The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-10-01
CITY INCREASE
IS FAR BEYOND
THAT OF FARMS
Census Bureau Estimates Popu.
.latiOn of United States at
About 105,O00,OO0
SMALL HAMLETS GROWING
Large Cities of Country, How
ever, Show Greatest Jump
in Population


sreasing in population seven and a
half times as fast as the rural dis
tricts, the census bureau disclosed in
a compilation of figures covering ap-
| proximately 85 per cent of the new
census The figures indicated that the
completed census would show the ma
jority of the population to he city
dwellers.
For the last 10 years, rural growth
was but one-third as great as it was
in the previous decade, but the cities
almost maintained their rate of
growth, getting five new inhabitants
from 1910 to 1920 for each six added
during the preceding 10 years. All
population centers, even the small
country hamlets and towns, showed a
greater proportionate increase than
the purely rural districts. The great
est increases, however, were by
cities of 10000 or more Inhabitants
While the bureau attempts no ex-
| planatiOn of the reasons for the in
creasing migration to the cities each
year during the last decade, presum-
ably higher wages, shorter working
days and home conveniences at
tracted the rural population, espe-
cially during the war.
r.. Total Near $1O5, 100000
Although showing check in the
rate of population growth for the
country as a whole. the figures indi-
Gated that the complete census would
place the total number of inhabitants
Of the continental United States at ap-
proximately 1O5,76S,1O0, gain Of
13,795.S40, or Is per cent. Cities will
absorb practically all of this in
crease, it being estimated that an
increase of 12,172,7OO comes from
towns of $500 or more Inhabitants,
while 1,623.04O were added to the
farms and the small hamlets.
Such a movement of the people
will place the urban population at
approximately 54,796,10O and the
ruraf population at 5O,S72,0O0. In
1910, the rural population outstripped
that of the cities by almost 100000
| people, there being 49,348,S83 in the
country and 42,623,383 in the cities.
| Rural Growth Lessons
For several centuries" said the
bureau announcement, the country
has not been growing as rapidly as
fthe city, but the difference appears
to be greater at this census than
ever before.
The urban population, the an
nouncement added, increased at a
! rate of 252 per cent, while that. of
the rural districts. including the VIII
lagos and towns under $500 popula
ton, was 3.4 per cent. For the strict
ly farm territory the rate was 32 per
cent and that of the villages was Al
per cent
Among the urban centers, cities ex
ceeding, $4,000 increased at 26.4 per
cent, those of 10000 to $4,000 at 26.'
per cent, and those of $500 to 10000
at 1873 per cent. From 1900 to 1910,
the percentage rate of increase for
these three classificati0ns of cities
were 35.6, 33.7 and 27.S, respectively.
Up to 10 days ago, the announce
ment said, the count of population,
estimated at IS per cent complete
had reached 92,09S,2S1 For purposes
of comparison between city and
country the bureau reduced the fig
ure to 90,956,942 by eliminating the
population of the insular possessions,
and places in the United States for
which comparison was deemed in
advisable because of new boun-
aries.
Of this total population, that clas-
sified as urban was reported as 50,
494,749, the cities over $4,000 popula
tion having 1888 ,O3S inhabitants,
those of 10000 to $4,000, having H.
771,224 and those of $500 to 10000
having S,190,4S7. The rural popula-
tion was 32,025,961 in the country
districts and 6,066,O32 in villages un-
der $500 in population.