Press, A. (2022, December 22). International migration drove US population growth in 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.voanews.com/a/international-migration-drove-us-population-growth-in-2022-/6888030.html 

Net international migration represented a total of 168% from the previous year’s count of 376,029, showing the impact the pandemic had on both our population and international travel. Natural growth accounted for the addition of about 245,080 people to the overall population increase, an occurrence the country hasn’t experienced since 2007. The rate of population growth experienced a rebound of sorts as it rose to 0.4% from the 0.1% rate observed during the height of the pandemic in 2020-2021. Regionally, the Northeast lost the most residents, with the amount standing at 219,000 compared to the Midwest’s 49,000; contrarily, the South surpassed the 30 Million resident mark, joining California as the only state in this category. However, California experienced a severe population drop, one of the largest next to New Jersey’s.

This article relates to Environmental Science as it introduces us to the separate regions and the impact the pandemic had on them in comparison to others. This might have diverse effects on the economies of separate states, however, as regions like the west coast, rely on large population numbers because of usual job and city density. The introduction of the decrease in international travel can be seen as contributing to the decrease in not only migration but CO2 release during the years 2020-2021 as well. This can allow us to delve deeper into the understanding of the impact of whether migration has a harmful impact or not

Overberg, P., & McCormick, J. (2022, December 23). U.S. population growth remains sluggish despite uptick this year. Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-population-growth-remains-sluggish-despite-uptick-this-year-11671723045 

In the year 2022’s population increase of 1.3 million, the number of births exceeded deaths by about 245,000; an occurrence the article described as, “a surplus that has long supplied much of the nation’s growth.” Though population growth had reportedly slowed over the past decade, it had averaged an annual increase of about 2 million. During this shift, however, the country’s westward and southern movement continued; with Tenessee overtaking Massachusetts as the 15th most populous state. Kenneth Johnson, a demographer for the University of New Hampshire commented on the recording of 24 states having higher death rates than birth rates, describing the actual amount as a “staggeringly high number”; a natural decrease Johnson had said was strange for even 5 states to have recorded. With this decrease present in almost half the states in the US, Johnson hypothesized the increase needed to restore the previous US population would need to come from outside sources, most likely other states or countries; a growth which seems to be coming from the central region.

This population growth article relates to Environmental science as it introduces a new possibility for Tenessee to be a large contributor to the GHG release from the United States. Though California is one of the most populous states, contributing to its large impact on the US’s part in climate change, the introduction of Tennessee as an additional state to add to any pollution released in the same large amounts of GHG creates a larger concern for how to handle decreasing those numbers. As we focus on converting different sources of elements such as Carbon or Methane, this article infers that the focus on larger states such as California might not solve as many problems as previously intended. After such a large increase in a smaller state such as Tennessee, this poses the question as to whether we should shift our focus to less centered upon states, or if any other states might experience a sudden increase such as Tennessee had.

Frey, W. (2023, January 04). New Census estimates show a tepid rise in U.S. population growth, buoyed by immigration. Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.brookings.edu/research/new-census-estimates-show-a-tepid-rise-in-u-s-population-growth-buoyed-by-immigration/  

Through the year 2021, an increase in mortality rates and a decrease in birth rates have resulted in a decline in population at the time; and though migration only played a small role in the population decrease, it is the leading cause of the recent population incline in 2022. In contrast to the previous year’s low in net immigration, 26 states and the District of Colombia either experienced an increase in population or reduced their losses, while 18 states experienced a decline. Additionally, 24 states experienced death rates higher than their birth rates as a result of the pandemic, a point that served as an indication that certain demographics were more highly impacted than others. International immigration was not the only form of immigration impacting the states, domestic immigration also experienced a spike during 2022, as the southern states in particular experienced large amounts of migration numbers from areas in the US. This pattern has been seen before in history, repeating both during WWII and the Great Depression; however, in recent years this can be observed as well, while immigration numbers came to a halt during Trump’s presidency as well as fertility rates dropped during the 2007-2009 recession.

This article states that states such as Texas and Florida experienced internal migration from the US, meaning their populations increased, but only through migration occurring within the United States rather than internationally. This could pose a problem in the US’s role in climate change, as far as political decisions go. These two states, more often than not, vote republican. This could become extremely detrimental in terms of putting into action any movements against climate change. I find that this, although not immediately related to the environment, poses a threat to it all in all.

