Oahu is an island located in the state of Hawaii in the United States. The island, which is also known by its nickname The Gathering Place, is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands. The population, according to estimates in 2012, was 976,372. This is about two-thirds of the total population of the state. The state has an area of 596.7 square miles and a total population density of 1,636 people per square miles. It is the 20th largest island in the nation.
The island has a long history and has been inhabited since at least the 3rd century. It is believed that Oahu was the first Hawaiian island to be spotted by Captain James Cook in 1778, and the island was not visited by the Europeans until the following year. When the island was discovered and visited by the Europeans, diseases, foreign animals and mosquitoes were introduced, heavily impacting the population of the native people.
Oahu is the location of Honolulu. This is the state’s capital and the main marine port of Hawaii. It is also the largest city in the state with a population of 359,870 people. All cities on the island are part of Honolulu County, despite its location on the southeast portion of the island. According to census data taken in 2010, roughly 81% of the total population live in or near Honolulu’s urban area.
What’s interesting about Oahu is that the entire island is officially known as the City and County of Honolulu, but locals use town names to identify settlements. Oahu has become a tourism hotspot, with its economy boosted by the tourists coming to the island for its beautiful beaches, shopping, and other attractions such as lighthouses, botanical gardens, parks and aquariums.
Since 2010, the total population of the island has grown by over 4%. However, estimates show that the population actually declined in 2016. Prior to this, the population was growing slowly. There is nothing to indicate that this trend will turn around, and slow population growth is expected, at least in the near future.