Chapter 2. ALL ACROSS THE USA · 2001-03-30 · population movement are developed from tax re-turns, Medicare enrollment, and immigration data. The population estimates in this report

Population Profile of the United States: 1999 5

U.S. Census Bureau

ALL ACROSS THE USA:Population Distribution, 1999

the United States and where they live. In the interim,people are born and die; some move away and otherstake their place. For the years in between censuses,people who need more recent numbers rely onintercensal population estimates from the U.S. CensusBureau. Among other things, the estimates are usedto allocate federal funds and monitor recent popula-tion changes.

Chapter 2.

How many people live inthe United States and wheredo they live? The answers to thesequestions are constantly changing.

In years ending in zero, population censuses providedetailed information about the number of people in

Words That Count

• Population estimates, as produced by the U.S.Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program, areapproximations of populations for past dates. Thecalculations begin with the last census numbersand then are updated using data on births, deaths,and migration. Estimates of external and internalpopulation movement are developed from tax re-turns, Medicare enrollment, and immigration data.The population estimates in this report are basedon the 1990 census. The numbers in this reportcover the 50 states and the District of Columbia,but do not include any of the U.S. outlying areas,such as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam,American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of theNorthern Mariana Islands.

• Resident population includes all people living inthe United States.

• Civilian noninstitutional population is the ba-sic universe for the Census Bureau surveys used inthis report, the Current Population Survey (CPS),1

the Survey of Income and Program Participation(SIPP), and the American Housing Survey (AHS). Itincludes everyone who is not in an institution andis not in the military.

• The four statistical regions of the UnitedStates are groups of states for which data are

presented. They include the Northeast, the Mid-west, the South, and the West. See map on page 13.

• Metropolitan areas (MA) are defined by the fed-eral Office of Management and Budget for use byagencies in the production, analysis, and publica-tion of data. Each MA must contain either a placewith a minimum population of 50,000 or a CensusBureau-defined urbanized area and a total popula-tion of at least 100,000. An MA is comprised of oneor more counties with close economic and socialrelationships or a specified level of commuting in-teraction. In New England, MAs are composed ofcities and towns rather than whole counties andmust have a population of at least 75,000.

• Central cities include the largest places in met-ropolitan areas and places that are locally impor-tant as shown by both population size and levelsof employment.

• Suburban areas are not defined by the CensusBureau. However, the term is used in this report torefer to the territory in metropolitan areas that isoutside central cities.

• Nonmetropolitan areas are all areas outside ofmetropolitan areas.

• Median age is the age at which half the popula-tion is older and half is younger.1 Estimates are based on the 1990 census as enumerated, while CPS

numbers are based on the census adjusted for undercount. Find source andaccuracy information in Appendix B.

6 Population Profile of the United States: 1999

U.S. Census Bureau

The total number of residents livingin the United States is estimatedevery month. However, the mostdetailed estimates are producedannually with a reference date ofJuly 1. These estimates include infor-mation on age, sex, and race andHispanic origin.2 Beginning with theJuly 1999 estimates, numbers be-came available for the population bynativity status.3 Regional, state, met-ropolitan area, county, andsubcounty (city and town) estimatesare also produced for each year, withvarying degrees of demographicdetail.

The nearly 24 millionpeople added to theUnited States between1990 and 1999 isgreater than the 1999population of Texasand Oklahoma combined.Whether the focus is national or local, populationgrowth and decline are driven by the components ofchange, births minus deaths and inmigrants minusoutmigrants.4 Between April 1, 1990, and July 1, 1999,

2 See Chapter 16 for detailed definitions of race and Hispanic origin.3 See Chapter 17 for a detailed definition of nativity.4 See Chapter 3 for a discussion on migration and Chapter 4 for a

discussion on childbearing.

Figure 2-1.

Distribution of the Resident Population in the United States: 1999

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 1999 estimates.

1 dot equals 75,000 residents

there were 37 million births and 21 million deaths inthe United States as reported by the Census Bureau’sFederal-State Cooperative Program for Population Es-timates (FSCPE) and the National Center for Health Sta-tistics. This natural increase, as it is called, added 16million people to the resident population. The remain-der of the increase came from a positive internationalmigration flow that added 7.5 million more people tothe population.


