Final answer:
The BosWash megalopolis, encompassing the urban corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C., is indeed home to a significant portion of the U.S. population, supporting the statement that one in five Americans live in this region. Urbanization has increased over the years, with now 80% of Americans living in metropolitan areas, marking a significant rural-to-urban shift.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "One in five Americans live in the BosWash megalopolis" can be considered true given that the region, which stretches from Boston to Washington, D.C., includes a significant portion of the U.S. population. This urban area is home to many of the wealthiest counties in the United States, most of which are around Washington, D.C. Alongside wealth, the region also includes areas affected by poverty and economic decline, particularly as a result of deindustrialization in cities such as Detroit and Cleveland.
This megalopolis is an economic powerhouse, hosting headquarters of various corporations and cultural institutions. With urbanization trends since the 1950s, more Americans have moved to metropolitan areas. As of now, approximately 80% of Americans live in metropolitan and suburban areas, reflecting the rural-to-urban population shift; this is a stark contrast to 1900 when only 40% lived in such areas.
Population density in the Northeast, especially within the BosWash corridor, contributes to making it the most densely populated region in the country. Moreover, the trends of urbanization and population growth within urban conglomerations, like CSAs, highlight the increasing urban proportion of the U.S. population. The region's density and its place within the urban hierarchy illustrate the prominence of the BosWash megalopolis in the United States.