The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-11

Middle Atlantic, $50; East North Cen
trial. 14.2; West North Central. l25; South
Atlantic. 1873; East South Central, Ia;
West South Central. 34.5 Mountain, 5I.S,
Pacific. 7s.5. The increase was III per
cent in the Northern Section; ls-s per
cent in the Southern Section, and 65.S
per cent in the Western Section.
The per cents OF increase from 1890
10 1900 were for the main geographic
divisions as follows New England, 10
per cent; Middle Atlantic, A-6; East
North Central, 1876; West North Central,
1873: South Atlantic, 17.9: East South
Central, ia; West South Central, 3.Si
Mountain, 80, and Pacific, Is. During
that decade the population of the
Northern Section increased 1874 per cent;
Southern Section. pa per cent and
Western Section, 81 per cent.
1.-THE fact that the rate of increase for
the country as a whole was greater from
1860 TO 1910 than during the preceding
decade was due entirely 10 the added
rate of growth in the Middle Atlantic,
Mountain, and Pacific divisions. In all
six OF the other divisions the increase
during the last decade was less than
during the previous one.
Urban and Rural Population.
"As at every previous census. the pres
ent census will disclose a very great dif
ference In the rate of the growth OF
cities as compared with small towns and
rural districts. The standard adopted
by the Census Bureau in distinguish
ing urban from rural population is on
the basis of places of 300 inhabitants.
but at the present time il is possible 10
distinguish only the relative growth IN
places of 5000 or more inhabitants as
compared with all other territory. As
| there #as been. doubtless. a decidedly
more rapid growth In places between
?. 800 ard 5000 inhabitants than in small
places and rural districts, the figures
available now do not tell the whole
story
THE population of cities Of 5000 in
habitants IN 1910 IS 2S,50S.00 or 81 per
cent OF the total population. In 1900 the
| population OF cities OF $500 inhabitants
| or more was 259 per cent of the total,
and in 1880. 222 per cent. Later statistics
will probably show that more than -
/ per cent of the population of the country
| Is urban-that is. in places of $3.50 IN
habitants or more.
In the North the proportion or the
total population that lived in cities OF
25,CO inhabitants was 1915 per cent in 1910.
| 342 per cent in 1900. and 28.6 per cent IN
| 1890. In the South the corresponding per
! censszare IFS per cent in 1910, l0l per cent
/ in 1900, and 9.5 per cent in 1890 IN the
West the proportion living in cities Of
3 600 inhabitants or more is 3i.5 per cent
/ In 1910 as compared with % n 1890, and
| p per cent in 1890
The population living in cities of 5000
or more inhabitants has Increased much
more rapidly than that in the rest of the
country. The population of such cities IN
/ 1910 was ., SOS, COZ, as compared with H.
| O7S. fSa for the same cities in 1900, the IN
| crease being :, AZ, S1S. or So per cent
."The population in the rest OF the coun-
K try. including smaller cities and rural
districts. in 1910 was g. 1929, as compared
with a &c. Ss in 1850. the increase being
! S.54T.s73. or only about 100000 more than
the Increase OF the cities alone. me per
cent Of increase was 1876 per cent, or less
/ than half the rate shown by cities OF
| * 600 inhabitants
Stated another way, do per cent OK
| the increase in the population OF the
United States from 1900 10 1910 occurred
/ in cities having . 200 inhabitants or more.
what greater difference between the rate
1 Of growth of urban population and OF
/ rural population during the last decade
than during that preceding, the difference
was not as great as during the decade
OF 1870 to 1880 or as il was in most or
the earlier decades. The conclusion can
not, therefore, be safely drawn that there
4 is, in any broad sense. an increasing
tendency by the population TO leave the
| country and go to the city.
Counties Showing Decrease.
ITO be sure. there has been an absolute
/ decrease in the rural population in many
counties throughout the country, but
this has not been due entirely 20 move
ment to the cities. On the contrary, in
some sections il is doubtless due 10
movement to newer agricultural regions.
/ The decline in rural population has been
/ substantially general throughout the
/ great northern middle section Of the
/ country. In the States of Ohio. Indiana.
Illinois. Michigan. Wisconsin. Minnesota,
/ Iowa, Missouri Kentucky. and Tennes-
/ see. which lie in solid body 40 out of
the go counties decreased in population
/ from 1900 TO 1910. Were it possible to
separate at this time the rural from the
| urban population, large majority of
the counties in these States would show
decline In rural population.
The decrease in rural population in
| tht Middle States is by no means due to
/ lack Of prosperity. as the agricultural
statistics Of the Census Bureau show an
extraordinary increase in the value Of
farm lands and farm property through
| out this section. and will doubtless in
dictate great increase in the income
Of the farmers when the statistics are
compiled,
Taking the country as a whole. -lere
are 2925 counties, OF which 7sS. or 27.S
per cent, decreased in population during
the last decade.