RSS Centers of population
Filed in History Nuggets
I recently ran across an unusual marker at a rest stop along Interstate 5 in California. The marker contained the coordinates of the California center of population for the 2000 census.
So what is a center of population? One way to think of it is as if California were a flat surface in the shape of the state. Weights representing individual people are placed on the top of the surface in the locations that the individuals registered for in the census. The center of population would be the point in the state upon which the entire flat state and the weights would be in perfect balance.
Obviously, no one sits around with a bunch of state shapes, weights and a pointy object to balance them on. These locations are calculated by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), a part of the United States government. Each state’s center and the center for the entire country are calculated with each census. The NGS places the national population center plaque every ten years and encourages states to place markers indicating their population centers.
California is one state which places a marker. The population center of California (pdf file) has moved quite a bit since the center was first calculated in 1880. In 1880, it was located just west of the city of Stockton. The growth of Southern California is clear as the center has moved consistently south since that time. As of 2000, the center is west of the city of Bakersfield, a distance of about 200 miles!
So where is the center of population for entire country? For 2000, it is located in Phelps County, MO.
Your state may have a marker too. This map shows where the centers were for the 2000 census. The colors on the map indicated the status of state markers but is obviously out of date–California has one now but is only shown as being interested on the map. Your state may have one. Get out there and find those centers!
[tags]population center, california population center, history, california history[/tags]
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2 Comments, Comment or Ping
TCM
In a truly geeky kind of way I find this very interesting! I hope that others will be located over time.
L.
Aug 1st, 2007
beautyredefined
That is really cool. I liked the map of how the country’s population center has moved west over time.
Aug 1st, 2007
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