Chapter B. Population Characteristics and Migration: (Series B 1-352) Population Characteristics: Series B 1-181 B 26-30. Area and population: Continental United States, de­ cennial, 1790-1940. SOURCE: Bureau of the Census, Statistical Ab­ DECENNIAL SUMMARIES (B 1-23) stract, 1947, p. 5. Data are derived from Bureau of the Census, re­ B 1-12. Decennial summary: Aggregate population, for the ports' of th'e Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Censuses, Popu­ United States, territories, and possessions, 1790-1940. SOURCE: lation; voL L In particular, see Sixteenth Census Reports, Popu­ Bureau of the Census. For an figures for 1920--1940; continental lation, vol. I, p. 6, and also Areas of the United States, 1940, pp. 1-3. United States population, 1790-1910; Alaska, 1880-1910; Hawaii, Area figures for each census year represent all continenta1 area Puerto Rico, and "All other," 1900-1910; and Panama Canal Zone, under jurisdiction of the United States on the indicated dates, 1910; see Sixteenth Census Reports, Pop'ulation, vol. I, pp. 6, 1191, including in some cases, considerable areas not then organized 1201, 1205, 1209, 1217, 1221, 1235. For figures for military and or settled, and not covered by the cenl;!Us. naval forces abroad for 1910, see Fifteenth Census Reports, Pop­ Area figures for 1940 and 1930 are based on the complete re­ ulation, vol. I, p. 5; for 1900, see Thirteenth Census Reports, measurement made for the 1940 census; see Bureau of the Census, Population, vol. I, p. 23. Estimates for Philippine Islands, 1900- Sixteenth Census Reports, Areas of the United States, 1940, pp. 1910, are heretofore unpublished. Figures for continental and 1-3. See also series F 1-3 where figures in acres are given on the colonial population, 1610-1780, are from Twelfth Census Special basis of the previous measurement. Reports, A Century of Population Growth, 1790-1900, p. 9. SEX, AGE, AND RACE (B 31-144) The figures for the period 1610-1780 given in series B 12 ante­ date the first census of the United States in 1790. They represent B 31-39. Annual summary: Sex, age, and color of the population, the considered judgment of a number of eminent scholars and are continental United States, 1790-1945. SOURCE: Bureau of Census. based on materials ranging from relatively complete enumerations For figures for 1930~1945, see Populat'ion-Special Reports, Series for some of the colonies to fragmentary data such as contemporary P-47, No.3 (April 3, 1947) and Series P-45, No.5 (April 30, local population estimates, militia registrations, tax r~cords, 1945); for color and sex figures for 1900-1916 and 1920-1929, see church records, and official vital statistics. For a discussion of Sixteenth Census Special Reports, Vital Statistics Rates in the these estimates, see Bureau of the Census, Twelfth Census Re­ United States, 1900-1940, pp. 824-857; and for figures. for 1855..,- ports, A Century of Population Growth, 1790-1900. 1899, see Statistical Abstract, 1946, p. 8. The age figures for 1900- B 13-23. Decennial summary: .sex, urban-rural residenc~, and 1916 and 1920-1929, and all figures for 1917-1919 and 1791-1854 race of the population, continental United States, 1790-1940. are from unpublished records of the Bureau of the Census. For SOURCE: Bureau of the Census. For urban-rural figures for 1790- figures for 1790, see Sixteenth Census Reports, Population, 1940, sex and race figures for 1850-1940, and nativity figures for vol. I, p. 7. 1900-1940, see Sixteenth Census Reports, Population, vol. II, part 1, The methods of estimation of the population statistics shown pp. 18 and 19; for race figures for 1790-1840, sex figures for in series B 31-39 range from simple linear interpolation (for the 1820-1840, and nativity figures for 1850-1890, see Fifteenth, period 1791-1899) to complex computations for recent decades as Census Reports, Population, voL II, p. 97; for slave figures for data on the components of population change became available. 1790-1860, see Ninth Census Reports, Population, p. 7. School censuses, State censuses, and other local data indicative of In the course of its history the Bureau of the Census has em­ population changes have been used for the period 1900-1919, in ployed several definitions of urban population. The figures shown conjunction with interpolation of Census figures on age, sex, and for the period 1790-1940 are based on the definition of urban color. Life tables, birth statistics, and statistics of civilian im­ population used in 1930 and 1940. The urban population, in migration and emigration have been used since 1920. Since 1940, general, is the population living in incorporated places having actual death statistics by age, sex, and color have been used in­ 2,500 inhabitants or more, although