According to the 2020 US census there are 331.4 million people living in the United States.
The animated map above shows the growth of US population density from 1790-2010. In 1790, population density was just 4.5 people per sq. mile. But by 2010 it had grown to 87.4 people per sq. mile over a much larger area.
It should be noted that the map above has its shortcomings most notably the fact it doesn’t count Native Americans until they became full US citizens.
And there remains a huge variation in US population density. New Jersey is the densest state with 1,207 people per sq mile, while Alaska has only 1.28 or 1/1000th the population density. Washington DC is even denser at 11,685 people per sq. mile but is not yet a state.
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Brian C Clark says
Wait, no one lived in North American before the whites arrived? really? how offensive can you get?
Vandy Beth Glenn says
I would guess before whites arrived, population density was less than 1 person per square mile.
Chris F says
Yes, I was thinking of that. Plus, the boundaries of the US changed. The profile should show the borders in that year, or better still the area which actually had a census.
People lived in Texas, Florida and California before the US annexed them. And I guess it took some time after most areas were incorporated and settled before the census counters arrived (e.g. North West).
Fuck you Brian says
The census only records US citizens dummy.
ChrisM says
Sorry to say the census records all residents. Citizens, legal residents, and illegal residents. Most illegals aren’t counted though because of their fear of getting caught and sent back to home country. The census bureau however does not interact with INS/ICE which most illegals don’t know.
Enid Ruth Pollock says
Pretty cool way to look at it . Oklahoma is interesting – a late starter
Thanks
allen stewart says
Big fail. This is about Anglo people only.
Nono says
Triggered troon detected
Eduardo says
It’s depressing to notice that you were completely aware of the “shortcoming” but still chose to use “US Population” in the post title and text as if Native American population didn’t matter at all.
Jack says
Literally, even after 2 centuries of population decline between the 1500s and 1700s, there were still over 100k Cherokee people living in North Georgia, Southern Tenn in 1800. Where are they on this map?
Kevin says
This map is a perfect example of the myth that settlers arrived and built the United States on literally empty lands. This myth justifies settler colonialism, eraseing the real indigenous genocide the US was built on. A one sentence disclaimer on the map’s shortcomings isn’t enough, you should really just not share this.