Map of the Foreign Born Population of the United States ...

Map of the Foreign Born Population of the United States, 1900

Introduction

According to the 1900 census, the population of the United States was then 76.3 million. Nearly 14 percent of the population--approximately 10.4 million people--was born outside of the United States. Drawn by America's labor opportunities, immigrants came predominantly from Canada and Europe, migrating from countries such as Germany, Britain, Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.

The statistics gathered by the 1900 census were published in 1903 in an atlas that converted the census data into maps and charts. This map uses color gradation to indicate the population density of foreignborn inhabitants. Lighter areas have a lower percentage of immigrants while darker areas have a larger percentage of immigrants. Two charts compiled from census data accompany the map: the first provides the statistical breakdown of the foreign-born inhabitants of each state and territory in 1900, while the second chart indicates the immigrants' country of birth.

Overall, the map and the charts illustrate the diversity of the American population at the turn of the twentieth century.

Questions for Discussion

1. (a) According to the Statistical Atlas Map of 1900, which areas of the United States had the heaviest density of immigrants?

(b) Why do you think that these selected areas had a very high density of immigrant inhabitants?

2. (a) According to the Census of 1900, which states were inhabited with a foreign-born population of less than 1%?

(b) Why do you think that this region of states had such a small percentage of immigrant inhabitants?

3. The Census of 1900 listed the percentage of immigrants who were living in five United States territories: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. (a) Which two territories had nearly identical percentages of immigrant inhabitants? (b) Which territory had the highest percentage of immigrant inhabitants? (c) Which territory had the lowest percentage of immigrant inhabitants? (d) In your view, to what extent did the geographic location of these two territories in (b) and (c) affect the percentage of their immigrant populations?

4. (a) Which continent was the origin of most immigrants who lived in United States in 1900? (b) Which two foreign nations were the largest sources of immigrants to the United States in 1900? (c) Based on the information from these statistical charts, what conclusions and descriptions can be made about the immigrant population who lived in the United States in 1900.

? 2018 The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Map of the Foreign Born Population of the United States, 1900 Image

Henry Gannett, "Proportion of Foreign Born to Total Population of the United States at the Twelfth Census 1900" in Statistical Atlas of the United States, 1900 (Washington DC, United States Census Office, 1901) (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC09668)

? 2018 The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Map of the Foreign Born Population of the United States, 1900

Foreign-born Population of the United States by State of Residence

State or Territory

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Indian Territory Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey

Total Population

1,828,697 63,592 122,931

1,311,564 1,485,053 539,700 908,420 184,735 278,718 528,542 2,216,331 154,001 161,772 4,821,550 2,516,462 392,060 2,231,853 1,470,495 2,147,174 1,381,625 694,466 1,188,044 2,805,346 2,420,982 1,751,394 1,551,270 3,106,665 243,329 1,066,300

42,335 411,588 1,883,669

Foreign Born Population

14,592 12,661 24,233 14,289 367,240 91,155 238,210 13,810 20,119 23,832 12,403 90,780 24,604 966,747 142,121 4,858 305,920 126,685 50,249 52,903 93,330 93,934 846,324 541,653 505,318 7,981 216,379 67,067 177,347 10,093 88,107 431,884

Percentage of Population That Was

Foreign Born

0.8% 19.9% 19.7% 1.1% 24.7% 16.9% 26.2% 7.5% 7.2% 4.5% 0.6% 58.9% 15.2% 20.1% 5.6% 1.2% 13.7% 8.6% 2.3% 3.8% 13.4% 7.9% 30.2% 22.4% 28.9% 0.5%

7% 27.6% 16.6% 23.8% 21.4% 22.9%

? 2018 The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Map of the Foreign Born Population of the United States, 1900

State or Territory

Total Population

Foreign Born Population

Percentage of Population That Was

Foreign Born

New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Servicemen Stationed Oversees

Total

195,310 7,268,894 1,893,810 319,146 4,157,545 398,331 413,536 6,302,115 428,556 1,310,316 401,570 2,020,616 3,048,710 276,749 343,641 1,854,184 518,103 958,800 2,069,042

92,531

91,219

76,273,387

13,625 1,900,425

4,492 113,091 458,734 15,680 65,748 985,250 134,519

5,528 88,508 17,746 179,357 53,777 44,747 19,461 111,364 22,451 515,971 17,415

15,368

10,460,085

7% 26.1% 0.2% 35.4% 11% 3.9% 15.9% 15.6% 31.4% 0.4% 22% 0.9% 5.9% 19.4% 13%

1% 21.5% 2.3% 24.9% 18.8%

16.8%

13.7%

Source: Census Reports Volume 1. Twelfth Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1900. Population Part 1 (Washington, United States Census Office, 1901)

Foreign-born Population of the United States by Country of Origin

Country of Migration Africa

Asia (except China, Japan, and India) Atlantic Islands Australia Austria Belgium Bohemia

Number of Immigrants 2,577 11,928 10,955 7,041

276,702 29,848 156,999

? 2018 The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Map of the Foreign Born Population of the United States, 1900

Country of Migration Canada

Central America China Cuba

Denmark England Europe (Not otherwise specified) Finland France Germany Greece Holland Hungary

India Ireland

Italy Japan Luxemburg Mexico Norway Pacific Islands Poland Portugal Romania Russia Scotland South America Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Wales West Indies Other countries (Not otherwise specified) Born at Sea

Number of Immigrants 1,183,225 3,911 106,659 11,159 154,616 843,491 2,272 63,440 104,534 2,669,164 8,655 105,098 145,815 2,069 1,619,469 484,703 81,590 3,042 103,445 338,426 2,659 383,645 37,144 15,043 424,372 234,699 4,814 7,284 574,625 115,959 9,949 93,744 14,468

2,587 8,310 10,460,135

Source: Census Reports Volume 1. Twelfth Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1900. Population Part 3 (Washington, United States Census Office, 1901)

? 2018 The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

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