a few densely populated stead of life tables. unincorporated areas, principally in New England, are classified B 40-47. Nonwhite races, decennial, 1790-1940. SOURCE: as urban under special rule. For further details for each State, see Bureau of the Census. For 1940, see Sixteenth Census Special vol. I of the 1940 Population reports. Reports, Characteristics of the Nonwhite Population by Race, p. 5; In the classification by nativity, a person born in the United for 1790-1930, except slaves and free colored, see Fifteenth Cen­ States or in any of its territories or possessions is counted as native. sus Reports, Population, vol. II, p. 32; for figures for slaves and Likewise included as native is the small group of persons who, free colored, see Ninth Census Reports, Population, pp. 6 and 7. although born in a foreign country or at sea, were American The returns for Indians are subject to some degree of uncer­ citizens by birth because their· parents were American citizens. tainty. Prior to 1890 the enumeration of Indians was confined to All other persons are counted as foreign born. those found living among the general population of the various States. At the census of 1910 a special effort was made to secure AREA AND POPULATION (B 24-30) a complete eimmeration of all persons having any perceptible B 24-25. Area: Territorial expansion of the United States, amount of Indian blood, and it is probable that this resulted in 1790-1940., SOURCE: Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract the enumeration as Indian of a considerable number of persons of the United States, 1948, p. 3. Data are derived from records of who would ordinarily have been reported as white. In 1920 no the Bureau of the Census. The boundaries of all areas comprising such special effort was made and the returns showed a much continental United States were indefinite, at least in part, at the smaller number of Indians than in 1910. Again in 1930 emphasis time of acquisition. Area figures shown here represent precise was placed on securing a complete count of persons of Indian determination of specific territories which have been marked upon blood, and the resulting returns overstated the actual decennial maps, based upon interpretations of the several treaties of cession increase in the number of Indians. In 1940 persons of less than which are necessarily debatable. See also discussion of series one-fourth Indian blood were not counted as Indian unless they F 1-3 and F 25-27. were so regarded in the local community. 16 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS Text: B 48-181 B 48-71. Race by regions, decennial, 1790-1940. SOURCE: the 1930 treatment had been applied in 1940, there would have Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. For 1940, see been 3 fewer urban places (2 fewer in each of the groups 2,500 to Sixteenth Census Reports, Population, vol. II, part 1, p. 52; for 5,000 and 10,000 to 25,000, and 1 more in the group 25,000 to 1930, see Fifteenth Census Reports, Population, vol. II, p. 35; 50,000). For method of .urban-rural classification. see text of for 1920, see Fourteenth Census Reports, Population, vol. II, p. series B 13-23. 31; for 1900-1910, see Thirteenth Census Special Reports, Negro B 160-164. Rural size-groups, decennial 189Q-1940. SOURCE: Population, 1790-1915, p. 43; for total population, 1790-1890, see Bureau of the Census, Sixteenth Census Reports, Population, vol. Sixteenth Census, Population, vol. I, pp. 14-15; for white and I, p. 26. State-boundary places have been treated as follows: Negro figures, 1790-1800 and 1820-1890, see Thirteenth Census In 1940, Delmar, Del., and Delmar, Md.; Harrison, Ohio, and Special Reports, Negro Population, 1790-1915, pp. 44-45; for West Harrison, Ind.; Junction City, Ark., and Junction City, La.; other races, 1860-1890, see Fifteenth Census, Population, vol. II, Texhoma, Okla., and Texhoma, Tex.; and Union City, Ind., p. 53; for free white and slave population, 1790-1800 and 1820- and Union City, Ohio, were counted as separate incorporated 1860, see Ninth Census, Population, vol. I, pp. 4-7. Figures for places, whereas in 1930 and earlier years each pair was counted as 1810 have been revised to include in Missouri (a North Central a single place. With the exception of Union City, Ind., each of State) that part of the population living in wh:;Lt was formerly these places was rural in 1940. If the 1930 treatment had been part of Louisiana Territory and subsequently Arkansas (a Southern applied in 1940, there would have been five fewer rural incorpo­ State). rated places (all in the group of less than 1;000 inhabitants). For The divisional composition of census regions is given in foot­ method of urban-rural classification, see text of series B 13-23.