Chapter 1 section 3 The American People Today Essential Question: How has the U.S. population change over decades?

Census: an official, periodic counting of a population It has occurred every 10 years in the United States since 1790. The last one occurred in 2010. The U.S. population increased by 9% from 2000. It is expected to increase by about 50 million by 2025. The census helps predict future population trends.

Main Purpose of The U.S. CenSus The main purpose is to determine state voting rights. States with higher population earn more votes/ representatives in Congress. Main Purpose of The U.S. CenSus

Other Uses of the u.S. Census It logs demographic data. DEMOGRAPHICS: study of the characteristics of human populations These demographics include ethnic backgrounds, children per households/ families, pets owned, etc. The census information is available for everyone. Many companies and organizations use it to plan for the future. Other Uses of the u.S. Census

Population Growth Occurs in 3 ways: 1. Natural Increase 2. Adding Territory 3. Immigration Population Growth

Natural Increase in Population BIRTHRATE: the annual (yearly) number of live births per 1,000 people DEATH RATE: the annual (yearly) number of deaths per 1,000 people Birthrate > Death Rate = Natural Population Increase Natural Increase in Population

Adding Territory A country acquires more territory (land). Population grows and expands. Occurred significantly in the U.S. during the 1800s Adding Territory

immigration 60 million immigrants to the U.S. since 1820. Immigrants and their descendants are the majority of the U.S. population immigration

Historical changes affect the population Population changes

Changing households U.S. households been shrinking since 1970 Factors include higher divorce rate, lower marriage rate, fewer children, etc. Changing households

Changing women’s roles Many new careers have open to women since 1950. Many more women work outside of the home today than 1950 College graduation rate is higher amongst women now Changing women’s roles

70,000 at the age of 100 or older in the U.S. as of 2010 380,000+ centenarians (100 or older) expected by 2030 People are living longer due to better lifestyles and health services The is presenting a BIG challenge. Young earners are shrinking and retirees are growing An older population

A more diverse population Mixed heritage (people of multiple ethnic groups) in the U.S. has been steadily rising A more diverse population

A population on the move Old America was mostly farms. Very few cities in 1700s and early 1800s. A population on the move

Migration to the cities Development of industries and factories brought people to cities. MIGRATION: a movement of large numbers of people from region to region, to the cities 1830 was the first census to reveal urban areas (cities) were growing faster than rural areas (farms/ countryside) Urban overcrowding was a major problem by late 1880s By 1920 the urban population exceeded U.S rural population Migration to the cities

The Drive TO The Suburbs The automobile made suburbs popular Started occurring in the 1920s The interstate highway made them widely popular after WWII Today more folks live in suburbs than cities More than 80% of Americans live in metropolitan areas today The Drive TO The Suburbs

Migration to the sunbelt Started in the 1950s with the invention of air-conditioners which made warmer climates more tolerable Dallas is the current fastest growing U.S. city New York City is the most populous Migration to the sunbelt