US Census Press Releases

CB00-FF.14                               November 13, 2000

                   Thanksgiving Day, 2000

Thanksgiving -- A Growth Industry

-- The 273 million turkeys the nation's farmers produced in 1999 weighed
   6.9 billion lbs. The weight was up 15 percent from 1990.
   http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-238.html

-- The typical American gobbled up 14 lbs. of turkey in 1998 -- no doubt
   much of this at Thanksgiving time. Per-capita turkey consumption was
   about 3 percent higher than in 1990, but was 75 percent higher than
   in 1980.
   http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-238.html

-- The $2.7 billion the nation's farmers earned in 1998 from turkey sales
   was up 11 percent from 1990. That exceeds the amount they made from
   growing either lettuce ($1.6 billion),rice ($1.7 billon), apples
   ($1.4 billion) , peanuts ($1.0 billion), potatoes ($2.5 billion) or
   oranges ($2.0 billion).
   http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-238.html

-- The nation's poultry processors shipped $3.8 billion worth of turkeys
   in 1997, up from $2.9 billion in 1992. North Carolina led the way, with
   $624.4 million in shipments,followed by California ($365.2 million) and
   Missouri ($341.3 million). These businesses operated out of 39
   establishments, employing more than 27,000 workers.
   http://www.census.gov/prod/ec97/97m3116d.pdf

The Price is Right

-- Turkey is a very economical dish. In December 1999, a frozen whole
   turkey cost consumers 98 cents per lb. By comparison, t-bone steak was
   $6.71 per lb.
   http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-238.html

Where in the World Does Your Meal Come From?

-- North Carolina and Minnesota are the nation's leading turkey-producing
   states with 1.1 billion lbs. each in 1999.  Other large turkey-producing
   states are Missouri (616 mil. lbs.), Virginia (526 mil. lbs.),Arkansas
   (491 mil. lbs.), California (429 mil. lbs.), Indiana (377 mil.lbs.), 
   South Carolina (326 mil. lbs.), Iowa (233 mil. lbs.) and Pennsylvania
   (222 mil. lbs.). Combined, these 10 states account for more than
   three-quarters of U.S. turkey production.
   http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-238.html

     
-- The nation's farmers produced 639 million lbs. of cranberries in
   1999.  Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New Jersey led the United States in
   production. Farmers also produced 599,000 short tons of sweet potatoes
   in 1999. North Carolina, Louisiana and California are leading states in
   sweet-potato production.
   http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/1999/cb99-238.html

-- Perhaps, the contents of your feast will come from abroad. U.S. imports
   of live turkeys totaled $12.0 million worth in 1999 -- all from 
   Canada. Our northern neighbors also accounted for all of the $19.8
   million worth of cranberries the United States imported. When it came
   to sweet potatoes, however, the Dominican Republic was the source of
   most ($4.9 million) of the total imports ($5.1 million). Meanwhile, in
   1999, the United States exported $8.8 million worth of live turkeys,
   $10.5 million worth of cranberries and $10.5 million worth of sweet
   potatoes.  
   http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

Turkeytown, U.S.A.

-- Where better to celebrate "Turkey Day" than in one of the three 
   incorporated places in the United States actually named after the
   tasty gobbler? Turkey, Texas, was the most populous in 1999 (est.
   pop. of 442), followed by Turkey Creek, La. (pop. 305), and
   Turkey, N.C. (pop. 286).
   http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-178.html

-- There are also 14 incorporated places around the nation with
   "Plymouth" (as in "Plymouth Rock") as part of their name; Plymouth,
   Minn., with 62,152 people, was the most populous in 1999.
   http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-178.html

-- Still not in the Thanksgiving spirit? Then you may want to visit one of
   the five towns or townships around the country named "cranberry" or some
   variation thereof (i.e.,Cranbury township, N.J.) or the lone one named
   "pilgrim" (Pilgrim township, Mo.,population, 142). The two most populous of
   the "cranberry" towns were both located in Pennsylvania and named
   "Cranberry township:" one had a population of 22,457 in 1999, the
   other,7,242. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-178.html
   There were also nine towns or townships with "turkey" as part of their
   name. Three of them -- each known as "Turkey Creek township" -- were
   located in Kansas. However, the most populous "turkey" town was Turkey
   Creek township, Ind. -- population 8,457 in 1999.
   http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2000/cb00-178.html

The preceding facts come from population estimates; the Statistical
Abstract of the United States; the 1997 Economic Census; and U.S. import
and export trade reports. The data are subject to sampling variability and
other sources of error. Previous Census Bureau Facts for Features this
year: African American History Month (February), Valentine's Day  
(Feb.14), Women's History Month (March), Census Day, 2000 (April 1), Asian
Pacific American Heritage Month (May), Mother's Day (May 14), Father's Day
(June 18), the Fourth of July, Back to School (August), Grandparents Day
(Sept. 10), Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), Election Day 
(Nov.7) and American Indian Heritage Month (November). Questions or comments
should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office 
(Tel: 301-457-3030; Fax: 301-457-3670; E-mail: pio@census.gov).
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