ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT ON DISTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANTS, 1850 TO 1900. For the complete report on the distribution of immigrants, 1850 to 1900, see Reports of the Immigration Commission, vol. 3. 4. Number and per cent of foreign-born in the population of each State and geographic division of continental United States: 1850 to 1900 126-129 7. Per cent distribution of increase of foreign-born population in each decade, in Atlantic, Central, and Western belts: 1850 to 1900 8. Native and foreign born population of continental United States, by census year, and number and per cent of increase, by decade: 1850 14. Per cent distribution of native and foreign born population of conti- nental United States, by class of place of residence: 1900.. 15. Total population and number and per cent of foreign-born, in conti- nental United States, by class of place of residence: 1900.. 16. White population in cities of continental United States, by nativity: 17. Number and per cent distribution of native and foreign born popu- lation, and number and per cent of increase, by class of place of 18. Number and per cent distribution of white population, and number and per cent of increase, by class of place of residence: 1890 and 19. Number and per cent of total population of continental United States in cities having in 1890 a population of 25,000 or over, by country 20. Per cent distribution of each age group, in continental United States, TABLE 24. Per cent naturalized and per cent having first papers in the foreign- 25. Per cent of foreign-born in the male population 21 years of age or 26. Per cent naturalized and per cent having first papers in the foreign- Page. 150 151 152, 153 27. Citizenship of foreign-born white males 21 years of age or over who 28. Per cent foreign-born of the total white male population 21 years of 29. Nationalities ranking first, second, and third in number of males of 30. Per cent illiterate in the population 10 years of age or over of conti- 10 years of age or over, by geographic division: 1890 and 1900... 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 DISTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANTS, 1850 TO 1900. GROWTH OF FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION. Prior to the Fourth Census, taken in 1820, the returns made no distinction between alien, foreign-born, and native population. In 1820, for the first time, provision was made to return aliens, that is, foreigners not naturalized. This provision was repeated in 1830, but not in 1840. In 1850 the census schedule asked for place of birth, thereby securing information as to the nativity of every inhabitant. The same information has been secured at each succeeding census. In addition it was ascertained in 1870 whether or not the parents of an inhabitant were of foreign birth, and since 1880 the places of birth of father and mother have been returned. The following table gives the foreign-born population of continental United States by census years since 1820, and the decennial increase and percentage of increase since 1850. TABLE 1.-Foreign-born population of continental United States, by census year: 1820 Free population only. No figures available. Allens-foreigners not naturalized. An additional 5,477, given as "number of aliens, etc., in New York City," is not included. d Allens-foreigners not naturalized. The foreign-born population of continental United States showed an uninterrupted increase between 1850 and 1900. During the fifty years the number of the foreign-born grew to more than four and a half times its original figure, or from 2,244,602 to 10,341,276. In the decade 1850 to 1860 the foreign-born population increased by 1,894,095, or 84.4 per cent. This percentage of increase was greater than in any succeeding decade, but the numerical increase was greatest in the decade 1880 to 1890, when the foreign-born population increased 2,569,617. It is noteworthy that the smallest numerical increase, as well as the smallest percentage of increase, was that recorded for 1890 to 1900-the last decade of the half century covered by the table. |