Evening star., 1915-03-07

n recent census report SHOWS tndI
IN since the first census. taken in
= 1880, tho country, then q little
group Of eighteen states containing
ss7.ss square miles. has expanded into
a nation Of forty-eight states with an
area OF 2.s73.s9o: and from q popula-
tion Of 329.214 to ono of s1,s72.226; be-
sides outlying possessions-Alaska
Hawaii and Porto Rico-with a total
of 1,42s,ss5 miles and q population OF
1,429.ss5.
The chief accretions to our area were
the Louisiana purchase from France
Gso3), S17.ss5 miles; the Florida pur-
chase and lands gained by treaty with
Spain (1s1s), 67.723 miles; Texas an
nexation 1s45), 3s5.19o miles: the Ore
gon territory, 2s2,s57 miles, and the
Mexican cession. 52c,s02 miles. The
total number of miles varies each year,
as 1t loses land by the encroachments
Of the sea, or gains by the addition OF
lands reclaimed. but this seldom
amounts to more than a few hundred
miles and the gain about balances the
Floss.
Excepting cities, the population in
few localities exceeds ninety to the
square mile. the average number being
about forty-four to the mile. West of
the Mississippi 1t rarely reaches that
number The most densely populated
states are New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Delaware and Maryland. The Pa
cific coast is quite thickly settled. but
thence easterly to line nearly paral-
lei with the Mississippi river and about
500 miles west Of 1t. embracing about
third of the total area OF the coun-
try the population hardly reaches nve
to the square mile. so that there Is sun
some space to be occupied before people
actually jostle one another In their
daily occupation.
Including cities. Rhode Island Is the
most densely settled state. with 5oS.5 to
with the District Of Columbia, which has
5,517.8 to the mile. Nevada, the most
sparcely inhabited state has only seven
persons to every ten miles.
In 1890 the center of population OF
the entire country was about twenty
three miles east Of Baltimore. It then
began to move west and has been go
ing that way. with some upward or
downward variations, since. In 1910: 1t
had reached point about iorty miies
northwest of Washington: by 1850 1t
had reached Chillicothe. Ohio. and In
1910 it had reached a point in Bloom
ington, Ind.
The largest state is Texas with an
area Of 262,398 miles, and the smallest
is Rhode Island. containing 1.067 miles.
In other words. the former would con-
tain more than 245 states Of the size
of Rhode Island. but the density Of the
latters population helps to offset this.
the population of Texas being only
about seven times that of the smallest
state. New York has the largest popu-
lation. 9.113.416. and Nevada the small
est, s1,s75, although Nevada is nearly
three times as large as New York:
OF the total population. 42,623,3S3 live
in municipalities of $500 or more In
habitants. and the remainder, 4s.34S: s43.
form the rural population of the whole
country.
One million. three hundred thousand
who were born in the state of New
York, have moved to other states. as
against $4,000 who are living in New
York, although born in other states. In
proportion to its population, 5,638,591,
in no state has there been SO great a
shifting of native sons as in Illinois.
From which state 100000 born there
have moved to other states, as against
100000 who have taken their places.
Il