188 

 Section" 1. National, PoFDiiAiroN and Economic Trends 



NATIONAL population GROWTH 



America has experienced a continually high rate of population 

 growth. Today there are six times as many Americans as there were 

 100 years ago, and more than twice as many as there were 50 

 years ago. This growth is expected to continue in the future, though 

 likely at a slower rate. 



Figure IV.4.1 provides clear evidence of the "population explosion" 

 which took place in the United States in the years following World 

 War II. In the decade 1950-60, the total U.S. population increased by 

 nearly 28 million persons, a growth rate of 15.6 percent for the decade, 

 or an annual population growth rate of nearly 1.6 percent. That 

 growth is expected to continue at a rate of approximately 1.3 percent 

 annually with the total population of the United States increasing 

 from a little over 205 million persons in 1970 to about 400 million in 

 2020. 



Figure IV.4.2 shows recent population increases and decreases 

 throughout the Nation. Population decreases have occurred almost 

 uniformly in the period 1940 to 1960 in the predominantly agricultural 

 counties of the Midwest, the South, the Southwest, and Appalachia. 

 In contrast, those counties in which metropolitan development has 

 occurred generally show steady increase during these years. Perhaps 

 the most striking growth record in this period appears in what may 

 generally be designated as the coastal zone, where only a handful of 

 some 274 coastal counties experienced any population decline during 

 either of the 10-year periods between 1940 and 1960, 



urban-rural, SHIFTS 



The growth of population in urban areas and relative decline in 

 rural areas has been a steady trend in America since the first census 

 was taken. As figure IV.4.3 shows, the 1920 census marked a symbolic 

 turning point, with urban citizens outnumbering rural ones for the 

 first time. Metropolitanism is fast becoming central to consideration 

 of all aspects of American life. In 1965, 67 percent of the country's 

 population lived in the 212 SMSA's identified by the Bureau of the 

 Budget. 



AGE composition 



The age composition of the population will also change in ensuing 

 years. Of particular significance is the expected rise in the main work- 

 ing age population (ages 25-64) from 86.4 million in 1966 to about 

 90.1 million in 1970 and 123.9 million in 1990. From 1975 on, the 

 younger portion of this age group is expected to increase rapidly, while 

 the number of elderly citizens shows only a slight increase. 



NATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH 



The amount of personal income generated in the economy indicates 

 the general capacity to purchase goods, services, and amenities. 



