On this day in 1804, two Virginian explorers set out on a journey west in what would become the legendary Lewis and Clark Expedition. And in their footsteps, we can follow America’s expansion west.
Back in 1800 before the epic trip, the US population was 5.3 million. Ten years later, it increased to 7.2 million — a 36 percent increase. As shown in the following maps, this growth continued, and started moving west, adding territories and states along the way.
1910
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1900
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1890
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1880
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1870
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1860
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1850
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1840
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1830
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1820
US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1810
Six years after Lewis and Clark complete their journey. US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
1800
Four years before Lewis and Clark begin their journey. US Census Data. Source: Social Explorer.
[…] Social Explorer and Oxford University Press took a trip through the American West 200 years ago. See the blog post here and on Oxford’s website. […]