U.S. Census Bureau

As of July 1, 1999, the resident population of theUnited States was 273 million, a 10 percent increaseover the April 1, 1990 census count. However, not allsegments of the population grew at the same rate.Rapid growth in the Asian and Pacific Islander and His-panic populations was fueled by migration fromabroad. However, the Black and American Indian andAlaska Native populations also experienced rapidpopulation growth.5 The growth rate for Whites whowere not of Hispanic origin was only 4 percent,

5 Hispanics may be of any race. Based on the July 1, 1999 estimates,5 percent of the Black population, 16 percent of American Indian and AlaskaNative population, and 6 percent of the Asian and Pacific Islander populationare also of Hispanic origin.

Figure 2-2.

Change in Resident Population by County: 1990-99

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, April 1, 1990 census and July 1, 1999 estimates.

Percent change in populationLoss0.0 to 9.910.0 to 24.925.0 to 49.950.0 or more

U.S. Average = 9.6 percent

bringing their total up to about 196million. Because other groups weregrowing faster, the White non-Hispanic share of the total popula-tion dropped from 76 percent to72 percent.

With a growth rate of 45 percent,the Asian and Pacific Islander popu-lation was the fastest growing ra-cial or ethnic group during the de-cade. However, this group wassmall, accounting for 4 percent ofthe total population and numberingabout 11 million residents in 1999.

Hispanic residents, who can be ofany race, were the second fastestgrowing racial or ethnic group inthe United States in the 1990s.Over the decade, this group in-creased 40 percent and their shareof the population rose from 9.0 per-cent to 11.5 percent. Their total

population, 31 million, was almost as large as the Blackpopulation in the United States.

In July 1999, the Black population numbered 35 mil-lion, a 14 percent increase over the April 1990 cen-sus count. Over the 9-year period, Blacks grew from12.3 percent of the total population to 12.8 percent.

Although American Indians and Alaska Natives werea small group, they also outpaced the nationalgrowth rate. With a 16 percent gain since 1990, theirpopulation grew to about 2 million and accountedfor about 1 percent of all U.S. residents in 1999.


U.S. Census Bureau

Figure 2-3a.

Distribution of the Black Population by State: 1999


Percent of all residentsLess than 5.05.0 to 9.910.0 to 14.915.0 to 19.920.0 or more


AK3.9

WA3.5

OR1.9

CA7.5

MT0.4

WY0.9

ID0.6

NV7.7 UT

0.9

AZ3.7

CO4.4

NM2.6

ND0.7

SD0.7

NE4.1

KS5.9

OK7.8

TX12.3

MN3.1

IA2.0

MO11.3

AR16.1

LA32.4

WI5.6

IL15.3

MI14.4

IN8.4

OH11.6

KY7.3

TN16.6

MS36.5

AL26.1

FL15.4

GA28.7

SC29.8

NC22.0

VA20.2

WV3.1

PA9.8

NY17.7

ME0.5

NH 0.8VT 0.5

MA 6.6

RI 5.1CT 9.4

NJ 14.7DE 19.8

MD 28.1DC 61.4

HI2.9

Figure 2-3b.

Distribution of the American Indian and Alaska Native Population by State: 1999




AK16.4

WA1.8

OR1.4

CA1.0

MT6.5

WY2.3

ID1.3

NV1.8 UT

1.4

AZ5.5

CO0.9

NM9.5

ND4.8

SD8.2

NE0.9

KS0.9

OK7.8

TX0.5

MN1.2

IA0.3

MO0.4

AR0.6

LA0.4

WI0.9

IL0.2

MI0.6

IN0.3

OH0.2

KY0.2

TN0.2

MS0.4

AL0.3

FL0.4

GA0.2

SC0.3

NC1.3

VA0.3

WV0.1

PA0.2

NY0.4

ME0.5

NH 0.2VT 0.3

MA 0.3

RI 0.5CT 0.3

NJ 0.3DE 0.3

MD 0.3DC 0.3

HI0.6


U.S. Census Bureau

Figure 2-3c.

Distribution of the Asian and Pacific Islander Population by State: 1999




AK4.5

WA6.0

OR3.3

CA12.2

MT0.6

WY0.9

ID1.2

NV4.9 UT

2.6

AZ2.2

CO2.5

NM1.5

ND0.8

SD0.7

NE1.4

KS1.8

OK1.4

TX2.9

MN2.7

IA1.3

MO1.1

AR0.7

LA1.3

WI1.6

IL3.4

MI1.7

IN1.0

OH1.2

KY0.7

TN1.0

MS0.7

AL0.7

FL1.9

GA2.1

SC0.9

NC1.4

VA3.8

WV0.5

PA1.7

NY5.6

ME0.8

NH 1.3VT 0.8

MA 3.8

RI 2.3CT 2.6

NJ 5.8DE 2.1

MD 4.0DC 3.1

HI63.6

Figure 2-3d.

