the Union. AT
present the centre Of area, excluding
Alaska. is in northern Kansas. but
when the Mississippi formed our western
border the centre Of area was some
where in the eastern part Of Kentucky.
The acquisition Of Louisiana, includ
ing an extensive territory in the north
west. shifted the centre Of area, OF
course, towards the Mississippi river
and the further acquisitions of Texas.
Oregon, and the Mexican cession and
the Gadsden purchase carried IL to the
point it now occupies
Population followed slowly the move
ments of the centre Of area. In 1890 ID
WAS confined almost wholly TO the
States that border on the Atlantic. BY
1910 population had spread over Ohio,
Kentucky and Tennessee. Twenty
years later the country east of the
Mississippi had been more or less occu-
pied parts Of the south. however. and
northern Illinois, Michigan and Wis.
consin being still comparatively un-
settled. Not till 1860 was all of the
United States east Of the Mississippi
pretty we'll taken mp. and even vet vast
areas west of the Mississippi are repre-
sented as having less than two inhabi-
tants to the square mile. Ia Oalifor-
MIA. Oregon and Washington there are
densely settled areas Of some extent, but
between the Pacific Coast States and
Kansas the map-maker depicts popula-
ton with his lightest tints
The centre Of population in 1890 was
twenty. three miles east Of Baltimore.
in latitude 80 degrees l6min. and 30sec.
From that time to 1890 it has been
moving westward along line between
the thirty ninth and fortieth parallels .ex
cept in 1880 and 1850, when it was found
to be few minutes south of the thirty
ninth parallel. In 1900 the centre of
population was eighteen miles west Of
Baltimore !; in 1910, forty miles north
west by west Of Washington in 1920.
sixteen miles north Of Woodstock. Va (;
in 1880, nineteen miles west-southwest
of Moore6eld, w. Va lin 1910. sixteen
miles south Of Clarksburg, W. Va. ; in
| 1850, twenty three miles southeast OF
Petersburg, W. Va. After this date
the centre Of population crossed the
Ohio and in 1850 was twenty miles south
Of Chillicothe, Ohio. Ten years later
it was forty eight miles east by north Of
Cincinnati. Ohio; in 1880, eight mile
west by south Of Cincinnati; 1890,
twenty miles east Of Columbus, Ind.
As respects the various stocks OF
which our population is composed, the
native white stock is found TO pre-.
ponderate very largely, especially in the
South. OF the foreign elericut the maj
or part is German, aud the Irish,
British, Canadian, Polish, Hungarian
and Italian stocks follow in diminish.
ing series. In Maryland more than
half Of the foreign-born element is
German, the Irish constituting about
one sixth and the British ne-eighth.
In Virginia the Germans. Irish and
English elements Of the foreign born
population are Of about equal strength.
In Utah the British element exceeds all
other foreign elements put together, and
in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
and Michigan the Canadians FREEDOM
mate. AS respects the religious sects
Of the United States their membership
is reported in the following order
Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presby-
terrain. Lutherans, Disciples, Episco-
palians, congregational, &c. No one
sect forming majority.