The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-13
CENTER OF POPULATION
1T Is NOW THOUGHT TO BE IN VI
CINITY OF COLUMBUS, IND.
Has Marched About Twenty Miles
Westward in a Decade-Erratfc
Advance Since 1870.

CHICAGO, Nov. 12.-Walter Wellman IN
the Times-Herald says: Westward the
star of empire still wends its way. The
census of 1900 will show that the center OF
population of the United States has moved
some distance nearer the Pacific coast
Eastern newspapers have published the
statement that the center Of population has
ceased its western march and will now
either remain stationary or retrace its steps
toward the Atlantic. But this is not true
Officials of the Census Office tell me the
pivotal point of the great American popu-
lation is still following the sun in its course
and keeping pace with Bishop Berkeley's
star of prophecy.
The westward movement OF this most in
teresting mathematic spot has not been as
great during the decade just ended as In
past decades. but it is highly important to
know that the trend Of the past hundred
years has not come to full stop with the
close of the nineteenth century.
From data already in hand it is roughly
estimated that the center of population
during the last decade has been about
twenty miles to the west and eight miles 10
the north OF the center in 1890. Ten years
ago the center was near the town OF
Greensburg. Ind. 1t is now in the vicinity
OF Columbus, Ind, probably no more than
six or seven miles from that city In a
northerly direction Only the official cal
culations upon the completion of the census
can accurately locate IL, but this Is near
enough for all practical purposes.
The westward march of the center or
population since the foundation Of the Re-
public is shown in the following table:
17so-Twenty-three miles east Of Balu-
more, Nd. ......,.....-.: .;....,....... ..
1so0-Eighteen miles west of Baltimore. =.
Md OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. NJ
1S10-Forty miles northwest by west or
Washington, ID. C...................... 80
lS20-Sixteen miles north Of Woodstock,
Va. 1890. %
1s50-Nineteen miles west southwest of
Moorefield, w. Va..................... -
1S40-Sixteen miles south of Clarksburg,
w va. .............'...... ~
1S50-Twenty-three miles southeast OF
Parkersburg, w. Va ..-....-.-...-. 50
1S60-Twenty miles south or Chilncothe,
Ohio -. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81
1S70-Forty-eight miles east by north of
Cincinnati, O.. ........................ AZ
1Ss0-Eight miles west by south of Gin :.
1@o-Twenty miles east of Columbus, Ind. IS
1e00-Seven miles north of Columbus. Ind. 70
1t is curious fact that the growth CT
population east Of the old center might In
any given decade be greater than the
growth of population west of the old CEN
ter, and yet the new center be found still
farther west.
This is true because the center of popula-
ton depends wholly upon the distribution
OF the fb,J0UUUU units oil winch the mass is
composed. An increase of LOCO in the popu-
lation 500 miles west of the old center ex-
actly counterbalances an increase of 5000
in the population 100 miles east of the old
center.
The center of population Of the United
States is ascertained by an assumption that
the whole area of the country is a plane,
like board and that every unit counts the
same every other unit. except for
its distance from the assumed center.
Where is the pivotal point at which the
plane could be supported with 2ll the peo-
pie of the United State exactly counter
balancing one another and keeping the
plane at a perfect horizontal?
In calculating the effect of changes of
population of this pivotal point IL is neces-
sary to take distances into account In
the following table, therefore. is given not
only the increase of population in each
State and Territory during the last ten
years. but the estimated average distance
of that increased number of inhabitants
from the old center: