HAZARD'S

REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

VOL. VIII.-NO. 5.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

PHILADELPHIA, JULY 30, 1831.

COMPARATIVE VIEWS OF THE

POPULATION OF THE CITY AND COUNTY

OF PHILADELPHIA.

NO. 187.

rules for ourselves, derived from the facts within our own reach.

be more generally serviceable to those who may wish to make other uses of the information; and, to such as have any fondness for similar investigations, we know, they will be the more acceptable on that account. Others of our readers, will find them perhaps tedious; but we will endeavour to compensate them at another time.

The following calculations and statements have required much time and labour; and, after all, some errors Various methods have been adopted by different na- may be discovered in them—though we have endeavourtions, to ascertain the number of inhabitants, but none ap-ed to guard against them—and, perhaps, some of our pears to be so certain, as that of actual enumeration--this deductions may be erroneous. In all such cases, we mode was, therefore, adopted at the organization of our shall be happy to receive corrections. We have given government, and a census has been since regularly tak-the facts pretty much in detail, believing that they will en at each successive period of ten years. Had these been uniformly made, they would have served, not only their primary purpose-that of forming a representative ratio-but also as a basis on which to erect numerous other interesting, and important calculations. But, unfortunately, this not having been attended to, there is scarcely any point of comparison between any two of the four, which have as yet been made-in each one a different classification of ages being adopted. Although the division of the last census is, upon the whole, the best, still, owing to the coloured population being arranged under ages differing from those of the whites, many comparative views cannot be taken, which would be interesting in regard to those two classes.

Owing to the time allotted for taking the censusthe incompetence of some of the persons employed-the low price paid for the time and services devoted to it it is highly probable, there may be material errors; yet, as they may be as favourable as otherwise, and as we have no other means of approximating to the truth, we have made them the foundation of the calculations which are this day pres. nted to our readers, in reference to the population of the city and county of Philadelphia.

Our present view is confined to the city and county of Philadelphia. We may, hereafter, make some comparisons of the other portions of the state. But we would be happy, if some of our friends would furnish us with statements, of this kind, relative to towns, or particular districts, throughout the state.

COMPARATIVE CENSUS TABLE.

North'n Liberties
Spring Garden,
Penn Township,
Kensington,

Total N. suburbs,

Southwark East,
Do. West

Moyamensing,
Passyunk,

Total S. suburbs,|
Total suburbs,

1790. 1800. 1810. 1820. 1830.

1618 2655 3401 965 1257 1425

12097 17586 20314 29003
1399829067 42942 55523 87353
City,
28522 41220 53722 63802 80458
Total city & sub. 42520 70287 96664 119325 167811
Blockley,
Bristol,
Byberry,
Frankford,
Germantown,
Kinsessing,
Lower Dublin,
Moreland,
Oxford,
Roxborough,

765 876 1018

Few subjects are of more interest to a state, than its population. The number of inhabitants indicating always a flourishing condition of the means of support, as well as of those necessary to carry on its agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and to defend itself against any hostile force. It is therefore useful, when a census is taken, to make comparative views of the past and present condition of the population, in order to ascertain, whether it be in a progressive or languishing condition, and to trace the causes of the one or the other. In this country, facts upon this subject are deficient; and it is only by collecting, and arranging them, for a series of years, that any fixed theory can be confidently derived from them. The rules adopted in foreign, and older countries, where the population has become permanent, will not suit the meridian of a new country, which is receiving into its bosom the inhabitants of every other portion of the globe. We must, therefore, form new Total city & coun. 54391 81009 111210 137097 188961 VOL. VIII.

9

1233 1405 1637 4243 4311 4642

903 1188 1068 2194 2640 2705 400 4431 418 973 1315 1502|

1252

1682

3334

Total rest of co. 11871 10722 14546 17772 21150

Or, at the rate of 26.10 per cent.-per annum 2.34-respecting it cannot be expected-as, in order to it, evedoubling in 29.89 years.

ry foot of ground that is occupied by a dwelling and inhabitants must be known. In the formation of this table, we have taken the dimensions, of the different squares, from the table published in our fifth volume, page 320. The space occupied by the principal streets is excluded; but that devoted to the smaller-streets and alleys-as

Or, at the rate of 57.32 per cent.-4.62 per annum well as that which is occupied by churches and other doubling in 15.30 years. public buildings, and also public squares and other open

In the rest of the COUNTY, there were in 1830, 21,150 grounds--are all embraced in the calculation.

