Final answer:
The statement is false; immigration and rural-to-urban population shifts actually contributed to an increase in urban populations, not a decrease. Major cities expanded rapidly with the influx of immigrants and rural individuals seeking opportunities in urban areas during the Industrial Era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rise of immigration did not result in a decrease in urban populations; rather, it signified an increase. Historically, urban centers in the United States saw significant growth during the Industrial Era, a period marked by a shift from rural to urban living as workers moved to cities to seek employment in newly established factories. This process of urbanization was fueled further by the influx of immigrants, mainly from southern and eastern Europe, which, along with rural residents moving to urban areas, drastically expanded city populations. This urban growth was further augmented by internal migration within the country.
However, the phenomenon of "white flight" references the movement of white and middle-class residents out of urban areas as minorities and the poor moved in, leading to changes in the racial and economic demographics of cities. This migration of more affluent individuals to suburbs resulted in decreased revenue for cities but increased wealth in suburban governments and school systems. But it is important to clarify that "white flight" itself did not decrease urban population figures; rather, it altered the demographic composition within the urban areas.
Overall, data points to higher urban populations during times of increased immigration, contradicting the idea that immigration resulted in a population decrease in urban areas. Instead, both historical trends and data indicate a sustained urbanization, particularly in metropolitan areas. Therefore, the statement that the rise of immigration resulted in a decrease in urban populations is false.