Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-22
ATLANTA OVERTOPS
MEMPHIS IN CENSUS;
BIRMINGHAM THIRD
Memphis Drops from Second
to Fourth PIace-NeW Orleans
Is Now First and Atlanta Is
Second

The census bureau Thursday night an
nOunced the population of Memphis.
showing that this city which was second
among southern cities in 800 has been
supplanted in second place by Atlanta,
and has dropped to fourth place. trail
ing behind Birmingham
Southern cities. In regard to popula-
ton. now occupy the relative positions
shown in the foregoing table.
Some OF the mighty have fallen and
the lovely have been raised UP.
In 90, Atlanta was In third place.
Birmingham was in sixth and Memphis
lorded II over all but New Orleans from
second place.
The population Of Memphis then ex-
ceeded that OF Atlanta by I2.44S. and that
OF Birmingham by 6,sO5. Now the pop
ulation OF Atlanta exceeds that Of Mem
phis by ., 7Sl: and in Birmingham there
are 1,TSo more folks than in the River
City.
The growth by Birmingham seems
marvellous, but II IS not hard to explain.
Birmingham now has within its cor
porate limits 50 square miles
Atlanta has only IS square miles.
Memphis also spreads over a large
area In 100. all OF the territory round
Memphis was included within the city.
In fact. practically all OF Shelby county
In which Memphis is situated. was taken
IN TO add to Memphis population
Atlanta. while adding TO its territory.
has expanded its limits very little when
the outreaching OF Birmingham Is con-
sldered- Here there has really been
steady and remarkable growth in popu-
Iation. Additions TO the city have OF
course made the census figures larger;
but II has been principally the increase
OF the city proper that has added 10 the
population
SIGNS OF INCREASE.
Records Of building permits, bank
clearings. and postoffice receipts show
this. Business and building conditions
in q city really indicate it's size.
The building permits that have been
issued In Atlanta from January l to
November 1 exceed In amount those is
sued IN Memphis by SS74.17I They ex-
coed those issued in Birmingham by g.
2s7.7o6.
AtIanta's building permits since the
FIRST Of the year amount 10 S622o.s7s.
Mer1phis'. to sS.s4s.40S-
Birmingham's. to s2.s62,ssS
Atlanta's bank cIearings and Atlsnta's
postofice receipts also exceed those OF
Memphis and Birmingham by a comfort
able margin
These things show. perhaps. better
than census figures the relative size Of
the three cities.
II has been predicted that the popula-
ton OF Atlanta would exceed the popu-
lation OF Memphis. but the fact that
Birmingham slipped into third place and
Memphis dropped to fourth is a sur
prise
The census figures have caused q great
disappointment in Memphis. according to
a dispatch received Friday. A few weeks
ago a committee from the Memphis Bust
ness club went to Washington and asked
that the census OF Memphis be taken
over again Three wards were investi-
gated and IL was found that the first
enumeration was right The recount was
denied
One reason for Memphis failure to con-
tinue the great growth shown In 1900 is
said to be the fact that there is no
more outlying territory left for ii TO in
clude within its limits. The Mississippi
river and the states OF Mississippi and
Arkansas keep 1t from expanding on the
three sides, and on the fourth II has
stretched out till IL has taken In nearly
all Of one county. The only thing for
Memphis 10 do now seems to be to in
habit the unsettled places included with
IN the city.
The 1910 census shows that Birming-
ham has undergone a greater growth IN
population during the last ten years than
any other city. Atlanta Is second in
point OF growth. Richmond, third; Nash
VILE, fourth: Memphis. fifth. and New
Orleans sixth
OTHER SOUTHERN CITIES
Below are the southern cities that fol-
lo-v Nashville in size of population: