The 130 cities of 100,000 inhabitants or more in the United States on April 1, 1960, had a combined population of 50.7 million. In 1950, the 106 cities of this size had a combined population of 44.3 million. Despite this increase of 6 1/2 million persons residing in cities of 100,000 inhabitants or more, the proportion of the total population of the United States living in cities of this size declined from 29.3 percent to 28.3 percent over the decade.

Of the 130 cities, 87 increased in population and 43 lost population between 1950 and 1960. In the previous decade, only 5 of these 130 cities had lost population. Between 1950 and 1960, four cities--Wilmington, Del., Fall River and Somerville, Mass., and Reading, Pa. -dropped below 100,000.

Of the five cities of 1,000,000 or more, all except Los Angeles lost population between 1950 and 1960, whereas all five had gained during the previous decade. Similarly, 7 of the 16 cities of 500,000 to 1,000,000 lost population between 1950 and 1960 in contrast to gains for all 16 between 1940 and 1950.

The table presented here is a preprint of table 28 from Final Report PC(1)-1A, which contains additional summary information on the geographic distribution of the population.

The PDF to the right contains the 3-page report.