| Western States (AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY) | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 61,359,463 | |||||||||
| Population Growth (percent), 1990 - 2050 | 114 | |||||||||
| U.S. Population Growth (percent), 1990 - 2050 | 59 | |||||||||
| Western States Total Area (acres) | 759,535,420 | |||||||||
| Population Comparison | 1940 | 1960 | 1990 | 2000 | 2020 | 2050 | ||||
| Western states | 13,883,265 | 27,194,165 | 51,127,810 | 61,359,463 | 78,974,000 | 109,304,000 | ||||
| West (percent of U.S total) | 11 | 15 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 28 | ||||
| United States | 132,164,569 | 179,323,175 | 248,709,873 | 285,230,516 | 322,590,500 | 395,461,000 | ||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 27,194,165 | 51,127,810 | 78,974,000 | 109,304,000 | 88 | 54 | 38 | 114 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 1,195,000 | 2,856,000 | 4,397,000 | 5,912,000 | 139 | 54 | 34 | 107 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 5,452,000 | 11,971,000 | 21,145,000 | 28,174,000 | 120 | 77 | 33 | 135 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 10,493,000 | 22,278,000 | 34,179,000 | 40,825,000 | 112 | 53 | 19 | 83 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 308,223,000 | 288,259,000 | 265,633,000 | 250,443,000 | -6 | -8 | -6 | -13 | ||
| Arizona | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 5,130,632 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 72,959,220 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 47.2 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 1,302,161 | 3,665,228 | 6,110,000 | 8,026,000 | 181 | 67 | 31 | 119 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 62,000 | 257,000 | 394,000 | 480,000 | 315 | 53 | 22 | 87 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 333,000 | 991,000 | 1,627,000 | 2,148,000 | 198 | 64 | 32 | 117 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 481,000 | 1,609,000 | 2,728,000 | 3,273,000 | 235 | 70 | 20 | 103 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 34,107,000 | 32,126,000 | 30,234,000 | 29,082,000 | -6 | -6 | -4 | -9 | ||
| California | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 33,871,648 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 101,085,910 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 44.6 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 15,717,204 | 29,760,021 | 45,329,000 | 66,049,000 | 89 | 52 | 46 | 122 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 753,000 | 1,682,000 | 2,609,000 | 3,684,000 | 123 | 55 | 41 | 119 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 2,351,000 | 4,810,000 | 8,474,000 | 11,278,000 | 105 | 76 | 33 | 134 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 3,654,000 | 6,820,000 | 9,815,000 | 10,580,000 | 87 | 44 | 8 | 55 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 38,564,000 | 32,010,000 | 24,424,000 | 19,780,000 | -17 | -24 | -19 | -38 | ||
| Colorado | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 4,301,261 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 66,618,810 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 38.3 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 1,753,947 | 3,294,394 | 5,010,500 | 6,208,000 | 88 | 52 | 24 | 88 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 79,000 | 211,000 | 310,000 | 374,000 | 167 | 47 | 21 | 77 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 349,000 | 965,000 | 1,912,000 | 2,389,000 | 177 | 98 | 25 | 148 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 881,000 | 2,269,000 | 3,407,000 | 4,636,000 | 158 | 50 | 36 | 104 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 37,182,000 | 35,046,000 | 32,862,000 | 31,093,000 | -6 | -6 | -5 | -11 | ||
| Idaho | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 1,293,953 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 53,483,110 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 61.6 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 667,191 | 1,006,749 | 1,680,500 | 2,131,000 | 51 | 67 | 27 | 112 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 16,000 | 34,000 | 52,000 | 66,000 | 113 | 53 | 27 | 94 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 195,000 | 387,000 | 1,013,000 | 1,477,000 | 98 | 162 | 46 | 282 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 575,000 | 1,472,000 | 2,501,000 | 2,990,000 | 156 | 70 | 20 | 103 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 15,337,000 | 14,231,000 | 12,557,000 | 11,591,000 | -7 | -12 | -8 | -19 | ||
| Montana | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 902,195 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 94,101,660 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 28.0 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 674,767 | 799,065 | 1,095,000 | 1,292,000 | 18 | 37 | 18 | 62 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 20,000 | 29,000 | 33,000 | 35,000 | 45 | 14 | 6 | 21 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 198,000 | 328,000 | 620,000 | 930,000 | 66 | 89 | 50 | 184 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 352,000 | 901,000 | 1,839,000 | 2,163,000 | 156 | 104 | 18 | 140 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 50,230,000 | 49,542,000 | 48,298,000 | 47,663,000 | -1 | -3 | -1 | -4 | ||
