POPULATION OF U.S.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 14, 16 July 1936, Page 5

POPULATION OF U.S.A.

OFFICIAL ESTIMATE

There were 127,521,000 persons in the United States on July 1, 1935, the Bureau of Census estimates, says the "Christian Science Monitor." % This total represents a growth of 3.9 per cent, over the final population figure of the 1930 census which was fixed at 122,755,046.

The bureau's estimates, held by William L. Austin, director, to ■be "subject to relatively large errors," showed a decline in population in eleven of the forty-eight states. Regional shifts were held responsible. The movement towards the west, long an important influence in American history, was found to have slowed down considerably in the five years of the depression.

Seekers for a warmer climate apparently have headed for Florida rather than California. While the west coast State registered a 0.7 decline in its population, Florida enjoyed a 9.9 per cent, increase.

Other states in which decreases were

recorded were Rhode Island, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Montana, and Arizona.

An important story of the enormous growth of centralised government under the New Deal is told in' the District of Columbia population figure. The capital's population increased 22 per cent, in the five-year period, from 486,869 in 1930 to 594,000 in 1935. The great influx of Government employees since 1933 is held responsible.

Thirteen states now have less population, than does the little square of territory on the banks of the Potomac, set aside by George Washington as the site for the Government of the United States.

New York still remains the most highly populated of the forty-eight with 12,889,000 inhabitants, an increase of 2.4 per cent, over 1930. Pennsylvania is second with 10,066,000; Illinois third with 7,817,000; Ohio fourth with 6,707,000, and .Texas' fifth with 6,077,000.

Fastest growing states in the fiveyear period were South Carolina, with a 15,7 per cent, increase; Georgia, 15 per cent.; Tennessee, 11.0; and Florida, 9.9 per cent.

The Census Bureau's estimates are

based on school records, principally] ■enrolment and school census statistics. Director Austin refuses to vouch for their accuracy, declaring that only by. national population census, which will not be taken again until 1940, is it possible to secure exact data on the widespread shifts of population Caused by several years of depression.