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![]() Children were leaving home and moving to the city where they would work a job rather than on the farm. The rapid expansion of the west was also slowing. People were no longer dependent upon a horse for transportation, though even in 1850, only 15 percent of the US population lived in an urban setting. In the 20th century, railroad and streetcars were a primary way to move long or short distances fairly cheaply. One of the things that changed where people lived was the convenience of cities. This would change as medical advancements helped people to live longer and more productive lives. Old age and the care of seniors was a rarity. Only four percent of people born in 1900 made it to age 85 and 10-12 percent to age 65. Old age was something that happened to very few people. The life expectancy of a man ranged from 33 years to 47 in 1900. From 1800-1820 only 6-7 percent of people were living in urban settings. Senior healthcare was a role that the family and doctor shared. The first automobile was a century away and even going ten miles by horse took most of the day. Going to town meant walking, riding a horse, or riding in a wagon drawn by a horse. Even senior care was provided by the family. Homesteads and farms had everything that a family needed and people were self-reliant. In terms of health care, even as late as 1960, 40 percent of a doctor’s visits were by house call 2 – The idea of living in an urban setting was not a standard way of life in 1800 and it was a lifestyle that would be slow to change. 1 In short, there was very little “in town” to draw people. In fact, the first grocery store would not open until 1916 – when Piggly Wiggly opened its first store in Memphis. Most families were very self-sufficient and a trip to town was about buying staples, not groceries. This would change, but during this period, mass travel or long-distance travel was primarily by boat. ![]() In 1800, 94 percent of the US Population lived in a rural setting. As we discuss this change, we will continue to focus on what this means for seniors and senior healthcare. Use this map to explore the estimated global population density (people per square kilometer) in 2020.There has been a very large shift from rural living to urban living throughout the US population from 1800 through 1990. This means urban areas could appear to have fewer people than they really do, while rural areas would seem to have more. All of these areas have a vastly different population density, but they are averaged together. Whereas at a larger scale, such as the state, region, or province level, population density could vary widely as it includes a mix of urban, suburban, and rural places. Population density is most effective in small- scale places-cities or neighborhoods-where people are evenly distributed. While a useful tool for decision and policymakers, it is important to understand the limitations of population density. Infectious disease scientists use these maps to understand the spread of infectious disease, a topic that has become critical after the COVID-19 global pandemic. Experts can use this information to inform decisions around resource allocation, natural disaster relief, and new infrastructure projects. Understanding and mapping population density is important. Population density is the average number of people per unit, usually miles or kilometers, of land area. This has resulted in an increase in population density for these cities, which are now forced to expand in order to accommodate the growing population. Job opportunities in large cities have caused an influx of people to these already packed locations. In the last century, the global population has increased by billions of people. ![]()
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