The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-19
GROWTH OF URBAN POPULATION
IN THE NORTH is sURPRIS-
INGLY LARGE
SOUTH INCREASES IN COUNTRY
Slowly and Country Population
More Slowly Still in
Recent Years
OPPOSITE IS TRUE OF DIXIE

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-The director
of the census today gave out state
ment regarding the growth of urban pop
ulation North and South which shows the
following facts:
The large cities, taken collectively, are
growing nearly twice as rapidly as the
rest of the country: the per cent of the
population OF Northern states living in
large cities is nearly three times as great
as the corresponding per cent in the
South; the North has a rate of increase
no greater than that of the South The
large cities in the North are growing
much faster than those of the same size
in the South, but, that this difference is
balanced by an extremely rapid growth
of small towns and cities in the South,
and especially by the high rate of in
crease Of Southern rural population.
The statement says these results seem
paradoxical. but are correct.
Director Merriam's statement is de-
signed to explain how the deduction that
the South for the first time is now grow
ing as rapidly as the North harmonfzes
with the we'll knot n facts that in the
North the proportion of inhabitants living
in cities is much larger than it is in the
South. and that as rule cities increase
in population much more rapidly than
country districts.
NOrtherners Flock to Cities.
The statement shows that in the North
the proportion of the population living in
large cities is more than three times as
great as it is in the South. The popu1a-
tion living in cities Of over 25 900 nhabi-
tants increased 41.0 per cent between 1890
and 1900, partly by the growth of the 124
cities Of that size in 1890 and partly by
the addition during the following ten
years of thirty-six other cities to the list.
A. i
these cities increased between 1880 and
300, 14.9 per cent. The 16O cities of the
United States, each of which had over
10000 inhabitants in 1900 increased in
population 32.5 per cent between 1880 and
1900; the rest of the United States, ex-
cluding Alaska and the recent insular ac-
cessions, increased III per cent
OF the total population of 70, 994575 in
continental United States. 19,718,312, or
25.9 per cent, live in cities of Is, 600 in
habitants Or more. The proportion of in
habitants of the three sections, the
North, South and West, into which the
census divides the United States, follows:
North, total population, 47,379,699; popu-
lation of cities of 25,OO0 or more. 16.196,5So,
or "a per cent.
South, total, "a, ,523, ,527; cities of $4,000 or
more, 2,4SS,553, or 10 per cent.
West 4O9l .S49; cities of 25,0O or more,
1G33,1T9. or % per cent.
1AAS PC1 NSuI VI 1liCiSdS0 Oh pODuldClOn
living in places of sizes indicated from
1890 to 1900, by sections, follows:
q, 600 and over, North. 422; South, S1.0;
West 47.3; in United States, 41.O.
5000 to 5000, North, 22.7; South, 269;
West, 179; in United States, 231.
1900 to 5000, North, 27.6; South, S7.S;
West, 5O7; IN United States, 367.
Incorporated. places of less than 4OOO
NJ rth, 279; South. 44.4; West, 465; in
United States, $780,
Rural: North, 1.2; South, 179; West,
p 0; in United States, "a
The figures, concludes the statement
show that the present growth of popula-
tion is a resultant in the North of a
very rapid growth of large cities, a
slower growth OF small cities, and a very
slight growth in the county; and a re-
su!tant in the South of a rate Of growth
of large cities below the average for the
country. balanced by a striking growth
Of small cities and an increase of rural
population twice as fast as the average
for the United States.