New-York tribune., 1902-02-09
MORE CENSUS STATISTICS.
TIDE OF MIGRATION TO THE FAR WEST
RECEDING-TiE GROWTH OF
SMALL TOWNS.

washington. Feb S-The Director Of the Census
has made a statement in regard to the increase Of
population Of places Of less than 400 inhabitants
east and west of the Mississippi River, and the
counties which have decreased in population.
The percentage Of increase Of people in the States
Of Mississippi River 1877 between 1880
and 1880 and 1872 between 1890 and 1900 In the same
area the increase in urban population. meaning
thereby al places Of more than 1900 inhabitants,
was 531 per cent between 1850 and 1890, and only
372 per cent between 1880 and 1900. Both Of these
statements could not he unless the popua-
ton Of places having less than 400 inhabitants
had been growing rapidly in the last ten years
than in the preceding decade Such is the TACT
Between 1850 and 1890 the population east of the
Mississippi and excluding places Of more than 4.0j0
increased 40 per cent, but between 1890 and 1900
81 per cent
To throw further light on this increased pros
perity Of the small towns in the last ten years, A
study has been made by the Census ONCE of those
counties which actually decreased in population at
either decade. after making allowance for changes
IN county boundaries. Counties of this class
predominantly agricultural. and usually have lost
through migration to more favored localities the
natural increase of their population by excess of
births deaths Between 1880 and 1890 the coun-
ties east of the Mississippi which lost population
extended over area of 202 square miles,
nearly as great as New-Engand, New-York and
Pennsylvania. This about one-siXth on per
cent? of the total east Of the Mississippi
River. Between 1890 and 1890 the counties east of
the Mississippi River which lost population extend
ed over area Of 902lS square miles. This is only
ABOUT one-tenth QO6 per cent? of the total
OF the Mississippi. The figures show that in this
Paft ot the country an area almost equal to that
oI Aew-Engand lost population between 1880 and
1890 but gained between iSS0 and 1900
est OF the Mississippi the changes were in the
reverse direction-that is, the losing popula-
ton slightly larger between 1880 and 1900 than
it was between 1880 and 1899 C234S62. as compared
with 21s:s square riles). But in the country a
whole the Of counties losing population was
10000 square miles less in the last decade than
il was between 1850 and 1890. To show the infiu-
ence of this change. the percentage of total area
lions being made for the changes in county houn-
1890 was 2eg between 1sg5 and 1900 81 The Core
cent North Central-1SSo-1Ss0, i21 per cent; 1890
cent; 1sS019OG 40 per cent Western division-1SS0-
1880 129 per cent 1Ss0-19O0. Sc per These fig
cept the North Central the increase of population
was more widespread and general in the last dec
North Central division be divided into two parts
the Mississippi River. the percentage of in the
% in the earlier l21 in the decade. the
contrary, in the Western North Central the per-
later decade Further analysis shows that a gain
Of population in the last decade reported from
every county Of Minnesota and North Dakota. and
every county but one Of Iowa. In South Dakota,
Nebraska and Kansas the contrary, there
large areas mostly in the western part and sparse
~ setted, Lor Whlch a decrease OF population was
reported The tide Of migration IN 1890 had pushed
~ III sloes " me s5t pials iuItleI udil COLI
diuons warranted. and in the last decade the wave
has been receding, depicting these and filling
up the rural counties of such States as Iowa and
Illinois In Iowa the percentage Of area losing
population fell from y between 1880 and 1890 16
between 1890 and 1900 In Illinois il fell from 2s6
each State the population decreased between 1880
and 1880, only to increase in the last ten years In
no other important States has there been so
marked change.