Distribution of the Hispanic Population by State: 1999

Note: Hispanics may be of any race.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 1999 estimates.



AK4.0

WA6.5

OR6.4

CA31.6

MT1.8

WY6.1

ID7.4

NV16.8 UT

7.08

AZ22.7

CO14.9

NM40.7

ND1.2

SD1.2

NE4.6

KS5.6

OK4.1

TX30.2

MN1.9

IA2.2

MO1.67

AR2.1

LA2.7

WI2.7

IL10.5

MI2.8

IN2.6

OH1.6

KY0.9

TN1.2

MS0.9

AL1.0

FL15.5

GA3.9

SC1.4

NC2.3

VA3.9

WV0.6

PA2.7

NY14.6

ME0.7

NH 1.6VT 0.9

MA 6.3

RI 6.9CT 8.5

NJ 12.6DE 3.7

MD 3.9DC 7.4

HI8.1


U.S. Census Bureau

Figure 2-4.

The Resident Population of the United States by Single Year of Age and Sex: 1990 and 1999

Resident population in millions


0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.50

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100+

2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0

Males Females

Age1990 1999


U.S. Census Bureau

The United States populationis growing older.In July 1999, half of all people living in the UnitedStates were aged 36 or older, almost 3 years older thanmedian age in April 1990. The aging of the baby boomgeneration, a large group of people who were born be-tween 1946 and 1964, is partially responsible for thisincrease. As they moved into their middle years, thepopulation aged 45 to 49 grew 41 percent and thegroup aged 50 to 54 swelled 45 percent. However, theoldest age category also experienced substantial gainduring this period. Between April 1, 1990, and July 1,1999, the population aged 85 and older passed4 million, a 38-percent gain over the 9-year period.

Age differences were evident by race and ethnicity. Thetwo youngest groups were the Hispanic populationand American Indian and Alaska Native population.About half of the people in both these groups wereaged 27 or younger. The median age was 30 for theBlack population and 32 for the Asian and Pacific Is-lander population. The White non-Hispanic populationwas the oldest population group in 1999. The medianage for this group was 38 — more than 10 years higherthan that of the youngest group.

During the last decade, geographicdifferences in population growthwere also clear.Just like the country as a whole, regional and local growthdepends on births, deaths, and migration flows. In theNortheast, South, Midwest, and West, natural increase(births minus deaths) produced growth. Internationalmigrants also added population to every region of thecountry. However, domestic migration, the movementof people from one state to another favored the Southand West over the Northeast and Midwest.

While the Southern and Western regions of the UnitedStates have experienced above average growth rates,the Midwestern and Northeastern regions have laggedbehind. Between 1990 and 1999, the Southern popu-lation grew 13 percent and the Western populationswelled 16 percent. Over that same time period, theMidwest saw an increase of just 6 percent and the gainin the Northeast was only 2 percent.

In 1999, the South was the most populous region of thecountry, accounting for 96 million residents. Sixty-threemillion people lived in the Midwest and 61 million peoplelived in the West. The Northeast, with 52 million resi-dents, had the smallest share of the U.S. population.

Figure 2-5.

Broad Age Groups for the Population by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1999(Percent distribution)

Under 18 18 to 24

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 1999, estimates.

Hispanic(of any race)

Asian andPacific Islander

American Indianand Alaska Native

Black

Whitenon-Hispanic

Total

Median

35.5

38.1

30.1

27.6

31.7

26.5

25 to 44 45 to 64 65+

25.7 9.5 30.3 21.7 12.7

23.1 8.8 29.7 23.6 14.8

31.1 11.3 31.4 18.0 8.3

34.0 11.8 30.6 16.9 6.7

28.7 10.0 34.2 19.7 7.4

35.4 12.2 31.8 14.7 5.9


U.S. Census Bureau

California, Texas, New York, Florida,and Illinois were the five most popu-lous states in 1999. In recent decades,rapid population gains, fueled primar-ily by migration, have moved Califor-nia, Texas, and Florida to the top of theranking. Slower gains in New York andIllinois have been sufficient to keepthese states on the most populated list.In 1960, the five most populous stateswere New York, California, Pennsylva-nia, Illinois, and Ohio.

