Our nation’s population is expected to reach 300 million the later part of 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 Barnard 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 <http://www.census.gov/> Data pertain to 2006. <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/worldpop.html> Data pertain to 1967. <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/worldhis.html> Data pertain to 1910.)

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
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/006840.html>
Data pertain to 2005.
<http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html> Data pertain to 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. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/foreign/cps2000.html> Data 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. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007001.html>

1967: 439,170
Population of Phoenix, making it the 29th most populous city. Data pertain to 1960. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027.html>

1915: 11,134
Population of Phoenix. It was not among the 100 most populous cities. Data pertain to 1910. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027.html>
<http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076.html>

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: <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/006142.html> Data pertain to 2005. Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the 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
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/006840.html> Data pertain to 2005.
<http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html> Data pertain to 1967. <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-1995_2000.html>, 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. <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-1995_2000.html>, 1999 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%
<http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/hvs/annual05/ann05t12.html> Data pertain to 2005 and 1967. <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/census/historic/owner.html> Data 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
<http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/NC-EST2005-sa.html> Data pertain to 2005.
<http://www.census.gov/popest/archives/pre-1980/PE-11.html> Data pertain to 1967 and 1915.

Median Age of the Population
     2006: 36.2
     1967: 29.5
     1915: 24.1
<http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/NC-EST2005-sa.html> Data pertain to 2005.
<http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t9/tab07.txt> Data pertain to 1960 and 1910.

Living Longer
Life expectancy at birth.
     2006: 77.8 years
     1967: 70.5 years
     1915: 54.5 years
<http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html>, Table 96. Data 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%
<http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html>, Table 585. Data 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%
<http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/educ-attn.html> Data pertain to 2004 and 1967. <http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d04/tables/dt04_008.asp> Data pertain to 1910.

Earnings
2006: $34,926 and $23,546
Median wage and salary income in 2005 for male and female wage and salary workers, respectively. <http://pubdb3.census.gov/macro/032006/perinc/new10_000.htm>.

1967: $5,974 and $2,295 ($29,589 and $11,367 in 2005 dollars)
Median wage and salary income for male and female wage and salary workers, respectively. <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/histinc/p53ar.html>

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 <http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/> Data pertain to 2005, 1967 and 1915.)

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. <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-1995_2000.html>, 1999 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; <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-1995_2000.html>, 1999 edition,
Table 1439, <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html>, 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. <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract-1995_2000.html>, 1999 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 <http://www.usda.gov/nass/nass/>, data pertain to 2005, 1967 and 1915.)

Sources for introductory facts: <www.bls.gov>, <http://www.1960sflashback.com/1967/Economy.asp>, <http://local.aaca.org/bntc/1915.htm>,<http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp>, <http://www.census.gov/const/www/newressalesindex.html>, and <http://www.tvparty.com/fall67.html>.

“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.