A Century of Population Density Growth for ESC States

This project aims to analyze the population density growth of East South Central states from 1910 to 2020 using data from census.gov. The main objective of the analysis is to determine which state had the greatest population density and to compare the trend of growth among the states.

The report provides a visual representation of population density growth in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.

The analysis revealed that Kentucky had the largest density numbers until around 1945, after which Tennessee took the lead and continued growing, almost doubling the growth percentages of the other states at a whopping 216.981%. Mississippi, on the other hand, stayed at the bottom of the pack for the past century.

So, what caused Tennessee's meteoric rise? There can be a number of contributing factors but it is likely related to WWII. The book "World War II in Nashville: Transformation of the Homefront" by Robert Guy Spinney provides some insights. The excerpt below starts by pondering the correlation between war and economics.

"It is note-worthy, then, that the Nashville Chamber of Commerce's 1950 report proclaims the previous ten years "the greatest decade of progress in the history of Nashville." Despite scanty population increases in the city, the 1950 report presents evidence of near-miraculous economic growth. Between 1940 and 1950, total deposits in local banks increased by 192 percent, wages for manufacturing employees increased by 196 percent, retail traded jumped by 205 percent, and the value of building permits skyrocketed by 489 percent."