U.S. Census Office, Density of Increase of Population of the United States, 1890 to 1900 (1903)

This map, published in the Statistical Atlas, 1900 and compiled by chief geographer Henry Gannett, shows changes in U.S. population density between 1890 and 1900. Blue indicates a counties where population decreased and different shades of brown indicate counties where density of population increased, with darker brown indicating a greater increase. The map demonstrates that the majority of the United States saw an increase in population and that many of the areas where population increased most are the locations of major cities. Though work could be dangerous, many Americans left the uncertainty of farming and agriculture for the work of industry and potentially higher wages in the cities across the United States. Rapid industrialization attracted several thousand Americans to urban centers. Each city also developed a relatively unique sector of industry: Chicago specialized in meat-packing, Pittsburgh had expertise in steel, and fashion and garments dominated New York City. In the West, the population densities are not as clustered or bound to one particular area; rather, populations increased over wider regions, indicating a growth in agricultural and farming focused populations. The Great Plains of the United States became the center of agricultural production in the country, with widespread flat, fertile lands allowing for optimal farming. With the development of railroads, agricultural producers were able to transport goods from this region across the rest of the nation.