Essay On Urban Population

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According to the US Census Bureau report (2012), urban areas are defined as a densely residential, commercial, and other non-residential areas that account for more than 50,000 people. In the US urban population increased by 12.1 percent between 2000 and 2010. In general, urban population account for 80.7 percent of US total population. Other studies also indicate that urban areas are the engines of the United States of America’s economy, creating big opportunities for the entire population in the country. In fact, America’s top hundred urban areas alone comprise at least 75 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Urban areas connect consumers and suppliers together in a relatively close proximity leading driven innovations, …show more content…

The demographic characteristics reflect historical movements, reproduction patterns, in- immigration and immigration movements of the population. Therefore, changes in a composition of the urban population have powerful impacts on health. For example, American Community Survey conducted between 2009 and 2013 indicates that more than 13.9 million urban Americans live in concentrated poverty (poverty rate equal to or greater than 30 percent) where one in four low-income residents live in a distressed neighborhood. The likelihood of concentrated poverty in urban areas of the United States not only hurt the urban’ community but also the entire nation lead to the lower social mobility. The Center for American Progress (2015) report shows, more than 70 percent of the African American still reside in the poorest urban neighborhoods and account for poor educational and health outcomes, and limited employment …show more content…

Air pollution and inadequate housing are the major and serious physical environmental issues for urban Americans. Most communities of color live near the power plants, high industries like oil refineries and leather tanning, or near the waste management facilities. For example, 71 percent of African-Americans live in the cities and counties that break up the federal air pollution standards, 68 percent live near the coal-fired power plant and the majority live in non-green or less green spaces. Many researchers also cite that more than 80 percent of houses build before 1978 are lead-based painting, hence the probability of being poisoned by lead is high among minority population groups. The research also highlights the highest among African Americans (Whyte,

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