Singh, K. (2022, December 22). U.S. population growth inches higher in 2022, driven by immigration. Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-population-growth-inches-higher-2022-driven-by-immigration-2022-12-22/ 

In the year 2021, the US experienced its lowest annual growth of fewer than 1 million people, a record not hit since 1937, and representing the lowest numeric growth since 1900. The Census Bureau stated that the primary driver of this growth was net international migration, which accounted for the addition of 1.01 million people to the population of the US between 2021 and 2022; this contrasted greatly with the previous year’s migration recording of 376,000, signifying a return to pre-pandemic times. In a quote released by Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the population division of the Census Bureau, it was stated that “Florida has often been among the largest-gaining states” and that, “this was the first time since 1957 that Florida has been the state with the largest percent increase in population,” In fact, 18 states experienced a population decline in 2022, California included, compared to that lost in only 15 states the previous year. 

The reason this article discusses not only the rapid increase in population within the US in the past year of 2022, but also the decrease in 2021, and how the past seems to be repeating itself. Tying in trends from the 1930s, a unique connection between the Great Depression and the pandemic is made, a point that almost seems to be a nod to other connections people have made with previous happenings. The Spanish Flu, for example, was one Covid had been heavily compared to, but as far as population growth is concerned, it seems that the 1930s had more of a similar effect on the United States

Barrett, K. (2022, December 27). Growth in U.S. population shows early indication of recovery amid covid-19 pandemic. Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/2022-population-estimates.html   

The United States has constantly experienced a population increase until 2020-2021 due to the pandemic, however, the time between 2021 and 2022 has made up for the loss. The total increase of about 0.4% can be attributed to returning immigration rates, and experts such as Kristie Wilder state we have seen “the largest year-to-year total births since 2007”. The Southern and Western states are recorded as having regional population growth, with the South’s population increase standing at 1.1%, and the West’s standing at 0.2%; contrarily, the Northeast and Midwestern states experienced a decrease, with the Northeast losing 0.4% of its residents, and the Midwest losing 0.1% of its respective population. Interestingly, while the regional and national population changes were due to migration and birth rates increasing or decreasing, in territories such as Puerto Rico, the population decrease was due to a result of rising death rates out measuring birth rates.

This article relates to Environmental Science as we have started to focus on population charts and began measuring birth and fertility rates as well as mortality rates. This specifically ties into population growth as a whole in terms of searching for reasons, however with this article specifically, it addresses the mortality rates as well, a factor we have been delving into as well during our studies. Along with that, the pandemic, which is a recurring topic in this article, had an incredible impact on other factors we’ve been studying, not just population. It changed multitudes such as animal migration patterns and CO2 emissions for example.

Wolf, Z. B. (2023, January 19). Why it’s so important for the US to avoid a shrinking population. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/19/politics/china-population-us-what-matters/index.html

This article talks about why it’s important to avoid a shrinking population. It brings up China and talks about how their shrinking population was completely predicable, after they enforced the One Child policy.  The article mentions the fact that in the United States, more women are entering the workforce and putting off having children. The fertility rate continued to not preform well during the years of the pandemic. The article sums it up talking abut how a huge factor in population growth is immigration, and how the country needs to have a serious discussion about it rather than making it a back and fourth political argument.

I agree that it is important to ensrure that we don’t have a shrinking population, otherwise our population will be very top-heavy with elderly people, and less young people in the reproduction age groups to both contribute in the workforce and to have kids. I think if the fertility rate was negatively impacted by the pandemic, then that is something that will clear up in the next few years as the pandemic becomes more and more taken care of. I also agree with the fact the immigration is a massive role in population growth. In 2022 1 million out of the 1.26 million people that contributed to the countries population growth were immigrants. I agree with the fact that there needs to be a serious discussion regaurding the matter, and we need to consider both the lives of the immigrants and their hopes for better futures, as well as the economy and well-being of the United States.

