Population of the United States in 1850: 23,191,876
Center of population: 23 miles southeast of Parkersburg, western Virginia
Population of the United States in 1890: 62,947,714
Center of population: 20 miles east of Columbus, Indiana
Population of western states and territories in 1850 (including present-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and Utah): 179,000
Population of western states and territories in 1890: 3,134,000
Land area of the United States and its territories in square miles,
1840: 1,753,588
1860: 2,973,965
Miles of railroad
1840: 2,808
1890: 163,597
Timeline
1833 Four Flathead and Nez Percé Indians journey to St. Louis to inquire about Christian missionaries
1836 Missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman arrive in Walla Walla River valley, Washington
1837 Cherokees forcibly removed from Georgia to Oklahoma by U. S. government
1841 Migration begins along the Oregon Trail
1846 Mexican-American War begins; the first stage coach line west of the Missouri, Oregon's "Telegraph Line," established
1847 Mormons begin trek to Salt Lake City
1847 Cayuse Indians massacre the Whitmans and 12 others
1848 Gold discovered at Sutter's Mill in California
1856 Methodist bishop William Taylor publishes Seven Years' Street Preaching in San Francisco
1857 Dred Scott Decision prohibits banning of slavery in U. S. territories
1861 Civil War begins; completion of the first transcontintal telegraph makes the Pony Express obselete
1862 Homestead Act offers 160 acres of land to anyone who will live on it for five years
1866 Episcopalian Daniel Tuttle named missionary bishop of Montana
1867 U. S. purchases Alaska
1869 First transcontinental railroad completed when east and west meet in Promontory Point, ...

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