Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-10
CENSUS STUDIES.

The census of the United States taken in
June, 1900 is perhaps the most perfect
report of the population. material and
social conditions of this'eountry ever made
up. 1t has the additional merit Of having
been given to the public more promptly.
more particularly and in better classi-
fed form than any previous census.
The special bulletins following the gen.
eral reports never fail to bring additional
subjects for thought and comment by
newspapers and citizens, and thereby help
very much the cause OF popular education.
We heye before us one Of the fastest of
these bulletins relating historically and
comparatively to the area and population
of the United States.
For the sake Of convenience the area Of
our country. on June /. 1900. is divided into
continental United States and the outlying
districts. the latter including Alaska and
the recent insular accessions of Hawaii,
Porto Rico. the Philippine islands, Guam
and Samoa. e
The area of the United States at the
date of the last census was S,6sO,s22 square
miles, or about one-fourteenth of the land
surface of the globe. The British empire.
the Russian empire and the Chinese EN-
pire were still greater in extent, and
France would be larger II her claims in
North Africa were conceded.
The latest census adopts these FIVE main
geographic divisions Of the United States,
namely North Atlantic South Atlantic,
North Central, South Central and West
ern.
These are more specially classified as
follows:
The North Atlantic division embraces
the states of Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island
Connecticut, New York. New Jersey and
Pennsylvania. This division has an area
of 1872 1903 square. miles and population Of
q ,046, sos.
The South Atlantic division is made up
of the states OF Delaware. Maryland, Dis
triet of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia,
North Carolina. South Carolina, Georgia
and Florida, with an aggregate area of
26s. $50 square miles and a population of
10 44s, 4S0
The North Central division is made up
OF the states of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois.
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa,
Missouri. North Dakota, South Dakota
Nebraska and Kansas. The area is 1853, $50
square miles. with population of 2s,-
3S3. 004.
The South Central division embraces
the states OF Kentucky. Tennessee. Ala
bama, Mississippi. Louisiana. Arkansas.
Indian Territor, Oklahoma and Texas.
having an aggregate area of 610,215 square
miles and a population of 14OSOO47.
The Western division includes, Montana
10
Arizona, Utah. Nevada. Washington, Ore
gon and California. 1t covers an area OF
1.175.742 square miles and has a popula-
ton Of 4,O9l.349 souls.
Alaska is put in separate division in
Guiding 59O.5S4 square miles and a popula-
ton of only 1882.
The insular division which we have re-
Gently acquired by conquest or purchase,
not including this recent Danish island
job is made up of the Philippines Porto
Rico, Isle of Pines, Hawaii, Guam and
Samoa, with an aggregate area of 1SO, $50
square miles and a joint population of s.
OS6 1873.
From this bulletin we learn that the
total area over which our flag floats
amounts TO $685. 1922 square miles and the
aggregate population TO S4,2Sa,O69.
The Chinese. the British and the Rus
sian empires come ahead of us in the or
der named. France has almost as many
people under her sway il her African
claims are allowed, but ii is practically
certain that France will never get
what she demands there.
What we generally class as the north in
the United Statesshas about the same area
as the south and contains about twice as
much population.
one Of the most important facts revealed
by this bulletin is that in continental
United States about twO-fifths of the en-
tire population lives in 'cities and towns
of at least $500 population. In the north
ern, central and western divisions more
than one-third Of the whole population
is in the cities and in the south only
One-sixth. So much better for the south!