The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1911-09-02
TREND OF PEOPLE IS
TOWARD TIE CITIES


shown by the latest census figures
has been determined by the Cen
sus Bureau, and preliminary
statement, covering every State
and Territory of continental Unit
ed States, has been issued by Di-
rector Durant. These statistics
have been compared with similar
figures for the censuses of 1000
and 1890, and they bring out very
forcibly the general trend OF popu-
lation toward the cities.
The Census Bureau, ior pur-
poses OF discussion, mas defined
urban population generally as that
residing in cities and otherincor-
porated places of $500 inhabitants
or more. In the New England
States, in addition to cities having
this population, all towns having
a population OF $500 or more have
also been classed as urban, with
out regard to the population of
the villages whether incorporated
as such or not which they may
contain. Urban population being
thus defined, the remainder OF the
country or State is classed as ru-
raj. In most of the States, there
fore, the rural population consists
OF the population outside of cities
or other incorporated places OF
$500 inhabitants or more, but in
the New England States it con-
sists OF the population outside Of
towns and cities having $500 in
habitantS or more.
In the New England division
more than four-tifths of the popu-
lation in 1910 lived in urban terri
tory, as defined by the Census
Bureau. Vermont is the only
State in this division in which the
population classified as urban is
less than half the total population
o; the State, while in Rhode Is
land and Massachusetts, more than
nine. tenths OF the total popula-
ton in 1910 is classified as urban.
in the Middle Atlantic Division
the urban population constituted
more than seven-tenths of the to-
tai population, but the proportion
for he State of New York alone
was very nearly four-fifths and
that for New Jersey fully three
fourtls.
In the East North Central and
the Pacific divisions the urban ter
ritorv in each case contained more
than hall the total population in
1910. but in the former division
there were three States-lndiana,
Michigan and Wisconsin-and in
,Ire latter division one State-Ore-
gcn-in each OF which the urban
population comprised less than
half, but more than 40 per cent. OF
the total population.
There are II States in which
more than hall the population in
1910 was living in urban territory.
A comparison o: the figures for
continental United States shows
all increase since 1000 in the popu-
latitn living in urban territory OF
ILo35,S4l, or $40 per cent. The
total population being in rural ter
l.tory in IylC-that is, for the re-
nainder OF the continental United
States outside OF urban communi-
ties, it was 4O,34S,SS3, as compar-
c dWith total population living
in the same urban territory in
1900 OF 44,4o7,o35, an increase in
rural population during the same
period of 4,04I,S5O, or III per
cent. For continental United
States as a whole, therefore, the
rate OF increase for the population
OF urban areas was fully three
times that for the population liv-
ing in rural territory.
OF the total increase in the pop
ulation OF continental United
States during the past decade U.s.
977,6OD. it also appears that seven
tcnthS ClLo35,S4D, was in urban
territory and that only three
tenths lE04I,S5o) was in rural ter
ritory.
Considering the nine geographic
divisions of continental United
States, the table shows that the
largest increases in urban popula-
ton since 1900 are for the Pacific
West South Central and noun
tain divisions, in the order named,
the percentages of increase being
1921, Is and o5.I, respectively.