Providence Population Growth Rates In Lovecraft's Era

We read about Lovecraft's venom toward emigrants, and those ethnic groups who refused to assimilate quickly to "the American Way", which to Lovecraft was filtered through an antiquarian point of view.

In real life, Providence's population exploded right before HPL's eyes. Look at the numbers !!

In all situations - and dear readers we are not immune to prejudices and fears !! - population explosions bring aboiut a fierce competition of resources and therefore an "us against them" attitude. Even the most enlightened can struggle with these issues.

Only as HPL dies, did the population surge abate for a decade. About the time of his return from New York was there a noticeable decline in population increase - still double digits, though.

1880___276,531___+27.2%
1890___345,506___+24.9%
1900___428,556___+24.0%
1910___542,610___+26.6%
1920___604,397___+11.4%
1930___687,497___+13.7%
1940___713,346___+3.8%