Thus the increase of the population of the before-mentioned states, in which census returns were made since 1810, for the forty years, from 1810 to 1850, must be calculated as follows: Indiana.. Massachusetts Michigan New Jersey New York Ohio......... Pennsylvania Illinois....... Although from the above it would appear, that Michigan surpasses the state of Illinois in the rapid increase of its population, on considering that in the year 1850 Michigan possessed a much smaller population than Illinois, having but 397,654 inhabitants to set off against the 851,470 of the latter; that the immigration to Michigan, during the years 1850-1855, was considerably less than that to Illinois; further, that the population of Illinois, during the five years, 1850-1855, has increased by about 52 per cent., or more than onehalf; and during the forty-five years, 1810-1855, by about 10,486 per cent.; we can only regret that we are not in possession of the returns of the census of Michigan for 1855; by placing the statement given by these with regard to the increase of the population of Michigan up to that year before the reader, we would be enabled to prove, that the state of Illinois, far from being inferior in rapidity of the growth of its population, for the last forty years, to the other states, is in reality superior not only to them, but also to Michigan. Iowa and Wisconsin, which states have also prodigiously advanced, could not be well compared with the above states, for the last forty years, they being of too recent date. Illinois consists of one hundred counties, the population of which, for the years 1840, 1850, and 1855, was, respectively, the following: * The couuties marked * were, during the years 1840-1850, subdivided into new counties. From the counties Will and Iroquois, denoted by †, sections were taken since 1850, and made to constitute Kankakee county. Illinois has, besides, a county called Cook county, which numbers more than 100,000 inhabitants, and in which Chicago, that city of unparalleled growth, is situated; another county (La Salle), with more than 35,000; three (Adams, Madison, and Peoria), with from 30,000 to 35,000; four (Fulton, Kane, St. Clair, Sangamon), with from 25,000 to 30,000; six (Hancock, Jo Daviess, Knox, Pike, Will, Winnebago), with from 20,000 to 25,000; ten (Bureau, Lake, McHenry, McLean, Macoupin, Morgan, Ogle, Rock Island, Tazewell, and Vermilion), with from 15,000 to 20,000; twenty-four with from 10,000 to 15,000; forty-two with from 5000 to 10,000 and nine with less than 5000 inhabitants. The counties having the fewest inhabitants are Pulaski and Alexander, the former with 2462, the latter with 2927 inhabitants, contiguous to each other, and being situated in the most southern section of the State. : In order to enable the reader with one glance to survey the comparatively smaller or greater density of the population of the various parts and counties of the State, we here subjoin a population-map of it, wherein the counties are marked and designated, the following columns |