California is Most Crowded State, and Some Like it That Way!
Photos: Summer beach events bring crowds out to Southern California beaches; freeway congestion–no surprises!
Californians have the perception that it’s more crowded in New York. We cite our open spaces such as the Santa Monica mountains in the heart of L.A., Golden Gate National Park in San Francisco, and over 270 state parks as reasons that we are privileged to live in paradise. But does paradise have a price? California has the best weather in the world and that is reason enough to live here. It has also 8 out of 10 most polluted cities in the U.S., and that’s not good.
If you live in a busy California city and contemplate moving “out to the country,” you might take a big gulp–and stay right where you are for a while. Living in densely populated places has an upside–more jobs, ample free entertainment and free festivals, concerts, plays, events, shopping and endless dining that you would really miss out in the sticks. Then there’s the sounds of silence you’d have to cope with. Who wants to hear bullfrogs in a creek when you can fall to sleep to the sounds of screeching tires or planes overhead?
According to recently released U.S. Census Bureau statistics, California has 7 of the 10 most densely populated urban areas in the U.S. Nationally, only 3 major city regions outside California rank in the top 10 crowded–New York, Honolulu and Las Vegas. And what the trends show is more crowding to come with even denser populations in the future.
Top 5 U.S. City Regions Per Population Density:
- LOS ANGELES – 7,000 people per square mile
- SAN FRANCISCO – 6,266
- SAN JOSE – 5,820
- DELANO, CA
- NEW YORK-NEWARK
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