Asian American Month

May 12, 2007

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Profile America — Saturday, May 12th. By presidential proclamation, May is designated to recognize one of the nation’s fastest-growing population groups — those of Asian and Pacific American heritage. The observance dates from a congressional joint resolution in 1978. It honored the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the 1840s and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, with the help of Chinese immigrants. More than 14 million people in the nation are of Asian heritage, about 5 percent of the total population. California has the largest number of this group, at nearly 5 million. By 2050, Asians are projected to number more than 33 million. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2007, p. 245
U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB07-FF.05
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/009714.html