A Spotlight on a Primary Source by Henry Gannett
According to the 1900 census, the population of the United States was then 76.3 million. Nearly 14 percent of the population—approximately 10.4 million people—was born outside of the United States. Drawn by America’s labor opportunities, immigrants came predominantly from Canada and Europe, migrating from countries such as Germany, Britain, Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.
The statistics gathered by the 1900 census were published in 1903 in an atlas that converted the census data into maps and charts. This map uses color gradation to indicate the population density of foreign-born inhabitants. Lighter areas have a lower percentage of immigrants while darker areas have a larger percentage of immigrants. Two charts compiled from census data accompany the map: the first provides the statistical breakdown of the foreign-born inhabitants of each state and territory in 1900, while the second chart indicates the immigrants’ country of birth.
Overall, the map and the charts illustrate the diversity of the American population at the turn of the twentieth century.
Foreign-Born Population of the United States by State of Residence
State or Territory | Total Population | Foreign Born Population | Percentage of Population That Was Foreign Born |
|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 1,828,697 | 14,592 | 0.8% |
Alaska | 63,592 | 12,661 | 19.9% |
Arizona | 122,931 | 24,233 | 19.7% |
Arkansas | 1,311,564 | 14,289 | 1.1% |
California | 1,485,053 | 367,240 | 24.7% |
Colorado | 539,700 | 91,155 | 16.9% |
Connecticut | 908,420 | 238,210 | 26.2% |
Delaware | 184,735 | 13,810 | 7.5% |
District of Columbia | 278,718 | 20,119 | 7.2% |
Florida | 528,542 | 23,832 | 4.5% |
Georgia | 2,216,331 | 12,403 | 0.6% |
Hawaii | 154,001 | 90,780 | 58.9% |
Idaho | 161,772 | 24,604 | 15.2% |
Illinois | 4,821,550 | 966,747 | 20.1% |
Indiana | 2,516,462 | 142,121 | 5.6% |
Indian Territory | 392,060 | 4,858 | 1.2% |
Iowa | 2,231,853 | 305,920 | 13.7% |
Kansas | 1,470,495 | 126,685 | 8.6% |
Kentucky | 2,147,174 | 50,249 | 2.3% |
Louisiana | 1,381,625 | 52,903 | 3.8% |
Maine | 694,466 | 93,330 | 13.4% |
Maryland | 1,188,044 | 93,934 | 7.9% |
Massachusetts | 2,805,346 | 846,324 | 30.2% |
Michigan | 2,420,982 | 541,653 | 22.4% |
Minnesota | 1,751,394 | 505,318 | 28.9% |
Mississippi | 1,551,270 | 7,981 | 0.5% |
Missouri | 3,106,665 | 216,379 | 7% |
Montana | 243,329 | 67,067 | 27.6% |
Nebraska | 1,066,300 | 177,347 | 16.6% |
Nevada | 42,335 | 10,093 | 23.8% |
New Hampshire | 411,588 | 88,107 | 21.4% |
New Jersey | 1,883,669 | 431,884 | 22.9% |
New Mexico | 195,310 | 13,625 | 7% |
New York | 7,268,894 | 1,900,425 | 26.1% |
North Carolina | 1,893,810 | 4,492 | 0.2% |
North Dakota | 319,146 | 113,091 | 35.4% |
Ohio | 4,157,545 | 458,734 | 11% |
Oklahoma | 398,331 | 15,680 | 3.9% |
Oregon | 413,536 | 65,748 | 15.9% |
Pennsylvania | 6,302,115 | 985,250 | 15.6% |
Rhode Island | 428,556 | 134,519 | 31.4% |
South Carolina | 1,310,316 | 5,528 | 0.4% |
South Dakota | 401,570 | 88,508 | 22% |
Tennessee | 2,020,616 | 17,746 | 0.9% |
Texas | 3,048,710 | 179,357 | 5.9% |
Utah | 276,749 | 53,777 | 19.4% |
Vermont | 343,641 | 44,747 | 13% |
Virginia | 1,854,184 | 19,461 | 1% |
Washington | 518,103 | 111,364 | 21.5% |
West Virginia | 958,800 | 22,451 | 2.3% |
Wisconsin | 2,069,042 | 515,971 | 24.9% |
Wyoming | 92,531 | 17,415 | 18.8% |
Servicemen Stationed Oversees | 91,219 | 15,368 | 16.8% |
Total | 76,273,387 | 10,460,085 | 13.7% |
Census Reports Volume 1. Twelfth Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1900. Population Part 1 (Washington, United States Census Office, 1901)
Foreign-Born Population of the United States by Country of Origin
Country of Migration | Number of Immigrants |
|---|---|
Africa | 2,577 |
11,928 | |
Atlantic Islands | 10,955 |
7,041 | |
Austria | 276,702 |
Belgium | 29,848 |
Bohemia | 156,999 |
Canada | 1,183,225 |
Central America | 3,911 |
China | 106,659 |
Cuba | 11,159 |
Denmark | 154,616 |
England | 843,491 |
Europe (Not otherwise specified) | 2,272 |
Finland | 63,440 |
France | 104,534 |
Germany | 2,669,164 |
Greece | 8,655 |
Holland | 105,098 |
Hungary | 145,815 |
India | 2,069 |
1,619,469 | |
Italy | 484,703 |
Japan | 81,590 |
Luxemburg | 3,042 |
Mexico | 103,445 |
Norway | 338,426 |
Pacific Islands | 2,659 |
Poland | 383,645 |
Portugal | 37,144 |
Romania | 15,043 |
Russia | 424,372 |
Scotland | 234,699 |
South America | 4,814 |
Spain | 7,284 |
Sweden | 574,625 |
115,959 | |
Turkey | 9,949 |
Wales | 93,744 |
West Indies | 14,468 |
Other countries (Not otherwise specified) | 2,587 |
Born at Sea | 8,310 |
10,460,135 |
Source: Census Reports Volume 1. Twelfth Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1900. Population Part 3 (Washington, United States Census Office, 1901)
Questions for Discussion
Look at the map to answer the following questions.
(a) According to the Statistical Atlas Map of 1900, which areas of the United States had the heaviest density of immigrants?
(b) Why do you think these selected areas had a very high density of immigrant inhabitants?
Look at the map to answer the following questions.
(a) According to the Census of 1900, which states had a foreign-born population of less than 1 percent?
(b) Why do you think this region had such a small percentage of immigrant inhabitants?
The Census of 1900 lists the percentage of immigrants who were living in five US territories: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
(a) Which two territories had nearly identical percentages of immigrant inhabitants?
(b) Which territory had the highest percentage of immigrant inhabitants?
(c) Which territory had the lowest percentage of immigrant inhabitants?
Look at the provided charts to answer the following questions.
(a) Which continent was the origin of most immigrants who lived in United States in 1900?
(b) Which two foreign nations were the sources of the largest number of immigrants in the United States in 1900?
(c) Based on the information from these statistical charts, what conclusions can be made about the immigrant population in the United States in 1900.
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