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<br />II <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />.D ':' :.~" 3 ,g () <br /> <br />5.4% for the region, 43.9% for non-Ogallala portions of the states, and 26% <br />nationally. <br /> <br />The relatively slow growth rates within the Region may be at least <br />partly attributable to a more generally national demographic trend until 1970 <br />favoring urban population growth over rural growth. One of the most con- <br />sistent social aspects of the Ogallala Region is its rural character. With <br />few exceptions, notably Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas, major cities are located <br />in non-Ogallala areas of the states. Population densities are in the range <br />of about 10 persons per square mile over the Region. The trend toward <br />greater rate of urban population growth in the last several decades, which <br />has been noted in various Census Bureau publications, appears to be well sup- <br />ported based on data reported by the six states. For example, the ratio of <br />urban to rural popul ation in Nebraska changed from approximately 25% urbani <br />75% rural in 1900 to 60% urban/40% rural in 1970. In Kansas, the percentage <br />of the population living in cities larger than 20,000 people increased by 86% <br />from 1960~1980, while the percentage of the population living in cities <br />smaller than 10,000 decreased over the same period. A shift from rural to <br />urban population growth is also reported in New Mexico, where the percentage <br />of the population classified as urban rose from 66% to 70% from 1960-1970. <br /> <br />The largest statewide percentage increase from 1960 to 1970, and again <br />from 1970 to 1980, occurred in Colorado, while the smallest increase during <br />both decades occurred in Kansas. Colorado also recorded the smallest long- <br />term population gain in the Ogallala region. Both the long-term (1960-1980) <br />and recent decade trends indi cate that Okl ahoma and Texas popul ati ons are <br />i ncreasi ng the fastest wi thi n the Regi on. These two states accounted for <br />over 60% of the population increase from 1970-1980 within the Ogallala <br />Region. Again; a national trend of population migration into the sun belt <br />states, as cited in recent Census Bureau reports, may be at least partly <br />responsible for this growth. <br /> <br />Limited data from the states regarding changes in the median age of the <br />population suggest that the six states tend to have a slightlY older popula- <br />tion than the rest of the country. In Kansas, for example, the 1980 median <br />age was 32.5, as compared to the national median age of 30.3. In Nebraska, <br /> <br />1-29 <br />