Evening star., 1947-11-05
D. {. Area Population
or 1,175,384 in '43
Reported in Census

Inc pOpuldtlOl Ol tlle WdSIl1IlS
ton Metropolitan district increased
from 919,632 in 1910 to 1,175.3S4 in
1943, the Census Bureau disclosed
today.
This 27.S per cent jump not only
exceeded a 1875 per cent rise in Bal
timore but was the greatest for any
area of more than 100000 population
At the same time, the Metropoli-
tan Area-consisting of the Dis
trict, Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties, Arlington County
and Alexandria City-was third low
est of all metropolitan districts in
the rate at which the native white
population is reproducing.
The Washington area, according
to statistical tables in the bureaus
report on the growth of Metropol-
tan Areas from 1910 to 1910, also
seemed particularly vulnerable to
atom bomb disaster because of the
proportionately large and increas-
| ing number of people living near
the center of the city.
Concentration Irend.
Despite an increase of 1873 per
cent from 1880 to 1910 in the pop
ulation of sections farther than
3 miles from the center Of this
city the population within l mile
of the center increased 20.9 per cent,
the report showed In the area from
| | to 2 miles from the center
there was a 312 per cent increase.
In the 2 to 3 mile circle the increase
was 45.3 per cent.
Nationally, the trend toward con-
centration of population in metro
politan districts has steadily grown
during the past 80 years, the report
stated While Washington has fol-
lowed this trend, with far above
average rate of increase in nearby
areas, it has continued also to in
crease in population in neighbor-
hoods within comparatively short dis
tances of the center of the city,
Ideal A-Bomb Target.
Listing the Washington metropoli-
tan area among those where the
physical structure is ideal for de-
struction by A-bombs," the report
noted that 47.8 per cent of the popu.
lation of the United States in 194(
lived in 14O metropolitan districts
with central. cities of more thar
100000.
A survey by the bureau last April
covering "a of the 140 metropolitan
districts, indicated no substantial
change either in the vulnerabilit!
of those districts to the A-bomb o.
in the continued population trent
toward urban centers.
The population figures for 1874
are the first official totals showing
the great increase here since tn
1910 Federal census.
The Washington metropolitan
district increase to 1883 not onl.
was the largest of any district Will
population of more than 500,00'
but was exceeded by only two others
These were a ST. per cent increas'
for the Norfolk Portsmouth New
port News district, which went W
from 321 $50 to 505,119 between 1914
and 1943, and AZ per cent gair
for the San Diego, Calf, metropoli
tan county.
The Baltimore district increased
from 1,O73 ,221 to 1,207,436. The New
York City metropolitan district, in
cluding several New Jersey coun
ties, dropped from 11,524,o1S to 10,
7O3. .374.
The report stressed the surve!
findings that "the people in moderi
large cities do not reproduce ut ;
rate sufficient to maintain tnet
numbers
Influx of Immigrants.
"For some time we have knowl
that the native white population il
our large cities was not reproducing
ITSELF" the report stated. "but tn,
full import of this fact for ou
future growth as Nation was OBJ
scured by the great influx into thes'
cities of immigrants who had thu
reproductive habits of rural people
and by the relatively high rate O.
natural increase in our native rura
population.
Taking a Replacement index" o
100 to signify a community ha'
sufficient children to maintain it!
present population, the report dis.
closed that Washington, New York