Table 2-A. Population by Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990 and 1999

Total population Population change Percent of all (in millions) 1990-99 residents

1999 1990 In millions In percent 1999 1990

Total population............................ 272.7 249.5 23.2 9.3 100.0 100.0White ................................................... 224.6 208.7 15.9 7.6 82.4 83.9 Non-Hispanic ................................... 196.0 188.6 7.4 4.1 71.9 75.6Black..................................................... 34.9 30.6 4.3 14.2 12.8 12.3American Indian and Alaska Native....... 2.4 2.1 0.3 16.0 0.9 0.8Asian and Pacific Islander...................... 10.8 3.0 7.8 44.9 4.0 3.0

Hispanic (of any race)............................ 31.3 22.6 8.7 40.0 11.5 9.0

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, April 1, 1990, census and July 1, 1999, estimates.

Race and Hispanic origin

......................................................................

SPOTLIGHT ON METROPOLITAN ANDNONMETROPOLITAN AREAS

The population in both metropolitan areasand nonmetropolitan areas increased between1990 and 1999.

The population of the country’s 276 metropolitan areas (MAs)grew by 10 percent between April 1, 1990, and July 1, 1999. Overthe same period, nonmetropolitan areas, which make up the re-mainder of the country, grew at a slower rate (7 percent). The219 million people living in metropolitan areas in 1999 accountedfor 80 percent of all people living in the United States.

Substantial differences in growth for metropolitan and nonmet-ropolitan areas were evident by region. In general, the most rap-idly growing metropolitan areas were in the South and West. Be-tween 1990 and 1999, they constituted 81 percent of the popu-lation increase in metropolitan areas and 78 percent of the growthin nonmetropolitan areas. The Midwest accounted for 14 percentof metropolitan growth and 18 percent of nonmetropolitangrowth. In the Northeast, both metropolitan and nonmetropoli-tan areas grew by about 4 percent.


U.S. Census Bureau

All ten of the fastest-growingmetropolitan areas between 1990and 1999 were in theWest or South.The Las Vegas, Nevada-Arizona, metropolitan area hadthe greatest percent increase (62 percent). Two met-ropolitan areas in Texas followed it: Laredo (45 per-cent) and McAllen-Ediburg-Mission (39 percent).

In 1999, the eight metropolitan areas in the UnitedStates with 1990 populations of 5 million or moreaccounted for 28 percent of this country’s total popu-lation. All eight grew between 1990 and 1999. Withinthis group, two California areas grew the fastest, LosAngeles-Riverside-Orange County and San Francisco-

Oakland-San Jose, with growthrates of 10 percent and 9 per-cent, respectively.

However, the 12 metropolitanareas with 1990 populationsof more than 2 million, but lessthan 5 million, grew evenfaster — increasing by 15 per-cent. Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona,led others in this category witha 35 percent population gain.

Within metropolitan areas, cen-tral cities grew slowly — increas-ing only 4 percent between1990 and 1999. While 14 per-cent of the metropolitan areasexperienced population declineduring this period, 39 percent ofcentral cities did. However,growth was rapid (14 percent)in the suburban areas outsidecentral cities. In 1999, 62 per-cent of the people who lived in

metropolitan areas lived outside central cities.

..........................................................

Figure 2-6.

Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Population Changeby Region: 1990-99


Percent change in resident population

Metropolitan

Nonmetropolitan

15.5

17.2 6.6

4.2

14.6

8.0

1.9 2.5WEST

MIDWEST

SOUTH

NORTHEAST

10.1

7.5

United States

The Census Bureau CanTell You More

• Look for detailed tables on the Census Bureau’sWorld Wide Web site (www.census.gov). Select“Estimates.”

• Contact the Statistical Information Staff of theU.S. Census Bureau at 301-457-2422 or [email protected].

Table 2-B.

Population of the United States by Region and Metropolitan Status: 1999

Total population Percent Percent in Percent in Percent(in millions) metropolitan central cities suburban areas nonmetropolitan

Total population..... 272.7 80.2 30.2 50.0 19.8Northeast........................ 51.8 89.4 30.6 58.8 10.6Midwest.......................... 63.2 73.7 27.3 46.3 26.3South.............................. 96.5 75.3 28.0 47.2 24.7West................................ 61.2 86.8 36.1 50.7 13.2

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 1999, estimates.

Region

https://www.census.gov/

https://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/popest.html

Documents

Chapter 2. ALL ACROSS THE USA · 2001-03-30 · population movement are developed from tax re-turns, Medicare enrollment, and immigration data. The population estimates in this report