FIGURE 1.1 NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATION IN NORTH AMERICA ABOUT 1492 (ESTIMATED)

Just before Europeans arrived, Native American population density varied widely, depending in large part on the availability of natural resources. The Pacific coast, with its rich marine resources, had the highest concentration of people. Overall, the population density of North America was less than 1 percent that of England, which helps explain why Europeans viewed North America as a relatively empty wilderness.