U.S. Census Office, Rank of States and Territories in Population at Each Census, 1790 to 1900 (1903)

This graphic from the Statistical Atlas,1900 shows the rank of states and territories based on population at each U.S. Census from 1790 to 1900. Each state and territory is labeled when first admitted to the United States (either as a state or a territory) and is represented by a unique symbol so viewers can trace its status over time from left to right. At each Census, viewers can see the territorial growth of the United States as symbols representing states and territories are added. And while eastern states like New York and Pennsylvania remained leading population centers throughout the nineteenth century, viewers can see that states like Texas, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska quickly grew in population (made apparent by the steeply sloping lines connecting their symbols) in the latter half of the century, thanks to the railroads, economic opportunity, and government policy. We created this bump chart so that students can easily trace the growth of states and territories over time.