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United States: United States People Profile 2012

2012/04/05

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United States People Profile 2012

he USA is a steadily ageing society with the number of very elderly (80+) increasing at an exceptionally fast pace. The ageing process, however, is offset by the continuous inflow of immigrants. More than two-thirds of these people live in just 6 states. The USA is already the world's fifth largest Spanish-speaking country but in 2010-2030, the Hispanic population will be growing at a rate 10 times greater than the non-Hispanic population.
 

National

A census has been taken every 10 years since 1790. In 2000, according to the Bureau of the Census, whites made up 75.1 % of the population; blacks 12.3 %; Asians and Pacific Islanders 3.% ; American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts 0.9 %; those of some other race 5.5 %; and those of more than one race 2.4% . People of Hispanic origin (of any race) made up 12.5%  of the population.
The South had long been the home of most blacks. In the 1930's blacks began to move in increasing numbers to the industrial cities of the North. During the 1970's, however, there was also some migration of blacks to the South. The states with the largest black populations in 2000 were New York, Texas, Georgia, Florida, California, and Illinois.
American Indians live in all states, but the great majority live in the West and the South. Five states—Arizona, Oklahoma, California, New Mexico, and North Carolina—account for the majority of the Indian population. The vast majority of the Eskimos live in Alaska.
In 2000, Hispanic Americans became the nation's largest minority. Nearly 60 % trace their origins to Mexico, and more than 9 %, to Puerto Rico. California, Texas, New York, and Florida had the largest numbers of Hispanic Americans in 2000.
The Chinese—largest of the Asian and Pacific Islander groups—live mainly in California and New York. The Filipinos and the Japanese are concentrated largely in California and Hawaii, Asian Indians in New York and California. California is the home also of most of the Koreans, Vietnamese, Samoans, and Guamanians.
 

The States

Some southern and many western states have gained population extremely rapidly, especially since 1940. Among these are California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida. California has grown spectacularly. In 1950 it replaced Pennsylvania as the second-ranking state, and by 1970 it had replaced New York as the most populous state. Among southern states, Texas and Florida have had the most rapid population increases. Nevada experienced the largest %age of increase during 1990–2000, slightly more than 66%.
The East North Central and Middle Atlantic states were among the most heavily populated until the 1970's and 1980's. These include New York, which had the largest population until 1970; Illinois; Pennsylvania; Ohio; Michigan; and New Jersey. Since the 1930's, most of these long-established, industrial states have had only moderate rates of population increase.
Population density varies widely from state to state. New Jersey, with 1,134.2 persons per square mile (437.9 per km2) in 2000, and Rhode Island, with 1,003.2 (387.4), were the most densely populated states. The eight Mountain states had densities ranging from Wyoming's 5.1 persons per square mile (2.0 per km2) to Arizona's 45.1 (17.4). Alaska, with 1.1 persons per square mile (0.4 per km2), was the most thinly populated state.
 

 The Cities

Urban areas include all incorporated and certain unincorporated places of 2,500 residents or more and the suburbs of all cities of 50,000 or more. During the course of the country's development, farming has become more efficient, and people have turned in ever-increasing numbers to the cities for their livelihoods. Between 1790 and 1990 the rural population dropped from 95 to 25 %.
The mushrooming of suburbs around large cities has been especially rapid since 1940. These sprawling urban areas, including cities and suburbs, form metropolitan areas. Slightly less than three fifths of the nation's people live in metropolitan areas of more than 1,000,000 people.
 
Immigration
As a vast young country offering great opportunity, the United States has been a magnet for immigrants since its earliest days. The early colonists were mainly English, but there were also Dutch, German, Scotch-Irish, and French Huguenot settlers. In 1790, these people and their descendants made up about 80 % of the population. The remaining 20 % was made up largely of blacks. Many of these had been brought from Africa and the West Indies as slaves, and many were born in America of slave parents.
Beginning in the 1820's and 1830's, immigration increased rapidly, with people coming from so many countries that America came to be called a "melting pot" of nationalities. During the depression of the 1930's more foreign born left the country than were admitted. After World War II immigration increased. Of the nearly 57,000,000 immigrants who arrived during 1820–1990, the largest numbers came from Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Austria, Russia, Caribbean countries, and Sweden.
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