Center of Population - Lesson 6 - U.S. Political Map Grade 4-5

Materials Needed

A pencil and your map.

After each census the center of population for the United States is calculated. The center of population is the point, which may be considered as the center of population gravity of the United States. The center of population can be used to help us examine the history of settlement in the United States. Shown below is a chart listing the latitude and longitude of the location for selected years. Use the United States desk map to determine the approximate location of the center of population for each census year listed. Enter your answer in the spaces provided.

Census Year
United States
North
Latitude
West
Longitude

1790
39
76
____________________________
1800
39
77
____________________________
1840
39
80
____________________________
1850
38
81
____________________________
1870
39
83
____________________________
1880
39
84
____________________________
1910
39
86
____________________________
1920
39
87
____________________________
1950
39
88
____________________________
1970
38
90
____________________________
1980
38
91
____________________________
1990
38
91
____________________________
2000
37
92
____________________________

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