ARKANSAS

Clinton

Monroe

20202010

20001990

1980

1970

19601950

19401930

1920 19101900 1890

18801870

1860 1850 18401830

1820 18101800

1790

Upsh

ur

Decatur

Greene Pike Wirt

Crawford

Clay

Texas

OwenBoone

Highland

Kent

St. Clair

Sullivan

Howard

Phelps

Grant

Hardy

Bartholomew

Loudoun

Jefferson

Wright

WESTVIRGINIA

IOWA

MISSOURI

MARYLAND

ALABAMA

PENNSYLVANIA

INDIANAILLINOIS

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

SOUTHCAROLINA

GEORGIA

ARKANSAS

OHIO

NORTHCAROLINA

MICHIGAN

VIRGINIA

DC

LOUISIANA

MISSISSIPPI

NEW YORK

0 25 50 75 Miles

0 25 50 75 Kilometers

Kent

Mean Center of Population

County of Center of Population

State or State Equivalent

County or County Equivalent

Located near Hartville, MO2020 Mean Center of Population

1790

About 3.9 million people lived in the 13 original colonies along the Atlantic Coast.

1860

From 1846-1869, nearly 400,000 people move west on the Oregon Trail.

Gold Rush (1848-1855) lures 300,000 people to California.

Center of population makes its largest jump: 103 miles from 1850-1860.

1890

Oklahoma Land Rush opens unassigned land in Indian Territory to settlers.

In 1890, the U.S. Census Bureau declares the “end of the frontier”.

1800-1850

The Cumberland Gap in the Appalachian Mountains is opened to wagons in 1775.

1870-1880

The Civil War (1861-1865) kills 750,000 people, but the westward move-ment continues.

The Transcontinental Railroad connects East to West in 1869.

1930

Center of population starts southwestward tilt due to immigration and internal movement of Americans to theSun Belt.

1890-1960

Center of population moves its smallest distance – just under 10 miles – from 1910-1920.

1980-2020

Population explodes in the South and South-west. From 1980-2020, Sun Belt population jumps from 28% to 43% of the U.S. population.

Center of population stays in Missouri for the fifth decade in a row.

1892-1954

Ellis Island alone pro-cessed more than 12 million immigrants from Europe.

Key Historical Events in Our Nation and Their Impacts to the Center of Population

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1790–2020 Censuses, Centers of Population.