Wolf, Z. B. (2023, January 19). Why it’s so important for the US to avoid a shrinking population. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/19/politics/china-population-us-what-matters/index.html

This article talks about the history of the United States population. The population of the United States is recored every 10 years in the census. The first official census was in 1790 and it recorded nearly 4 million people residing in the United States. The most recent census shows the countries population at over 330 million people. From 1800 to 1810 the population experienced a growth rate of 36.4%, which is the highest growth rate in United States history. Since then the population has still been growing, but at a gradually decreasing rate of growth.

I think it is crazy to see the growth rate from one particular decade being over 36%. Since our country was still a new nation then, and the idea for opportunity and westward expansion was forming I am not surprised that we haven’t seem change like that since. I wonder if the growth rate will continue to decline year after year. I believe that it will for a little bit, and unless there are extreme changes to immigration regulations, then the growth rate will start to flatten out as we reach a potential carrying capacity. At that point, unless there are major events like pandemics, wars, or serious change in litigation, I think that the country will be much more stable in terms of population growth.

Tallungs, K. (2022, November 16). Animated Chart: America’s Demographics Over 100+ Years. Visual Capitalist. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/animated-americas-demographics-over-100-years/

This article shows an interesting animated chart representing the country’s demographics from 1901 to 2020. This chart uses data from the United States census, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Human Mortality Database. The article mentions that the United States population has grown from 77 million in 1901 to around 330 million in 2020. This is a 330% growth over just 119 years. The amount of men and women is almost a near split. Birth rates in the country have been gradually slowing. This will result in a larger percentage of elderly people and a reduction in the workforce, as the population of young people decreases.

I found it very interesting to be able to see our country’s population growth represented in a chart and it was cool to see all the demographics like the different races and when they grew since the start of the twentieth century. The fact that our country has grown in population by around 330% in just over a century is scary. I wonder if this pattern will continue over the next century. I believe our population will still continue to grow, but at a much smaller scale. I think future regulations on immigration will play a huge role in the growth rate of our country in the future, since immigration has been the biggest factor of population growth over the last few years and maybe even since the birth of our nation.

US Census Bureau. (2022, December 27). Growth in U.S. Population Shows Early Indication of Recovery Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/2022-population-estimates.html

This article talks about how the country increased its population by 0.4% in 2022. The article also brings up regional patterns like how The South is the most populous region and was also the fastest growing region in 2022. The South experienced this growth mainly due to both domestic and international migration. The only other region to experience population growth in 2022 was The West. The Northeast and Midwest both experienced a subtle loss in population in 2022. The article then talks about how Texas was the largest growing state in terms of population.

This article is mainly talking about the discrepancies of population growth between different regions of the United States. I find it interesting that some regions gained population, while others experienced the opposite. However, considering that, I am not surprised that The South experienced the most growth, and Texas experienced the most population growth as an individual state. I wonder if this has anything to do with the vast majority of the  border between the United States and Mexico being Texas. My guess would be that most immigrants migrate to Texas when they enter the United States, and the farther out you go, the less of a chance the immigrants are to move there.

Gebeloff, R., & Goldstein, D. (2022, December 22). U.S. Population Ticks Up, but the Rate of Growth Stays Near Historic Lows. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/22/us/census-population.html

The population grew in 2022 mostly due to immigration, but the overall population growth still remains near historic lows, according to data from the Census. The population grew 0.4% from 2021 but is still one of the lowest growth rates in our nation’s recorded history. A million of the 1.26 million people accounting for the growth in population were all immigrants entering the United States. The rest of the growth in population was due to natural change, where there were simply more births than deaths, the largest amount of natural change since 2007. William Frey, a demographer at Brookings Institutions said, “immigration is going to be a key aspect for our future growth.”

This article is mainly talking about how the population growth rate did increase in 2022 from the previous year, however the nation is at all time lows for recorded population growth rates. I believe the recent lows in growth rates are due to outside factors such as the covid-19 pandemic. There was a short dip in growth rate, but I think that the population is starting to increase again and is therefore an issue that the United States should consider or focus some more of their attention to. I am surprised that the population growth rates are as low as they are, even considering the pandemic. I would have thought that with more people in our country, the growth rates would be increasing most years from the previous years, and I didn’t think that there would be such a large dip in the population growth rate from previous years.