NOAA and U.S. Census Bureau to celebrate the new U.S. Center of Population

Photo showing The tip of a tripod resting on the center of the 2020 Center of Population Commemorative Survey mark, as part of a GPS survey to determine the precise latitude, longitude, and height of the mark in Hartville, Missouri.

The tip of a tripod resting on the center of the 2020 Center of Population Commemorative Survey mark, as part of a GPS survey to determine the precise latitude, longitude, and height of the mark in Hartville, Missouri. (Image credit: NOAA)

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The U.S. Census Bureau announced the nation’s new center of population in 2020 to be in Hartville, Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains. NOAA will honor the spot with a permanent commemorative survey mark, and the people of Hartville will celebrate this new reference point by having a party to show off the “center” of America. 

The center of population is a point where an imaginary, flat, weightless and rigid map of the United States would balance perfectly if everyone were of identical weight. This is the fifth time in a row that the center of population has fallen in Missouri. Recording population numbers and how people move over time helps with distribution of congressional districts and planning for the allocation of government resources and infrastructure needs. 

WHAT 

The celebration will include remarks from local, state and federal leaders as well as musical performances from Aaron McDaris, banjo player and member of Grammy Award-winning band Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, and singer Cheryl Brown who will lead the Hartville High School Choir. 

WHO

  • NOAA
  • City of Hartville, Missouri
  • U.S. Census Bureau

WHEN

Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 4:30 pm Central Time

WHERE

Hartville City Park, Steele Bluff Rd, Hartville, Missouri

HOW

The celebration is free and open to the public. Reporters who are interested in attending should contact Alison Gillespie (202-713-6644 or alison.gillespie@noaa.gov). Reporters interested in interviews on the 2020 Center of Population and other Census Bureau data should contact the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office (301-763-3030 / 877-866-2010 or pio@census.gov). 

 

Media contacts

NOAA: Alison Gillespie, alison.gillespie@noaa.gov, (202)713-6644

Census Bureau Public Information Office: pio@census.gov, (301) 763-3030 / (877) 861-2010

 

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