The population of the United States has reached more than 300 million, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Oct. 17. The number steadily increased to more than 300,315,000 this November.

The world’s population of more than 6.5 billion causes international concern for longevity of natural resources as well as overpopulation in individual countries, such as India or China. But the United States’ consistent increases in population during the past few decades cause concern much closer to home.

‘A lot of the change is due to immigration,’ said Christine Himes, chair of the department of sociology. She also noted the changes in smaller households and the increase of the modern suburban lifestyle.

Himes also mentioned the migration of populations to the south and west. Much of the population of the country resides in the coastal regions.

Many college students are applying to schools on the west coast, or larger cities, she said. As graduates become professionals, the age distribution changes and heavy resource-consuming lifestyles become commonplace.

The population reached the mark of 200 million in 1967 and the 50 percent increase in the past 39 years is now affecting college admissions rates, she said.

This current generation of college students is very large, but in five or six years, the especially large number of college-age students will begin to decline, Himes said.

The Census states that taking into account all births, deaths and immigration in the United States adds up to one new American every 11 seconds, with an average household size of 2.6 people.

The suburban sprawl of Americans from urban areas leads to the need for more transportation, the use of fuel resources and the potential damaging of the environment.

‘A really big thing is just the use of cars,’ said Chris Schalk, a junior environmental science major at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. ‘People living in cities have a smaller ecological footprint than people living in rural areas because people in cities can walk to places. People living in rural or suburban areas have to drive everywhere.’

While the numbers make it clear that the country is most definitely reaching from coast to coast, few can seem to figure out what should be done about a steady population increase and limited resources.

‘There has to be a large public awareness,’ said Rula Yousef, a senior biological policies major at ESF. ‘People have to start petitioning.’

Yousef acknowledged the population increase is more severe in many other countries, but said that doesn’t mean the United States can’t improve upon its own situation.

‘I think that in terms of using other types of resources we need to have more of a variation,’ she said. ‘If there is a city on the coast, they should definitely be using hydroelectric power.’

As resourceful as that may seem, the country has yet to make a widespread commitment to alternative fuels, she said.

‘It’s not really feasible right now because you don’t get a big return on (investments) using ethanol and stuff like that,’ Schalk said.

More research needs to be done before the United States can switch over to an alternative resource like ethanol or E85, Schalk said.

‘Instead of finding more efficient ways to fuel, we’re building more cars,’ Yousef said. ‘We’re going to see a lot more wars, a lot more environmental problems … we’re not on a good path right now.’

While the population increase is a cause of current concern, it remains to be seen if any serious consequences will occur in the current generation’s lifetime.

‘Our children’s children are going to have to deal with this,’ Yousef said.

Published on November 29, 2006 at 12:00 pm