Discusses "general trends in black urbanization for the greater part of the twentieth century and the similarities and dissimilarities black trends have had with those of whites." Analyzes "the role migration has played in redistributing blacks to the country's largest cities." Examines "urbanization trends in terms of black occupational and…

Current population trends represent a dramatic shift in wealth and educated people to the Sunbelt, creating a secondary effect in terms of growth, jobs, tax bases, and school enrollments. These trends will continue in the 1980s, intensifying the decline in economic conditions, the quality of social and educational services, and the quality of life…

The United States is a highly urbanized nation with space in abundance, yet large portions of its national territory are emptying out. The counterpart of this pervasive population decline is a highly selective pattern of growth, conferred by a national system of migration flows that has increasingly favored a certain few metropolitan areas. This…

Analysis of Current Population Survey data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census contradicts the popular allegation of significant population returns to central cities from suburbs. On the contrary, data reveal a continuation of the decades-old trend of migration away from metropolitan areas. (KH)

It is proposed in this document that the selectivity of migration, in terms of both people and places become a more imposing influence in urbanization as the role of natural increase as a source of urban growth diminishes. Recent U.S. growth policy proposals have frequently been marked by a simplistic view of how urban growth works, compounded by…

In this retrospective review of demographic aspects of race and the metropolis, presented as a basis from which to speculate about the 1970's, the period of mass migration of blacks out of the rural South is seen as drawing to a close. The U.S. black population is more urban and more metropolitan than the white population. The development of black…

The post-World War II American pattern of general urban growth, rapid suburbanization, and central city decline has now given way to reduced urban growth outside the Sunbelt, increased growth in nonmetropolitan areas, greater self-sufficiency for suburbs, and continuing depression in the central cities. Implications of these changes are discussed.…

The social policy implications of demographic trends are examined, to help policy makers anticipate future needs for services with greater accuracy. Crises such as energy needs and social security financing illustrate the need for greater recognition of the time dimension of public policy. Many of our most difficult problems, if they are to be…

Aside from the growth of world population itself, urbanization is the dominant demographic trend of the late twentieth century. The number of people living in cities increased from six hundred million in 1950 to over two billion in 1986. If this growth continues unabated, more than half of humanity will reside in urban areas shortly after the turn…