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Center of population is a subject of study in the field of demographics. It can be useful to identify the population center for a state or region. Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... Demographics is a shorthand term for population characteristics. Demographics include race, age, income, mobility (in terms of travel time to work or number of vehicles available), educational attainment, home ownership, employment status, and even location. ...

The Mean center of U.S. population has been calculated for each U.S. Census since 1790. If the United States map were perfectly balanced on a point, this point would be its physical centroid. To calculate population centroid, one assigns a uniform weight to each person and zero weight to the land surface. At this centroid, the weights of all the people are balanced over the point. This measure can be somewhat practical. When you calculate this center of population, you have found an efficient location for a capital. The distance for people to travel to this central location is minimized. One must generally choose a small territory and assume the world is flat. A 3-D centroid of population across the whole globe would be near the Earth's core. The mean center of U.S. population is determined by the United States Census Bureau after tabulating the results of each census. ... The U.S. Census is mandated by the United States Constitution. ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Centroid of a triangle In geometry, the centroid or barycenter of an object in -dimensional space is the intersection of all hyperplanes that divide into two parts of equal moment about the hyperplane. ...

In contrast to the U.S., Australia has not seen its population centroid move drastically since the creation of the country. In 1911, the centroid was in central New South Wales; in 1996, it was only slightly farther northwest. 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Capital Sydney Government Const. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Likewise, the center of population in Great Britain did not move much in the 20th century. In 1901, it was in Rodsley, Derbyshire. In 2000, it was in Appleby Parva, Leicestershire. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Appleby Parva, or Little Appleby, part of the parish of Appleby Magna in Leicestershire, is a hamlet about a mile south of Appleby church at the crossroads of the highways from Ashby de la Zouch to Tamworth and from Atherstone to Burton upon Trent. ... Leicestershire (IPA: , abbreviated Leics) is a landlocked county in central England. ...

In 1993, the mean population center of Canada was found to be in the Township of Laxton, Digby and Longford, now part of the city of Kawartha Lakes. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Location of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario The City of Kawartha Lakes is a city in east-central Ontario, Canada. ...

Capitals

The center of population for Bangladesh is close to Dhaka. Ohio's center of population is 30 miles from Columbus. The center of US population is located in Phelps County, Missouri, in the southern part of the state and far from Washington, D.C. However, when Washington was chosen as the federal capital of the United States in 1790, the center of the U.S. population was in Kent County, Maryland, a mere 47 miles (76 km) east-northeast of the new capitol. Therefore, Congressmen and women from the western states must today travel inordinately far to do their business in the national capitol. Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bangla: ঢাকা Đhaka; IPA: ) is the capital of Bangladesh and the Dhaka District. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... Nickname: The Arch City The Discovery City Location in the state of Ohio, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Ohio Counties Franklin, Delaware, and Fairfield Mayor Michael B. Coleman (D) Area    - City 550. ... The mean center of U.S. population is determined by the United States Census Bureau after tabulating the results of each census. ... Phelps County is a county located in the state of Missouri, and according to the U.S. Census Bureau it includes the mean center of U.S. population in 2000. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: Federal District District of Columbia Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) City Council Chairperson: Linda W. Cropp (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2: Jack Evans... Location in the state of Maryland Formed 1642 Seat Chestertown Area  - Total  - Water 1,073 km² (414 mi²) 349 km² (135 mi²) 32. ... United States Capitol The United States Capitol is the building which serves as home for the legislative branch of the United States government. ...

There are many other factors involved in the efficiency of travel. People from Maryland or Virginia and a host of other states can easily drive to Washington, D.C. Those from across the Rocky Mountains are already committed to flying across the country, so an extra hour of flight may not matter very much to them. Practical selection of a new site for a capital is a complex problem that depends on population density patterns and transportation networks. Plans for future development can lead to placement of a forward capital, such as Brasilia. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Rest of Virginia be merged into this article or section. ... Moraine Lake, and the Valley of the Ten Peaks, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a broad mountain range in western North America. ... Bras lia is the capital city of Brazil and is located in the center of the country in a federal district created in the state of Goi s. ...

Median centers

Recently, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity in Massachusetts declared that the world's Christian Center of Gravity was located in Timbuktu, Mali. According to their definition of Center of Gravity, half of all Christians live west of Timbuktu and half life south of Timbuktu. Presumably they had chosen the International date line to differentiate eastern from western people. This article is becoming very long. ... The city of Timbuktu ( Archaic English: Timbuctoo, Koyra Chiini: Tumbutu, French: Tombouctou) is a city in Mali, West Africa. ... The International Date Line around 180° This article is about the line dividing time zones; see Dateline (disambiguation) for other meanings, including the television program. ...

A median center of population can be used to show where the median east vs west person lives. A person living near Louisville, Kentucky has about half of the US population living north of him and half of the US population living south of him. This measure is meaningful only along the specific coordinate axes (north-south east-west). Louisville redirects here. ...

Sources

Bellone F and Cunningham R (1993). "All Roads Lead to... Laxton, Digby and Longford." Statistics Canada 1991 Census Short Articles Series.

External links

• Australian parliamentary research paper with map of population centroids.
• Site promoting Appleby Parva as center of Great Britain
• Population centers of each U.S. state, 2000 (United States Census Bureau)