CHANGES IN THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTERS OF THE POPULATION OF TEXAS FROM 1850 TO 1990

This study presents a spatial and tabular analysis of the movement of the center of population of Texas for each of the Decennial Censuses from 1850 to 1990. The population center's geographic location has remained remarkably constant over the past 140 years, demonstrating that even with dramatic spurts of population growth at various times and in various locations throughout the state, the relative distribution of Texas's city sizes by population has remained surprisingly constant. This suggests a regularity and stability in the Texas settlement pattern over time.