Historical Population Density (States only)

This database estimates population density (persons per square mile) based on total resident population.  Population density for all years is based on current land area reported by the U.S. Census.

• 1790 population estimates reflect the population on August 2.
• 1800 estimates reflect August 4.
• 1810 estimates reflect August 6.
• 1820 estimates reflect August 7.
• Estimates from 1830-1890 reflect June 1.
• RAND State Statistics estimated population data for individual years from 1790-1890 based on a linear rate of growth between the start and end of each decade.
• Estimates from 1900 to the present reflect the population on July 1 of each year, except 1960, 1970, and 1980, which reflect April 1 estimates.
• U.S. population data for the years 1900 to 1949 exclude the population residing in Alaska and Hawaii.
• National population data for the years 1940 to 1979 cover the resident population plus Armed Forces overseas. For all other years, national population data cover only the resident population only.
• National population data for the years 1900 to 1929 are rounded to the nearest thousand.