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The population of the United States has experienced significant growth throughout its history. In the 1790 census, the population was around 3.9 million. By 1860, it had grown to approximately 31.4 million, largely due to natural increase and immigration.
From 1860 to 1910, the population continued to grow rapidly, reaching about 92.2 million. This period saw a surge in immigration, particularly from Europe, as well as natural increase. The population growth slowed slightly from 1910 to 1940, with the population reaching approximately 132.2 million by 1940.
The post-World War II period saw another significant population increase, fueled in part by the baby boom. By 1980, the population had reached around 226.5 million. Since then, the population growth rate has slowed but remained positive. As of the 2020 census, the population of the United States was estimated to be over 331 million.
The map below shows when each state reached a population of 1,000,000 people (slaves count as 3/5 a person before the 1870 census). Data collected from the Census Bureau and organized by Dos Pueblos High School.
When each state’s population exceeded 1 million people Ohio – 1740 New York – 1820 Pennsylvania – 1820 Virginia – 1830 Tennessee – 1850 Illinois – 1860 Indiana – 1860 Georgia – 1860 Kentucky – 1860 Massachusetts – 1860 Missouri – 1860 Iowa – 1870 Michigan – 1870 North Carolina – 1870 Wisconsin – 1870 Alabama 1880 Mississippi – 1880 New Jersey – 1880 Texas – 1880 Arkansas – 1890 California – 1890 Kansas – 1890 Louisiana – 1890 Maryland – 1890 Minnesota – 1890 Nebraska – 1890 South Carolina – 1890 Connecticut – 1910 Oklahoma – 1910 Washington – 1910 West Virginia – 1910 Florida – 1922 Colorado – 1924 Oregon – 1935 Arizona – 1956 New Mexico – 1964 Utah – 1966 Maine – 1971 Hawaii – 1983 New Hampshire – 1986 Nevada – 1987 Rhode Island – 1989 Idaho – 1990 Montana – 2012
Initially, the fastest population growth occurred in the eastern states. By the end of the 19th century, the populations of California and Texas had also exceeded one million.
Surprisingly, Florida, now the third most populous state in the United States, did not reach a population of one million until 1922.
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