United States annual state-level population estimates from colonization to 1999

The U.S. landscape has undergone substantial changes since Europeans first arrived. Many land use changes are attributable to human activity. Historical data concerning these changes are frequently limited and often difficult to develop. Modeling historical land use changes may be necessary. We develop annual population series from first European settlement to 1999 for all 50 states and Washington D.C. for use in modeling land use trends. Extensive research went into developing the historical data. Linear interpolation was used to complete the series after critically evaluating the appropriateness of linear interpolation versus exponential interpolation.
Our objective was to develop an annual population data series from the first nonindigenous settlements to 1999 for each present day state that could be used to model landscape change presumed to be a direct result of activities associated with the settlement of nonindigenous people.