Population growth numbers

wausaubob

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I am sure there a few copying mistakes, but here goes:
Between 1840 and 1860 the population of the United States grew from approximately 17,551,000 to approximately 31,773,000. That is approximately a 81% growth rate.
The free population in the North grew at 88%. The free population of the South, including the border states, grew at a respectable 81%, but the slave population of the South grew at about 59%. You can speculate why the slave population grew more slowly, but it was not being supplemented by external immigration, and some slaves did escape to the North and to British North America.
The free population of the Border states, DE, DC, MD, KY, and MO grew at an above average rate, but most of that growth was in Missouri, which grew 228% in that time period and DC which grew 136%.
The free population of the upper South states grew only 60% and the slave population in that region grew only 34% and that includes Arkansas as an upper South state, when it might be designated a deep South state.

The Midwest farming belt, from Ohio to Nebraska, grew at a rate of 137%, reaching a population of approximately 7,915,000.

One of the chief problems was that growth was focused in the farm belt, and in four states in the Southwest, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. These two regions were on inconsistent economic paths and they were competing for control of westward expansion.
The middle ground states, Virginia, No. Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee grew more slowly, and the voices of moderation were drowned out.
 
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