U.S. Population Hits 300 Million

ChrisK87 writes "The United States' population will hit 300 million on Tuesday morning, just 39 years after it reached 200 million, the US Census Bureau estimates. A 'population clock' will record the milestone at 0746 (1146 GMT) — a timing based on calculations that factor birth and death rates and migration." From the article: "But it is not possible to say if the 300-millionth American was a new-born or crossed one of the US borders. Correspondents say that there is not expected to be the same hullabaloo as when the figure of 100 million was reached in 1915, or the double century in 1967 when President Johnson gave a speech and newborn Robert Ken Woo Jr was hailed the 200-millionth American by Life magazine. Today, the population figure is mired in the divisive politics of immigration — a hot-button issue ahead of the 7 November mid-term elections, they say." The story has lots of interesting stats and graphs, for those of us so inclined.

Comments

Would this be with or without illegal aliens ...

[YeeHaW_Jelte]

Anyway, congratulations. I heard on the radio this morning the states are the worlds third most populous country, right after China and India. Surprised me.

Anyone know why the US is stilling growing significantly, as opposed to most European countries? Which demographics are producing most children? How much does the number of legal immigrants contribute to the growth?

Re:Would this be with or without illegal aliens ..

[UbuntuDupe]

Anyone know why the US is stilling growing significantly, as opposed to most European countries?

Higher birth and immigration rates.

Which demographics are producing most children?

Red states. I'm serious. Comapre Utah to California. (I'd give you the stats if I were less lazy.)

How much does the number of legal immigrants contribute to the growth?

Don't know, but for comparison, I read that of all immigrants in the world (people who leave one country for another to live), 3/8 of them have the US as their destination.

Another stat I can't be bothered to check, but sounds reasonable.

Re:Would this be with or without illegal aliens ..

[Ubergrendle]

A few reasons. Europe is mainly 'full' -- its landmass is less than that of the US IIRC, or darn near close...they have 700+ million, the US just hit 300. Alot of central Europe is mountain region remember, they just don't have the wide open plains like north america.

Also, Europe is comprised of very old, mature set of societies. Less social and economic mobility; all the land is owned and in use. The US still has large amounts space and sparsely populated cities. The rustbelt has a negative population growth for example.

Finally, I think the social objectives are a bit different. Speaking in very broad terms, most European societies are not as materalistic. There's alot of negatives to materialism as a motivator, but it does give your economy a very powerful engine. This creates oppportunity, which in turn attracts immigrants.

Re:400 million

[CrazyTalk]

Bigger northern cities? You mean Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland, and many others that are a small fraction of the size they were 50 years ago? If people wanted to move up north, theres plenty of room for 'em.

Speaking as a Catholic...

[RootWind]

...Attending a Jesuit university. I don't know if this is just because of the Jesuit influence, but fundamentalist Christians would surely hate our guts. Non-literal reading and analysis of scripture, ethics not entirely based on the papacy, evolution is fine (both embraced by John Paul II actually), toleration and even support of gays. Overall, a lack of hate or bigotry, even against some of the more hard-hitting issues like abortion. So yes, there does seem to be a "liberal" flavor to American Catholicism though I would technically call it moderate (in a number of Catholic communities at least). Though I did see some pretty fundamentalist Catholics while I was visiting in Arizona. So it really depends on region I suppose.

Re:Plenty of Room

[ranton]

No, you are flat out wrong.

Also, your prejudices are apparantly based on what you've seen in Deliverance and on the Jerry Springer show. The south truly is a New South. Sure, if you go out to rural areas you'll find plenty of rednecks, but rednecks tend to not bother anyone and they basically just want to be able to live their lives without anyone messin' with 'em.

This shows another reason why problems such as poor education are difficult to fix. You cannot even mention the problem without someone calling you prejudiced. Here we have someone who is probably fairly intelligent, but is in denial that there could possibly be a problem is the society that he/she came from.

I have never seen Deliverance and I cannot stand Jerry Springer. If you want to use anecdotal evidence, there are plenty of rednecks in Illinois too. But I do not use anecdotal evidence, the truth is much more useful.

In the summer of 2005 Toyota passed up building a new plant to produce RAV4s in the south; passing up huge financial incentives to build in various southern U.S. locations (which are trying to build up their economy). Why did they do this? Because the educational level in the Southern United States was so low that trainers for Japanese plants in Alabama had to use pictorials to teach illiterate workers how to use high-tech equipment. Toyota passed up over $150 million more in incentives (to build a $800 million manufacturing plant) to have a workforce that could actually read.

Notice that in my previous post I did not call all southerners stupid. I just said that the average level of economy and education is lower. It is like saying Americans have more money than Germans. I know that their are alot of Germans with more money than me, but that does not mean my statement is false.

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