Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1881 — OUR POPULATION. [ARTICLE]

OUR POPULATION.

Some Interesting- Statistics of Ike New Census. [From the Chicago Tribune.] Tbe total population (exclusive of Indians and the inhabitants Of Alaska) u 50,152,550. The United States is thus shown to be the second most numerous nation in the civilized world. Not counting the negroes, who are estimated to number 6,060,000 souls, the population of this country considerably exceeds that of tbe German empire. Russia only remains in the lead with 65,000,000 inhabitants in tbe empire proper. But these returns are half gue.-tr work, and might be largely diminished or increased by an official count. It is sale to s,y that, unless the growth of the country is checked by rotne unforeseen cause, the population of the United States in ten years will equal or exceed that at present accorded to Russia. The percentage of growth is far higher in tho former thau in the latter. In industrial, social and political [Xiwer tho United States is almost iuiinitely superior to Russia. Indeed, the American r- public fi'is no serious rivalry to fear Hom any quaiter. England is her only equal in financial resources and Germany in fighting lorce ; and tbe situation of the country is sucu that she can have uo apprehension of interference with her domestic affairs by any power or combination of powers. The following tables show the distribution of population by sections, and the relative increase in each division of the country in the last teu years. 'J he States formerly known as the Middle ritates and New England are bunched together. They make a group of nine Eastern States. It will be observed that the rate of growth in Vermont--one-halt of 1 per cent.— has been the lowest of any State m the Union, and that of Maine the third lowest, Nevada coining between. The table of Eastern and JLildie States is as follows : Ter~ Staten. Pop. 1870. Pop. 1880. Increase. Cent. Maine 626,915 648,945 22,03') 3% N.Hamps’ire . 818,300 347.784 29.484 9 Virmoiit.... 330,551 332,2841 1,735 % Hafßachu’te. 1,457,351 1,783,086 325,735 22 lUiodels.’nd 217,853 276,428 59,1’5 27 Connecticut. 537,454 622,683 85.229 16 New York... 4,387,464 5,08.1,173 695,709 16 1 N-c-.v Jersey. 906,096 1,130,892 224,796 25 * • ennsylva'ia 3,522,050 4,282,738 760,688 21>f Total 12.313,534 14,508,115 2,204,581 18 Ohio and all the States and Territories west to the Rocky mountains and north of Mason and Dixon’s line are included in the Second group. The rate of growth in the States apd most of the Territories west of the Mississippi has oeen very rapid. Tho other commumtius in what was formerly known as the Northwest have had a slower, but still healthy, growth. Montana shows a positive loss of population, as does also Arizona, which is included with the Pacific States. The soil of these Territories is for the most part worthless, and their mines have not fulfilled lhe promises that have been made for them. The group of thirteen Northern and Western States and Territories is as follows : oiates and Ter- I Per ritoriea. Pop.lßlo. Pop.lßßo. Increase. Cent. Ohio 2,665,260 3,197,794 532,534 20 Michigan 1,187,2341 1,634,096 446,8-2 38M mdiaua 1,680,637 1,978,858 298,221 18 Illinois 2,539,891 3,078.636 638,745 21 Ai.-consin 1,064.985 1,315,386 250.401 23X Minnesota 446,056 780,807 334,751 75 lowa 1,194,320 1,624,463 430.143 36 Nebraska 129,32 . 452,432 323,110 242 Missouri 1,721,295 2,16.1,091 447,796 26 Kansas; 373,29! 995,335 622,036 166 Colorado 47,164 194,649 147.485 Dakota 40,05! 134,0021 93.951 234 Montana. 39 89." 39,157 ‘738 - *3 Wyoming 11,51- 20,788 9,270 80 Total.. 13,140,92 7,615,494 4,174?567 34 • Decrease. Missouri is put with tho South, though geographically she belongs with tho North. Her social and industrial development has been the same as that of the other ex-slave States, and for that reason she is classed with them. Tho Territory of New Mexico, being the only distinctly southern Territory, is put in tho same group. The table embraces sixteen States and o lie Terri t o r v_: dates andl'er- ' I Per ritory. Pop 1870. Pop. 1880. \ Increase. Cent . I . —— Delaware 125,015 146,654 21,639 17 Maryland 780,894 935,139 154,245 Virginia 1,225,163 1,512,20:) 287,0,0 \Vcst Virginia 412,014 618,193 176,17!* 40 N. Carolina... 1,071,361 1,400,000 328.639 30X S. Carolina... 71)5,601 995,706 290,100 41 Georgia 1,184,109 1,538,98 - 354,874 30 Florida 188,248 266,560 78,318 Kentucky 1,321,011 1,648,599 327,588 Tennessee.... 1,25-,520 1,542,463 283,943 22X Alabama 996,992 1,262, <44 265,352 26 Mississippi... 827,922 1,131,89!’ 303,977 ‘M% Louisiana 726,915 940,263 213,348 29 Arkansas 484,471 802,564 318,09 > 65)4 Texas 818,899 1,597.509 775,6!0 95 New Mexico.. 111,303 118,430 7,127 6 Total 12,268.443 16,457,515 4,189,072 34 The States and Territories west of the Rocky Mountains, seven in number, are classed togother: States and Per Territories. Pap. 1870. Pop. 1880. Increase. Cent. Caifornia... 582,031 864.686 282,655 48M Oregon 101,883 174,767 72,884 71# Nevada 58,711 62,265 3,554 6 Washington. 37,43.' 75,120 87,688 100)4 Idaho 20,583 32,611 12.028 58 Utah 99,581 143,907 44,326 44)4 Arizona 41,710 40,441 *1,26!) ‘3 T0ta1.... 941,031 1 393,797 451,866 48 ‘Decrease. The District of Columbia does not belong to any section. It has a large floating population, which is composed pkrtly of Government officials. It is accordingly put by itself, and appears in the summary which i; appended : p er croup. Pop. 1870. Pop. 1880. Increase. Ct. Eastern 12,303,534 14,508,115 2,204,581 18 Northwestern.. 13,140,927 17,6151,494 4.474.567 34 Southern 12.268.44 ii 16,457,515 4,189,072 34 Pacific 941.931 1,393,797 451,866 48 District 131,700 177,638 45,938 35 38,786,535 50,152,559 11,366,024 29X Alaska...... .. 7u,68f .... Indian Ter... 68,377 38,925,598 .... It will lie seen that Alaska and the Indian Territory aro not included in the statement for 1380. There were in 1870 about 860,000 Indians sustaining tribal relations. None of these are included in the count for purpos. s of representation. When the Indians aud the inhabitants of Alaska are added, it is probable that tbe total population will be found to exceed 50,500,000. ■> The following table shows the relative growth of population in each group from 1860 to 1870, and from 1870 to 1880 : I’cr cent. t‘er cent, increase. increase. 1860-1870. 1870—1880. Eastern group .16 18 Northwestern group 64 34 Southern grouplo 34 Pacific group 9lX <8 District of Columbiaßß 85 General average 22X 29 M There has been a considerable addition, not only to the aggregate population, but to the rate of growth, though the lower average in the previous decade was unquestionably due partly to the war and partly to the defective enumeration in the Southern States. Tho latter cause also gives the South a better showing in the comparative exhibit .than that section under other circumstances wou d have.