1940 State Populations

Slower growth post-Depression.

In 1940, on the cusp of America's entry into World War II, the United States population stood at approximately 132 million people, reflecting a period of slower demographic expansion largely influenced by the lingering economic effects of the Great Depression, which dampened birth rates and limited immigration. Despite this overall deceleration, significant regional shifts were underway, with the Western states, particularly California, experiencing substantial growth fueled by internal migration, including refugees from the Dust Bowl seeking new opportunities. The industrial heartlands of the Northeast and Midwest remained the most densely populated areas, continuing their trend of urbanization though their growth rates had begun to moderate compared to earlier boom periods. Conversely, many parts of the rural South continued to see out-migration, as residents sought economic prospects in northern industrial cities or newer opportunities in the West, marking a complex redistribution of the nation's people.

Data Source: US Census Bureau