America, Through The Years…

This has been a very strange time, duly noted because of Covid 19 and the resulting Pandemic years that we have endured. It has even altered the picture of America’s gathering of the Census. The first official report was not given and recorded until April with other reports scheduled for future dates.

A very interesting report of American Culture history began at the turn of the century.

1900-1910—The decade when the United States worked for progressive education for teachers and for testing. Annual teacher’s pay: $325. End of decade, population of the 46 states: 76,000,000. Cars in use, 8,000. Work week pay $12.98 for a 59 hours week. Life expectancy for male 46 years; female 47 years.

1910-1919—The decade when the United States became known as a world leader. The “war to end all wars, WWI” raged on. Average salary was $750 a year. Population was 92,407.000. Life expectancy for male, 48; female 51 years.

1920-1929—This decade was a period of marathons, games, flagpole sittings, jazz, and slang, dubbed the Roaring 20s The first Miss America contest, won by a 16 year old, was held in Atlantic City. Average salary $1,326 annually. Teachers salary was $970. Population 106,521,537. Life expectancy for male 53, female 54.

1930-1939—Following the great depression, money was scarce. People worked very hard to make a life for themselves and their families. Unemployment rose to 25 percent. Movies and parlor games were popular. Average salary $1,368 a year. Population 123,188,000 in 48 states. Life expectancy for male 58; female 61.

1940-1949—Dominated by WWII, Euro- peans fled from Hitler and the Holocaust to the United States, bringing new ideas created in disillusionment. For the first time, women were hired and became a work force to replace men who were now serving our country. Everything was rationed. Ideals were changed. More men got college educations under the GI Bill. The Cold War began. Average salary $1,299. Population of the United States climbed to 132,122,000. Life expectancy for male 60; female 68.

1950-1959—Returning servicemen reluctant to discuss war years renewed their lives with new industry, new jobs, new homes, new cars, and the Baby Boomers were born. Bomb shelters were planned with a tinge of fear in a time of growth and joy. Labor force now 5 male/2 female. Average salary $2,992. Population 151,684,000. Life expectancy for males 65; females 71.

1960-1969—Memorable years of change, as the Cuban Missile Crisis indicated another World War coming. USSR and the United States consider launching nuclear attacks. President John F. Kennedy is assassinated. Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr. gives his famous I Have A Dream speech. NASA’s Mariner 4 Space Probe approaches Mars and takes images of the planet. The Vietnam War escalates and opposition begins to mount. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are first to arrive on the moon in Apollo 11 mission. Woodstock festival is held in New York. AARPANET (predecessor to the Internet) relays its first communication between UCLA and Stanford.

Many more years have passed from the time we first knew of the Internet. Our world has come to rely on information prepared and served to the public for appreciation and for usage.

Space is wearing thin so, for now, have a look at the first current information available regarding the latest census information:

2010-2020—The 2020 Census shows that the resident population of the United States, including the 50 states and the District of Columbia, was 331,449,281 as of April 1, 2020, an increase of 7.4 percent since the 2010 Census.
So much has happened since the last census. We are now in our third year of what we call a Pandemic but great strides are being taken toward the return to good health and the American way.

Kitty Maiden is a staff writer for Seniors Today.