Internal Migration in the United States: April 1940 to April 1947

Report Number: P20-14

Approximately 70 Million persons in April, 1947, were not living in the same house in which they had lived on April 1, 1940, according to estimates issued today by J.C. Capt, Director, Bureau of Census, Department of Commerce. Some 44 million persons had changed houses within the same county, 13 million had changed counties within the same State, and 12 million had changed their State of residence between 1940 and 1947. Probably never before in the history of the United States has there been internal population movement of such magnitude as in the past seven eventful years.

Tables

A Note on Language

Census statistics date back to 1790 and reflect the growth and change of the United States. Past census reports contain some terms that today’s readers may consider obsolete and inappropriate. As part of our goal to be open and transparent with the public, we are improving access to all Census Bureau original publications and statistics, which serve as a guide to the nation's history.

Page Last Revised - October 10, 2021