Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 85.djvu/195

Table I

Number and Per Cent, of Eminent Persons born in the Various Geographical Divisions of the United States with the Per Cent, of the Total Population of the United States in Each Division in 1910^[1]

Geographical Division	Eminent Persons		Per Cent, of the Total Population of the United States, 1910
	Number	Per Cent.
United States	10,000	100	100
New England	2,311	23	7	.1
Middle Atlantic	2,974	30	21	.0
East North Central	2,225	22	19	.8
West North Central	542	5	12	.7
South Atlantic	1,091	11	13	.3
East South Central	546	6	9	.1
West South Central	161	2	9	.6
Mountain	28	—	2	.9
Pacific	122	1	4	.6

therefore three sections of the United States—New England, the Middle Atlantic States, and the East North Central States—in which a comparatively large number of distinguished persons were born. These three groups of states lie in a contiguous territory, in the northeastern section of the United States. Of the three groups, New England, in proportion to its population, has by far the largest proportion of distinguished persons.

The figures in Table I. are manifestly incomplete. Changes in population have been rapid during the past few decades. The tide of westward movement has materially altered the population center. No final conclusion regarding the position of New England as a contributor of distinguished persons can be reached unless the gross result is corroborated by the facts showing the time at which the distinguished persons were born, and the proportion of the population in the various sections of the country at that time.

Table II

Number and Per Cent, of Eminent Persons Who Were Born at Certain Times

Time of Birth	Number		Per Cent.
Before 1850	2,818		28
1850-1859	2,715		27
1860-1869	2,717		27
1870-1879	1,304		13
1880-1889	95		1
1890-1899	2		—
Unknown	349		4
	———		——
Total	10,000		100

1. Of these 10,000 eminent persons, 779, or 7.8 per cent., were women. Sex will not be considered in the present article.