It soon lost that lead. California certainly grew, reaching 1,208,130 people by 1890, but its growth rate and population fell behind its rivals. Kansas was bigger than California by 1880 and had 1,427, 096 people by 1890, when Minnesota, with 1,301,826 people, was also more populous. Minnesota also had more than twice as many farms as California in 1890, while Kansas had three times as many. California at least compared favorably with Nevada, which lost population after the arrival of the railroad. In comparison with the Middle Border, California’s economy stagnated.
