VI. STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT JOHN M. MATHEWS In the following series of tables the more important facts relative to the forty-eight states which at present constitute the American Union are brought together for convenient ref erence: 1. The first table gives the area and population of the states, together with the dates upon which they severally ratified the Constitution of the United States, or upon which they were admitted to the Union. The population in 1900 and 1910 is given, together with the percentage of increase since 1900, and the rank of the several states in population at the census of 1910. The population of the continental United States at the thirteenth census taken April 15, 1910, was 91,972,266, an increase of 15,977,691 over the population of June 1, 1900, and an increase of 21 per cent., as compared with an increase of 22.7 per cent. in 1900. The states in which the population increased more than 50 per cent. include Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. All these states are situated in the western half of the United States. Including Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico, and military persons, abroad, the population was 93,402,151. If the population of the Philippine Islands (7,635,426 in 1903) is added, with estimates for Guam, Samoa and the Canal, the total population of the United States and possessions on April 15, 1910, was 101,100,000. On July 1, 1914, the population of the continental United States, as estimated by the Bureau of the Census, was 98.781,324. The apportionment of state representatives in Congress (A. Y. B., 1912, p. 159) is based upon the population in the year 1910 as given upon the following page. 2. The second table gives for each state the assessed valuation of property and the rate of taxation in 1912; the total state indebtedness and the amount of sinking funds held against the same in 1913; the total receipts and the total expenditure for the latter year. The data are those of the decennial census of wealth, debt, and taxation, the final reports of which were published in 1915. 3. The third table revises and extends the table on pp. 184-9 of the YEAR BOOK for 1910, which gives the facts in regard to the state constitutions; dates of adoption; methods of ratification of present and former constitutions, and the existing methods of amendment authorized by law in each state. 4. The fourth table gives the state governors; their politics; the length of the governor's term in each state; the date of the beginning and ending of his term; and the governor's salary. 5. The fifth table presents the main features regarding the state legislatures, including the political complexion of the legislatures; number of members of each house; length of the term; frequency of session; the limit upon duration of sessions, if any; and the salaries of members of both branches of the legislature. 6. The sixth table indicates the main facts regarding the state judidiciary; the name of the courts and number of judges; how chosen; length of term; and salary. 7. The seventh table indicates the number of counties in each state and the general facts as to the county officers, their titles, which, as a rule, indicate their functions, and whether elected or appointed. I. THE STATES OF THE UNION AREA, POPULATION, DATES OF RATIFICATION AND ORGANIZATION, AND ORDER OF ADMISSION TO THE UNION II. STATE INDEBTEDNESS, TAXATION, REVENUES, AND EXPENDITURES The figures in the following table are taken from the final reports of the decennial census of wealth, debt and taxation, published in 1914 and 1915. They relate, as to assessed valuations and tax rates, to the year 1912, and as to the other items, to the year 1913. III. STATE CONSTITUTIONS For the revision of the table of state constitutions on pp. 184-9 of the AMERICAN YEAR BOOK for 1910, it is necessary only to note that the following states have adopted popular initiative as a second means of proposing amendments: California (1911), Colorado (1910), Michigan (1913), Nebraska (1912), North Dakota (1914), and Ohio (1912). The data for Arizona and New Mexico, admitted as states in 1912, are as follows: |