| Nevada | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 1,998,257 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 70,752,890 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 82.9 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 285,278 | 1,201,833 | 2,245,500 | 2,753,000 | 321 | 87 | 23 | 129 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 12,000 | 74,000 | 129,000 | 166,000 | 517 | 74 | 29 | 124 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 84,000 | 282,000 | 567,000 | 631,000 | 236 | 101 | 11 | 124 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 138,000 | 562,000 | 816,000 | 1,160,000 | 307 | 45 | 42 | 106 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 8,877,000 | 8,192,000 | 7,599,000 | 7,155,000 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -13 | ||
| New Mexico | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 1,819,046 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 77,812,220 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 32.4 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 951,023 | 1,515,069 | 2,456,000 | 3,364,000 | 59 | 62 | 37 | 122 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 30,000 | 67,000 | 92,000 | 119,000 | 123 | 37 | 29 | 78 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 268,000 | 619,000 | 1,085,000 | 1,862,000 | 131 | 75 | 72 | 201 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 528,000 | 1,329,000 | 2,295,000 | 2,900,000 | 152 | 73 | 26 | 118 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 41,334,000 | 40,145,000 | 38,688,000 | 37,278,000 | -3 | -4 | -4 | -7 | ||
| Oregon | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 3,421,399 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 62,114,400 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 52.4 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 1,768,687 | 2,842,321 | 4,170,500 | 5,301,000 | 61 | 47 | 27 | 87 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 62,000 | 145,000 | 221,000 | 271,000 | 134 | 52 | 23 | 87 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 540,000 | 975,000 | 1,737,000 | 2,331,000 | 81 | 78 | 34 | 139 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 1,390,000 | 3,089,000 | 3,740,000 | 3,983,000 | 122 | 21 | 6 | 29 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 24,861,000 | 22,644,000 | 21,155,000 | 20,268,000 | -9 | -7 | -4 | -10 | ||
| Utah | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 2,233,169 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 54,331,590 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 63.9 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 890,627 | 1,722,850 | 2,776,500 | 3,559,000 | 93 | 61 | 28 | 107 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 30,000 | 87,000 | 128,000 | 163,000 | 190 | 47 | 27 | 87 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 219,000 | 503,000 | 724,000 | 957,000 | 130 | 44 | 32 | 90 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 453,000 | 830,000 | 1,588,000 | 2,375,000 | 83 | 91 | 50 | 186 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 10,357,000 | 9,639,000 | 8,619,000 | 7,564,000 | -7 | -11 | -12 | -22 | ||
| Washington | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 5,894,121 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 43,680,080 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 28.3 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 2,853,214 | 4,866,692 | 7,433,000 | 9,758,000 | 71 | 53 | 31 | 101 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 120,000 | 250,000 | 409,000 | 526,000 | 108 | 64 | 29 | 110 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 836,000 | 1,906,000 | 3,047,000 | 3,716,000 | 128 | 60 | 22 | 95 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 1,822,000 | 2,898,000 | 4,460,000 | 5,384,000 | 59 | 54 | 21 | 86 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 20,676,000 | 18,399,000 | 15,537,000 | 13,827,000 | -11 | -16 | -11 | -25 | ||
| Wyoming | ||||||||||
| Population (Census 2000) | 493,782 | |||||||||
| Area (acres) | 62,595,540 | |||||||||
| Public Land (federal only), percent of state area | 48.9 | |||||||||
| PERCENT CHANGE | ||||||||||
| 1960 | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 | 1960 - 1990 | 1990 - 2020 | 2020 - 2050 | 1990 - 2050 | |||
| Population | 330,066 | 453,588 | 667,500 | 863,000 | 37 | 47 | 29 | 90 | ||
| Acres | Urban/Suburban (> 2 units per acre) | 11,000 | 20,000 | 21,000 | 27,000 | 82 | 5 | 29 | 35 | |
| Low Density Suburban (1 unit per 0.5 to 10 acres) | 79,000 | 205,000 | 338,000 | 456,000 | 159 | 65 | 35 | 122 | ||
| Exurban (1 unit per 10 to 40 acres) | 217,000 | 499,000 | 989,000 | 1,381,000 | 130 | 98 | 40 | 177 | ||
| Rural (< 1 unit per 40 acres) | 26,700,000 | 26,283,000 | 25,660,000 | 25,143,000 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -4 | ||
| Sources | ||||||||||
| Population: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Census Bureau, decadal census counts. Accessed from http://www.census.gov, March 2001. | ||||||||||
| U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections Program, Series A projections, accessed from | ||||||||||
| http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/stproj.html, March 2001. | ||||||||||
| Developed Acres: | ||||||||||
| Most source data is from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S.G.S. National GAP Analysis Program; | ||||||||||
| See http://centerwest.org/futures/development/white_paper_dev.html for complete documentation | ||||||||||
| Public Lands: | ||||||||||
| Atlas of the New West: Portrait of a Changing Region. William Riebsame, general editor, James Robb, dir. of cartography, et al. | ||||||||||
| New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997 | ||||||||||