The 1970 Census showed that we Americans are an urban people. Seven of every 10 U.S. residents live in metropolitan areas: 3 in central cities and 4 in suburban areas. The movement to the suburbs swelled to high tide in the 1950's. Although it abated somewhat in the 1960's, it reached an historic height in 1970. In April 1970 there were 203.2 million inhabitants in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Almost 70 percent (nearly 140 million) lived in the 243 SMSA's; 32 percent (about 64 million) lived in the 308 central cities; and 37 percent (nearly 76 million) lived in the suburbs. Although overall there was a small gain in population for central cities between 1960 and 1970, a great many cities actually lost population. If past trends continue, nearly half of the American people will be living in the suburban portions of our metropolitan areas by 1985. And one-third of the central city population will be black by 1985, compared with one-fifth at present. We can expect the greatest growth to be in middle-sized SMSA's, those that now have between 500,000 and two million inhabitants. The old image of suburbia as a fringe of "bedroom communities" is fading. Satellite communities, complete with most consumer--oriented facilities and services once located exclusively in the city, are springing up to serve the rapidly growing suburban population. (Author/JM)