this year. To help spotlight this occasion, the Census Bureau steps back in
time by comparing contemporary life and statistics to those in the time
periods in which the nation reached other noteworthy population milestones
— in 1967 (when the population reached 200 million) and in the year 1915
(when it reached 100 million). America, how you have grown and changed.
Note: If data are not available for the specific year highlighted, we have
provided data available closest to that year.
President
2006: George W. Bush
1967: Lyndon B. Johnson
1915: Woodrow Wilson
Price of a new home
2006: $290,600
1967: $24,600 ($149,147 in 2006 dollars)
1915: $3,200 ($64,158 in 2006 dollars)
Cost for a gallon of regular gas
2006: $3.04 (as of Aug. 7)
1967: 33 cents ($2.00 in 2006 dollars)
1915: 25 cents ($5.01 in 2006 dollars)
Price of milk
2006: $3.00 gallon
1967: $1.03 gallon ($6.24 in 2006 dollars)
1915: $ .36 gallon ($7.22 in 2006 dollars)
Cost of a first-class stamp
2006: 39 cents
1967: 5 cents
1915: 2 cents
Notable Events
2006: The 20th Winter Olympic Games take place in Turin, Italy.
1967: Dr. Christiaan Bernard performs the first heart transplant;
the first Super Bowl is played.
1915: World War I continues in Europe.
Pop Culture
2006: iPods and “American Idol” reign supreme and cell phones are the
rage.
1967: Color TV is the rage. “The Lucy Show,” “Andy Griffith” and “Gomer
Pyle” are
the top-rated television shows.
1915: The “Model T” and silent movies are the rage. Raggedy Ann,
aspirin in tablet
form and processed cheese are introduced. The milk carton is
invented.
World Population
2006: 6.5 billion
1967: 3.5 billion
1915: 1.8 billion
(Sources: World Population Clock at
to 2006.
1967.
Tying the Knot
Median age at first marriage for men and women, respectively.
2006: 27.1 and 25.8
1967: 23.1 and 20.6
1915: 25.1 and 21.6
Data pertain to 2005.
1967 and 1910.
Coming to America
2006: 34.3 million
Number of foreign-born people. They comprise 12 percent of the total
population. Mexico is
the leading country of origin. (Source: American FactFinder) Data pertain
to 2004.
1967: 9.7 million
Number of foreign-born people. They comprised 5 percent of the total
population. Italy was the leading country of origin.
pertain to 1960.
1915: 13.5 million
Number of foreign-born people. They comprised 15 percent of the total
population. Germany was the leading country of origin. Data pertain to
1910. (Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times
to 1970)
From Desert Outpost to Major Metropolis
The growth of Phoenix symbolizes the nation’s movement South and West.
2006: 1.5 million
Population of Phoenix, making it the sixth most populous city. Data pertain
to 2005.
1967: 439,170
Population of Phoenix, making it the 29th most populous city. Data pertain
to 1960.
1915: 11,134
Population of Phoenix. It was not among the 100 most populous cities. Data
pertain to 1910.
The Rise of the Sunshine State
Since 1915, Florida has been transformed from almost an afterthought to our
nation’s fourth most populous state.
2006: 17.8 million
1967: 6.2 million
1915: 923 thousand
(Sources:
United States 2007; data pertain to 1967 and 1915.)
Our Incredible Shrinking Households
Average household size.
2006: 2.6 people
1967: 3.3 people
1915: 4.5 people
1967.
1999 edition,
Table 1419. Data pertain to 1910.
Tuberculosis
Death rate from this disease per 100,000 population.
2006: 0.2
1967: 3.5
1915: 140.1
(Sources: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States 2007; data
pertain to 2003 and 1967.
edition,
Table 1420. Data pertain to 1915.)
Homeownership . . . the American Dream
Percentage of the nation’s householders who owned the home in which they
lived.
2006: 68.9%
1967: 63.6%
1915: 45.9%
pertain to 2005 and 1967.
pertain to 1910.
Our Aging Nation
Number of people age 65 and older.
2006: 36.8 million
1967: 19.1 million
1915: 4.5 million
pertain to 2005.
1967 and 1915.
Median Age of the Population
2006: 36.2
1967: 29.5
1915: 24.1
pertain to 2005.
1960 and 1910.
Living Longer
Life expectancy at birth.
2006: 77.8 years
1967: 70.5 years
1915: 54.5 years
pertain to 2005.
(Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970
; data pertain to 1967 and 1915.)
Working Women
Percentage of women in the labor force, age 16 and older (10 and older for
1915).
2006: 59%
1967: 41%
1915: 23%
pertain to 2004.
(Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970
; data pertain to 1967 and 1910.)
Education
Percentage of the population, age 25 and older, who had at least a high
school diploma.
2006: 85.2%
1967: 51.1%
1915: 13.5%
to 2004 and 1967.
to 1910.
Earnings
2006: $33,459 and $22,472
Median wage and salary income for male and female wage and salary workers,
respectively.
Data pertain to 2004.
1967: $5,974 and $2,295 ($33,787 and $12,980 in 2004 dollars)
Median wage and salary income for male and female wage and salary workers,
respectively.
1915: $687 (Constant dollar figure not available.)
Average annual earnings for workers (excluding farm labor). (Source:
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970)
Names
The most popular baby names for boys and girls, respectively.
2006: Jacob and Emily
1967: Michael and Lisa
1915: John and Mary
(Source: Social Security Administration, at
Our Love Affair with the Motor Vehicle
Number of motor vehicle registrations.
2006: 237.2 million
1967: 98.9 million
1915: 2.5 million
(Sources: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States 2007; data
pertain to 2004 and 1967.
edition, Table 1439.)
Safer on our Roads
2006: 42,643
Number of traffic fatalities in 2003. This amounted to 1.5 fatalities per
every 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
1967: 51,559
Number of traffic fatalities. This amounted to 5 fatalities for every 100
million vehicle miles of travel.
1915: 6,779
Number of traffic fatalities. This amounted to 35 fatalities for every 100
million vehicle miles of travel.
(Sources: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States 2007;
edition,
Table 1439,
Table 1086.)
The Military
Active-duty military personnel.
2006: 1.4 million
1967: 3.4 million
1915: 174 thousand
(Sources: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States 2007. Data
pertains to 2005.
edition,
Table 1444. Data pertain to 1967 and 1915.)
Down on the Farm
Number of farms.
2006: 2.1 million
1967: 3.2 million
1915: 6.5 million
(Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service at
Sources for introductory facts:
“Special Editions” of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Facts for Features are
issued to provide background information for lesser known observances,
anniversaries of historic events and other timely topics in the news.
Editor’s note: Some of the preceding data were collected from a variety of
sources and
may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error.
Questions or comments
should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office
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