DISTRIBUTION OF AMERICAN GENIUS 



191 



Table I 



Number and Per Cent, op Eminent Persons born in the Various Geo- 

 graphical Divisions of the United States with the Per Cent, of 

 the Total Population of the United States in Each 

 Division in 19102 



therefore three sections of the United States — New England, the Middle 

 Atlantic States, and the East North Central States — in which a com- 

 paratively large number of distinguished persons were born. These three 

 groups of states lie in a contiguous territory, in the northeastern section 

 of the United States. Of the three groups, New England, in proportion 

 to its population, has by far the largest proportion of distinguished 

 persons. 



The figures in Table I. are manifestly incomplete. Changes in popu- 

 lation have been rapid during the past few decades. The tide of west- 

 ward movement has materially altered the population center. No final 

 conclusion regarding the position of New England as a contributor of 

 distinguished persons can be reached unless the gross result is corrobo- 

 rated by the facts showing the time at which the distinguished persons 

 were born, and the proportion of the population in the various sections 

 of the country at that time. 



Table II 



Number and Per Cent, of Eminent Persons Who Were Born at Certain 



Times 



TimenfR'rth Number PerO»nt. 



Before 1850 2,818 28 



1850-1859 2,715 27 



1860-1S69 2,717 27 



1870-1 879 1,304 13 



1880-1889 95 1 



1890-1899 2 — 



Unknown 349 4 



Total 10,000 TOO 



2 Of these 10,000 eminent persons, 779, or 7.8 per cent., were women. Sex 

 will not be considered in the present article. 



