A method for populating edge servers within a content delivery network (CDN) having a plurality of points of presence (POPs) is disclosed. A first function is performed that gathers popularity information for a content object. Popularity trends for the popularity information are determined through analysis with historical popularity information. A number of copies of the content object for each of the plurality of POPs is determined. The number is passed as a variable to a second function. The second function is performed that adds or deletes copies of the content object for each of the plurality of POPs as a function of the popularity trend and the number.