That was before all the land was settled. And most likely meant for Europeans.
The US is still very sparsly populated, especially for a country with so much arable land & relatively mild climate.
Ever been to the Netherlands or Belgium? They are quite lovely. Both also have a population density well in excess of 10x the US's.
Lots more people can fit in the country without negative effects.
But the areas that have seen job growth in the last 20 years are highly concentrated in areas that are about as packed as most of Western Europe: LA, SF, Boston through DC, and about a dozen other massive metro areas. The vast majority of available land (from the Mississippi to the Pacific and Alaska) is uninhabitable or agricultural and without jobs.
All I know is that where I live we already have way too much traffic, lack of affordable housing, and the lowest labor participation rate in decades. So by what metric does increasing population help those of us who live here (besides companies who love cheaper labor)?
So by what metric does increasing population
help those of us who live here
areas that are about as packed as most of
Western Europe: LA, SF, Boston through DC,
and about a dozen other massive metro areas.
The US is sparse in any meaningful metric.