Do.

Increase in ten years,

1820, 17,772
3 378

In 1800, the city was divided into fourteen wardscontaining in the plot from Vine to South, and from river to river, 50,141,410 square feet. From east to

Or, at the rate of 19.96 per cent.-per annum 1.76- west, the city was divided into two parts; of which doubling in 39.86 years.

The increase in the CITY

From 1790 to 1800 was 12,668, or 44.37 per cent.
1800 1810 12,502, 30.33
10,080, 18.76
16,656, 26.10

1810 1820
1820 1830

City increase in 40 years, 51,906, or181.80 per cent.
Or, 2.62 per annum-doubling in 26.77 years.

The WHITE inhabitants in the CITT and COUNTY
In 1830 were

1820*

Increase in ten years,

173,245 123,746

49,599

Fourth street was the dividing line-at which, the eastern wards terminated, and the western wards commenced.

In 1825, this dividing line was removed to Seventh street. The first column of the table, therefore, contains the number of square feet in each ward, from 1800 to 1825; and the apportionments made in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth columos, are agreeably to that division of the wards.

The ninth column shows the number of square feet in each ward, as existing since 1825-according to which, the subsequent apportionment is made.

The twelfth column shows the value assessed in each ward, at the last triennial period; and the thirteenth

Or, 40.08 per centum-3.42 per annum--doubling in gives the assessed value of each square foot. 90.56 years.

Without further explanation we submit the table,

The FREE COLOURED inhabitants in the CITY and COUNTY which, at one view, gives some idea of the different

In 1830 were

1820

Total increase,

15,616
11,884

3,732

changes which the city has undergone, by the removal of its population from some parts to others, and the occupation of vacant ground from time to time.

As the census of 1790, was taken, previously to the

Or, 31.41 per centum-2.76 per annum-doubling in division of the wards, we have, for that year, only given 25.38 years.

1831.1

COMPARATIVE VIEW OF POPULATION.

67

TABLE exhibiting the number of square feet in each Ward-the population at each census from 1790 to 1830-and the number of square feet to each inhabitant in the City.

Valu'n per

square foot

21198 373 22654 349 23213 340 13.424,894 42957 313 15,595,159 1 16

20022 2109 31068 1359|| 10589 1038 36,716,516 37501 979

Fotal City... 50,141,410 28552||412201216||53722 933||63802 786 50,141,410 80458 623|| 24,202.786

The WESTERN WARDS

NUMBER OF INHABITANTS TO EACH HOUSE.

48

The former averaged 6.09 inhabitants to each; and the latter 6.07-the whole city and suburbs, averaged

In 1800 contained 20022 inhab., and 2109 sq.ft, to each. 6.348, and houses 6327. In 1810, according to Paxton's

1810

1820 1830

31068
40589
37501

1359
1038
979

Directory, there were 8874 dwelling-houses, and 53,722 inhabitants, being an average of 6.07 to each. In the city and suburbs there were 15,814 dwellings and 96,664 inhabitants, which gives 6.11 inhabitants. Dividing the present number of inhabitants, in the city and suburbs, 167,811, by 6, it will give 27,968 dwelling-houses.

The following statement will show the increase of buildings:

In 1793 there were 6327 houses,
1802
11200

Increase in 9 years, 4873

Take the vacant Hospital lot 187,407, and the same for the vacant lot between the Hospital and Alms-house, Being an average of new dwellings, yearly erected, 541. from Cedar ward, it will leave 1294, instead of 1354 feet. By a late list of the Churches, it appears, they occupy In 1805 there were 13461, being an increase of 2261, 310,181 square feet, and the numerous burying grounds erected in the three years from 1802, or a yearly average In the western wards, there remains of 251. In 1802 there were 464 houses erected.

Females. 104.48. The census of 1790, 1800, and 1810, do not designate 100.04. this portion of the population; except under the general 102.87. heads of "other persons not taxed" and "slaves;" we are, therefore, compelled to pass over it with merely observing, that there were in the City and County,