Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Total USA
(including Hawaii and Alaska)
Region
Heartland Megalopolis
West
South
Area (km²)
2,289,290
450,775
3,042,141
1,881,736
9,161,924
Pop 1800*
350,553
3,049,541
—
1,908,389
5,308,483
Pop 1860*
10,629,088
11,468,613
618,976
8,726,644
31,443,321
Pop 1880
19,631,258 15,766,582 1,767,697 12,990,246
50,189,209
Pop 1900
30,229,369 22,698,192 4,091,349 18,975,665
76,212,168
Pop 1920
39,928,406 31,772,288 8,902,972 25,106,954
106,021,568
Pop 1950
51,644,471
42,941,250
19,561,525
36,550,115
151,325,798
Pop 1970
64,093,835
54,267,716
33,735,250
50,046,182
203,211,926
Pop 1990
68,292,990
56,863,765
51,127,810
70,767,036
248,709,873
Pop 2005
(estimated)
75,510,119 61,636,328 66,352,267
90,972,835
296,410,404
Table 5.1.
US population trends for the main four regions
(
Source: US Census Bureau
)
Today, the four main regions have similar population numbers. This has not
always been the case. The Megalopolis was always denser than the other regions. In
this region, the 10 inhabitants per km² mark was passed in the 1820 census. It was
not until 1890 that the Heartland reached this level of density, and 1900 for the
South. The West finally reached this density in 1970. Today, the average density in
the Megalopolis is 137 inhabitants/km², and is 48 inhabitants/km² in the South. The
density of the Heartland is only 33 inhabitants/km², while the West has an average
density of 22 inhabitants/km².
70%
60%
50%
1800
1860
1900
1930
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Heartland
Megalopolis
West
South
Figure 5.2.
United States population between 1800 and 1930, by region
