Though preliminary 2020 U.S. Census data showed the Hartville area as the “Center of Population” for the United States earlier this year, the U.S. Census Bureau made it official with its Nov. 16 press release. Based on the 2020 Census population of 331.4 million people, the center has been pinpointed as being in Hartville. The redistricting data released Sep. 16 showed it being about 15 miles from town. Every 10 years, since the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau has calculated the “center of population,” which is a point at where an imaginary, flat, weightless and rigid map of the United States would balance perfectly if everyone were of identical weight. This point represents the average location of where people in the United States live. The exact coordinates are latitude +37.415725 and longitude -092.346525. City of Hartville Mayor Rob Tucker was excited to hear that Hartville was named as the 2020 Center of Population. “It’s a great feeling to live in Hartville,” he said. “It has always been a town with a big heart and is now the heart of America.” An event in the spring of 2022 will recognize Hartville as the Center of Population of the United States.
The event will include an onsite
unveiling of a commemorative
survey monument.
More details will be available
in the coming months regarding
the special event.
