The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1920-10-15
CENSUS REVEALS
DRIFT TO CITY
Big Centers Increasing 71a Times
as Rapidly as the Rural
Communities.
WAR INCREASED MOVEMENT.
Estimated Population of 1o5, 1853, 100
for Continental United States
Estimated Gain 13,7e5,s4
Country Gains 3.4 Per Cent.

WaShington.-Cities are increasing
in population seven and half times as
fast as the rural districts, the Census
Bureau disclosed In a compilation Of
figures covering Approximately IS per
cent of the new census The figures
indicated that the complete census
would show the majority of the popula-
ton to be city dwellers.
For the last ten years rural growth
was but one-third as great as 1t was In
the previous decade, but the cities al
most maintained their rate Of growth,
getting five new inhabitants from 1910
to 1920 for each six added during the
preceding ten years. All population
centers, even the small country ham,
let's and towns, showed a greater pro-
portionate increase than the purely
rural districts. The greatest 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
day and home conveniences attracted
the rural population, especially during
the war when wages in big industrial
centers went up rapidly.
Although showing a check in the
rate Of population growth for the
country as whole, the bureaus fig
ures indicated that the complete
census would place the total number
of inhabitants of the Continental
United States at approximately 105,-
76S, 100, a gain of 13,795,840, or Is per
cent. Cities will absorb practically all
of this increase. 1t being estimated
that 12,172,SOO would reside In towns
Of $500 or more inhabitants, while
1920 would be added to the farms
and the small hamlets. For the coun-
tryside itself, the increase would be
approximately 1,250,000.
Such a movement of the people will
place the urban population at approx
mately 54,796,1 100, and the rural pop
ulation at 5O,972,OOO. In 1910 the
rural population outstripped that Of
the cities by almost 100000 people,
there being 49,34S,SS3 in the country
and 42,623, 1888 in the cities. =.
"For several censuses," said the bu-
reau announcement, "the country has
not been growing as rapidly as the
city, but the difference appears to be
greater at this census than ever be-
fore.''
The urban population, the announce
ment added, increased at rate of 25.2
per cent, while that Of the rural dis
tricts, including the villages and towns
under $500 population, was 3.4 per
cent. For strictly farm territory the
rate was 80 per cent, and that Of the
villages was At. per cent.
Among the urban centers, cities ex-
ceeding $4,000 increased at 26.4 per
cent, those of 10000 to $4,000 at 26.7
per cent and those of $500 to 10000 at
1S.S per cent. From 1900 to 1910 the
percentage rates of Increases for these
three classifications of cities were 35.6,
33.7 and 27S respectively.
Up to ten days ago, the announce
ment said, the count of population,
estimated at s. per cent complete. had
reached 92,O9S,2S1. For purposes of
comparison between city and country,
the bureau reduced the figure to co..
5S6,742 by eliminating the population
of the insular possessions, and places
In the United States for which COM
parison was deemed inadvisable be-
cause of new boundaries.
Of this total population, that classi-
fed as urban was reported as 81, 1884,
749, the cities over $4,000 population
having 80, ,533,O3S inhabitants, those
of 10000 to $4,000 having 1.771.224
and those Of $500 to 10000 having
S,19O,4S7. The rural population was
32,$25, ,961 in the country districts and
6,O66,O32 In villages under $500 in
population.