Mike Maciag is Data Editor for GOVERNING.
E-mail: mmaciag@governing.comTwitter: @mmaciag
The U.S. Census Bureau released an updated list of urban areas today, showing more people are migrating to population centers throughout the U.S.
New estimates indicate 80.7 percent of Americans now reside in urban areas, up from 79 percent in 2000. Population density for these areas varies greatly, ranging from about 400 residents per square mile to more than 5,000 in larger cities.
California is home to a significant number of the nation’s most densely-populated urbanized areas. Of the top 50 areas with the highest population density, all but 15 are located in the Golden State.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif. is the most densely populated area in the country, with nearly 7,000 residents per square mile. The following 10 urbanized areas have the highest population density:
| Location | Population | Population/sq. mile |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, Calif. | 12,150,996 | 6,999 |
| San Francisco, Calif. | 3,281,212 | 6,266 |
| San Jose, Calif. | 1,664,496 | 5,820 |
| Delano, Calif. | 54,372 | 5,483 |
| New York, N.Y. | 18,351,295 | 5,319 |
| Davis, Calif. | 72,794 | 5,157 |
| Lompoc, Calif. | 51,509 | 4,816 |
| Honolulu, Hawaii | 802,459 | 4,716 |
| Woodland, Calif. | 55,513 | 4,551 |
| Las Vegas, Nev. | 1,886,011 | 4,525 |
The Census Bureau estimates 95 percent of Californians reside in urban areas – the highest nationwide. New Jersey is close behind, with urban areas accounting for 94.7 percent of the population.
Urban areas are divided into two groups: There are 486 “urbanized areas," defined as having populations of at least 50,000. The Census Bureau considers smaller areas with 2,500 to 50,000 residents to be “urban clusters.”
After the 2010 Census, 36 new urbanized areas were identified.
The Charlotte, N.C.-S.C., area grew fastest among regions with populations exceeding 1 million, jumping 64.6 percent over the decade. Austin, Texas, (51.1 percent) and Las Vegas-Henderson, Nev., (43.5 percent) also experience rapid population growth, the Census Bureau reports.
Click the markers in the map below to find population density statistics for your area:
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3,000+/sq. mile |
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1,500+/sq. mile |
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Less than 1,500/sq. mile |
By the Numbers is dedicated to telling important stories through numbers, with a focus on our original work, data visualization and providing an ongoing tally of editor's picks of new and notable data releases.
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