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Grandparents Day 2010: Sept. 12

In 1970, Marian McQuade began a campaign to set aside a special day just for grandparents. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the first presidential proclamation, designating the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. The first official observance was Sept. 9, 1979 — and has been celebrated every year since. In honor of our nation's grandparents, the Census Bureau presents an array of data about the role they play in our lives.

6.4 million

The number of grandparents whose grandchildren younger than 18 lived with them in 2008. Source: 2008 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/guidance_main/>

Grandparents as Caregivers

2.6 million

The number of grandparents responsible for most of the basic needs (i.e., food, shelter, clothing) of one or more of the grandchildren who lived with them in 2008. These grandparents represented about 41 percent of all grandparents whose grandchildren lived with them. Of these caregivers, 1.6 million were grandmothers, and 983,000 were grandfathers.

19%

Percentage of grandparents who were caring for their grandchildren and whose income was below the poverty level. This represents 493,000 grandparents.

$46,906

Median income for families with grandparent-caregiver householders. If a parent of the grandchildren was not present, the median dropped to $34,782.

977,000

Number of grandparents responsible for caring for their grandchildren for at least the past five years.

1.9 million

The number of grandparent-caregivers who were married.

1.6 million

The number of grandparents who were in the labor force and also responsible for most of the basic needs of their grandchildren.

655,000

Number of grandparents with a disability who were caring for their grandchildren.

72%

Among grandparents who cared for their grandchildren, the percentage who lived in an owner-occupied home.

Source for statements in this section: 2008 American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/guidance_main/>

Grandchildren

7 million

The number of children living with a grandparent in 2009; these children comprised 9 percent of all children in the United States. Of these children, 4.5 million, lived in the grandparent's home.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2009.html> Table C4

2.7 million

The number of children who lived with both a grandmother and a grandfather in 2009. Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2009.html> Table C4

30%

Among children younger than 5 whose mothers worked outside the home, the percentage cared for on a regular basis by a grandparent during their mother's working hours in 2005. Source: Who's Minding the Kids? Child Care Arrangements: Spring 2005 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/child/ppl-2005.html>

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: <PIO@census.gov>.