Population
Not surprisingly, the District’s four most populous metropolitan areas also include the District’s four most populous cities. Interestingly, while the Columbus MSA is the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the District, Columbus itself is the District’s most populous city, with about three-quarters of a million people. For the period from 2000 to 2004, Columbus and Lexington were the only cities in the District with more than 100,000 people to show significant population growth.
Fourth District Cities with more than 100,000 People
| Population (thousands) | Percent change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| City | 2000 | 2005 | |
| Columbus | 714.1 | 730.7 | 2.5 |
| Cleveland | 476.6 | 452.2 | -5.1 |
| Pittsburgh | 333.8 | 316.7 | -5.1 |
| Cincinnati | 330.6 | 308.7 | -6.6 |
| Toledo | 313.3 | 301.3 | -3.8 |
| Lexington-Fayette | 260.9 | 268.1 | 2.7 |
| Akron | 216.8 | 210.8 | -2.8 |
| Dayton | 165.8 | 158.9 | -4.2 |
| Erie | 103.7 | 102.6 | -1.0 |
| SOURCE: US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Population Estimates Program. | |||
The most densely populated areas in the District fan out from its major cities. Population is especially concentrated in the region that runs northwest from Pittsburgh to Cleveland—an area that also includes the cities of Youngstown, Canton, and Akron—between the beginning of the Ohio River and Lake Erie. These waterways were important transportation routes as the American manufacturing sector developed, and they spawned several cities. The Ohio River was also important in the development of another cluster of cities that includes Dayton, Cincinnati, and Lexington.
Population Density
Population Growth in the Fourth District
In recent decades, the District’s population has grown much more slowly than nation’s. Since 1970, the District’s population has seen a slight increase of about 6 percent. By contrast, throughout the same period, U.S. population has grown by about 40 percent.
Population Growth since 1970(index)
Average annual increases in population since 1970 have been consistently higher for the United States than for the District. Annual population growth has averaged about 1.1 percent for the United States through this period, relative to average annual increases of 0.2 percent for the District.
Population Growth since 1970 (annual percent change)
