Table 1.4  U.S. Population in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas, 1950-1998

  Urban Suburban Rural
Year population population population
             
  millions % millions % millions %
             
1950 49.412 32.8 35.087 23.3 66.197 43.9
1960 58.004 32.3 54.881 30.6 66.438 37.0
1970 63.797 31.4 75.622 37.2 63.793 31.4
1980 67.949 30.0 101.481 44.8 57.115 25.2
1990 78.472 31.6 119.978 48.2 50.316 20.2
1998 81.516 30.2 134.963 49.9 53.820 19.9

Sources:  U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Census of Population and Housing, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990, Number of Inhabitants, U.S. Summary (GPO, Washington, DC), Metropolitan Area Population Estimates for July 1, 1998 and Population Change for April 1, 1990 to July 1, 1998 (includes revised April 1, 1990 census population counts) (an Internet accessible data file, release date: December 17, 1999), Metropolitan Area and Central City Population Estimates for July 1, 1998 and Revised April 1, 1990 Census Population Counts (an Internet accessible data file, release date: December 17, 1999), and updates by agency.

Notes:  Urban refers to population inside central cities of metropolitan areas (MAs). Suburban refers to MA population in suburbs outside central cities. Rural refers to nonmetropolitan population. MAs are defined for each population census. Data for 1990 are based on revised 1990 census population counts.

Last Updated on Thursday, April 20, 2000