U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for May 18.

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18: CENTER OF POPULATION

Profile America -- Wednesday, May 18th. One of the more famous bits of advice given in American history was "go west, young man." One of the ways the census tracks the continued westward movement of the population is by computing what's known as the center of population after each 10 year census. To understand this concept, imagine a flat, rigid, and weightless map. Then put a uniform grain of sand on the map for every person counted in the census. The point at which this map would evenly balance is the center of population. After the first census in 1790, this point was in Chestertown, Maryland. Now, after the 23rd count, the center of population has been computed to be near the small town of Plato, Missouri - a movement of 873 miles. Profile America is beginning its 15th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB11-FF.10

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau