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2011-04-30T05:41:00.001-07:00

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Hispanic Heritage Month 2009:

2009-09-20T13:34:00.000-07:00

Sept. 15 – Oct. 15

In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, which was observed during the week that included Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a monthlong celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

Population

46.9 million
The estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2008, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 15 percent of the nation’s total population. In addition, there are approximately 4 million residents of Puerto Rico.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html> and
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013049.html>

More than 1
. . . of every two people added to the nation’s population between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, was Hispanic. There were 1.5 million Hispanics added to the population during the period.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>

3.2%
Percentage increase in the Hispanic population between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, making Hispanics the fastest-growing minority group.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>

132.8 million
The projected Hispanic population of the United States on July 1, 2050. According to this projection, Hispanics will constitute 30 percent of the nation’s population by that date.
Source: Population projections <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012496.html>

22.4 million
The nation’s Hispanic population during the 1990 Census — less than half the current total.
Source: The Hispanic Population: 2000 <http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-3.pdf>

2nd
Ranking of the size of the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide, as of 2008. Only Mexico (110 million) had a larger Hispanic population than the United States (46.9 million).
Source: International Data Base <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbsum.html> and population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>

64%
The percentage of Hispanic-origin people in the United States who were of Mexican background in 2007. Another 9 percent were of Puerto Rican background, with 3.5 percent Cuban, 3.1 percent Salvadoran and 2.7 percent Dominican. The remainder were of some other Central American, South American or other Hispanic or Latino origin.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

About 45 percent of the nation’s Dominicans lived in New York City in 2007 and about half of the nation’s Cubans in Miami-Dade County, Fla.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

25%
Percentage of children younger than 5 who were Hispanic in 2008. All in all, Hispanics comprised 22 percent of children younger than 18.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>

27.7 years
Median age of the Hispanic population in 2008. This compared with 36.8 years for the population as a whole.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>

107
Number of Hispanic males in 2008 per every 100 Hispanic females. This was in sharp contrast to the overall population, which had 97 males per every 100 females.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.html>

States and Counties

48%
The percentage of the Hispanic-origin population that lived in California or Texas in 2008. California was home to 13.5 million Hispanics, and Texas was home to 8.9 million.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

16
The number of states with at least a half-million Hispanic residents — Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

45%
The percentage of New Mexico’s population that was Hispanic in 2008, the highest of any state. Hispanics also made up at least one fifth of the population in California and Texas, at 37 percent each, Arizona (30 percent), Nevada (26 percent), Florida (21 percent) and Colorado (20 percent). New Mexico had 891,000 Hispanics.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

The Carolinas
The states with the highest percentage increases in Hispanic population between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008. South Carolina’s increase was 7.7 percent and North Carolina’s was 7.4 percent.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

4.7 million
The Hispanic population of Los Angeles County, Calif., in 2008 — the largest of any county in the nation. Los Angeles County also had the biggest numerical increase in the Hispanic population (67,000) since July 2007.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

97%
Proportion of the population of Starr County, Texas, that was Hispanic as of 2008, which led the nation. All of the top 10 counties in this category were in Texas.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

48
Number of the nation’s 3,142 counties that are majority-Hispanic.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

15%
Percent increase in the Hispanic population in Luzerne County, Pa., from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008. Among all counties with 2007 Hispanic populations of at least 10,000, Luzerne topped the nation in this category. Luzerne’s county seat is Wilkes-Barre.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

313,000
The increase in California’s Hispanic population between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, which led all states. Texas (305,000) and Florida (111,000) also recorded large increases.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

20
Number of states in which Hispanics are the largest minority group. These states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>

Businesses

Source for statements in this section: Hispanic-owned Firms: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/csd/sbo/hispanic2002.htm>

1.6 million
The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002.

Nearly 43 percent of Hispanic-owned firms operated in construction; administrative and support, and waste management and remediation services; and other services, such as personal services, and repair and maintenance. Retail and wholesale trade accounted for nearly 36 percent of Hispanic-owned business revenue.
Counties with the highest number of Hispanic-owned firms were Los Angeles County (188,422); Miami-Dade County (163,187); and Harris County, Texas (61,934).

Triple
The rate of growth of Hispanic-owned businesses between 1997 and 2002 (31 percent) compared with the national average (10 percent) for all businesses.

$222 billion
Revenue generated by Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002, up 19 percent from 1997.

44.6%
. . . of all Hispanic-owned firms were owned by people of Mexican origin (Mexican, Mexican-American or Chicano).

29,168
Number of Hispanic-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more.

Families and Children

10.4 million
The number of Hispanic family households in the United States in 2008. Of these households, 62 percent included children younger than 18.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>

66%
The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>

43%
The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple with children younger than 18.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>

70%
Percentage of Hispanic children living with two parents.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/013378.html>

Spanish Language

35 million
The number of U.S. residents 5 and older who spoke Spanish at home in 2007. Those who hablan español constituted 12 percent of U.S. residents. More than half of these Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

4
Number of states where at least one-in-five residents spoke Spanish at home in 2007 — Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/012634.html>

78%
Percentage of Hispanics 5 and older who spoke Spanish at home in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$38,679
The median income of Hispanic households in 2007, statistically unchanged from the previous year after adjusting for inflation.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

21.5%
The poverty rate among Hispanics in 2007, up from 20.6 percent in 2006.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

32.1%
The percentage of Hispanics who lacked health insurance in 2007, down from 34.1 percent in 2006.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

Education

53%
The percentage of Hispanic 4-year-olds enrolled in nursery school in 2007, up from 43 percent in 1997 and 21 percent in 1987.
Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013391.html>

62%
The percentage of Hispanics 25 and older who had at least a high school education in 2008.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>

13%
The percentage of the Hispanic population 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2008.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>

3.6 million
The number of Hispanics 18 and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2008.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>

1 million
Number of Hispanics 25 and older with advanced degrees in 2008 (e.g., master’s, professional, doctorate).
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>

12%
Percentage of full-time college students (both undergraduate and graduate students) in October 2007 who were Hispanic, up from 10 percent in 2006.
Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013391.html>

20%
Percentage of elementary and high school students combined who were Hispanic.
Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013391.html>

Names

4
The number of Hispanic surnames ranked among the 15 most common in 2000. It was the first time that a Hispanic surname reached the top 15 during a census. Garcia was the most frequent Hispanic surname, occurring 858,289 times and placing eighth on the list — up from 18th in 1990. Rodriguez (ninth), Martinez (11th) and Hernandez (15th) were the next most common Hispanic surnames.
Source: Census 2000 Genealogy <http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/freqnames2k.html>

Jobs

67%
Percentage of Hispanics 16 and older who were in the civilian labor force in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

18%
The percentage of Hispanics 16 or older who worked in management, professional and related occupations in 2007. The same percentage worked in production, transportation and material moving occupations. Another 16 percent worked in construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations. Approximately 24 percent of Hispanics 16 or older worked in service occupations; 21 percent in sales and office occupations; and 2 percent in farming, fishing and forestry occupations.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

79,400
Number of Hispanic chief executives. In addition, 50,866 physicians and surgeons; 48,720 postsecondary teachers; 38,532 lawyers; and 2,726 news analysts, reporters and correspondents are Hispanic.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 603 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

Voting

9.7 million
The number of Hispanic citizens who reported voting in the 2008 presidential election, about 2 million more than voted in 2004. The percentage of Hispanic citizens voting — 50 percent — represented a statistical increase from 2004 (47 percent).
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/013995.html>

Serving our Country

1.1 million`
The number of Hispanic veterans of the U.S. armed forces.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Grandparents Day 2009: Sept. 13

2009-09-10T13:34:00.001-07:00

Grandparents Day was the brainchild of Marian McQuade of Fayette County, W.Va., who hoped that such an observance might persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage of their grandparents. President Jimmy Carter signed the first presidential proclamation in 1978 — and one has been issued each year since — designating the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. The first official observance was Sept. 9, 1979. In honor of our nation’s grandparents, the Census Bureau presents an array of data about these unsung role models and caregivers.

6.2 million
The number of grandparents whose grandchildren younger than 18 lived with them in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey
Grandparents as Caregivers

2.5 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 2007. These grandparents represented about 40 percent of all grandparents whose grandchildren lived with them. Of these caregivers, 1.6 million were grandmothers, and 932,000 were grandfathers.

1.8 million
The number of grandparent-caregivers who were married in 2007.

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

930,000
Number of grandparents in 2007 responsible for caring for their grandchildren for at least the past five years.

482,000
Number of grandparents whose income was below the poverty level and who were caring for their grandchildren.

732,000
Number of grandparents with a disability who were caring for their grandchildren.

586,000
Number of grandparents who spoke a language other than English and who were responsible for caring for their grandchildren.

$44,469
Median income for families with grandparent-caregiver householders. If a parent of the grandchildren was not present, the median dropped to $33,453.

71%
Among grandparents who cared for their grandchildren in 2007, the percentage who lived in an owner-occupied home.

Source for statements in this section: 2007 American Community Survey

Grandchildren

6.6 million
The number of children living with a grandparent in 2008; these children comprised 9 percent of all children in the United States. The majority of these children, 4.4 million, lived in the grandparent’s home.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2008

2.6 million
The number of children who lived with both a grandmother and a grandfather in 2008.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2008

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. Grandparents and fathers were the two biggest sources of child care by relatives when mothers went to work.
Source: Who’s Minding the Kids? Child Care Arrangements: Spring 2005

Ten Tips for Clean and Green Boating

2009-07-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

Prevent oily discharges from the bilge—Keep your engine well tuned to prevent fuel and oil leaks. Secure an oil absorbent pad or pillow in your bilge and under your engine where drips may occur. Check the pads often, do not let them clog the bilge pump, and use Earth911 to find out where to dispose of them.
Spill-proof your oil changes—Use an oil change pump to transfer oil to a spill-proof container. Wrap a plastic bag or absorbent pad around the oil filter to prevent oil from spilling into the bilge. Use Earth 911 to recycle your oil and filters.
Limit fuel spills—Fill your tank slowly and use absorbent pads or rags to catch drips and spills. Avoid “topping off” and leave the tank 10 percent empty to allow fuel to expand as it warms. Learn more about boat fueling.
Do not add soap—Avoid using soap to disperse fuel and oil spills. It increases harm to the environment, and it is illegal.
Minimize boat cleaning and maintenance in the water—If possible, save maintenance projects for the boatyard. When performing work on the water minimize your impact by containing waste. Learn more about boat cleaning and maintenance.
Reduce toxic discharges from bottom paints—Use a less toxic (or nontoxic antifouling) paint to minimize the discharge of heavy metals into the water. Dry storage is another good technique; it reduces the need for antifouling paints and saves money.
Dispose of hazardous waste properly—This includes paints, batteries, antifreeze, cleaning products, oil, oil filters and other hazardous wastes. Use Earth911 to find a hazardous waste collection facility or event.
Monitor dumping—Never discharge sewage within three miles of shore. Use Earth911 to find a harbor pump-out stations and shore-side facilities. Manage your sewage in general.
Stow it, don’t throw it—Keep your trash on board and out of the water. This includes cigarette butts, fishing line, or any food garbage/packaging. Take advantage of shore-side facilities to recycle plastic, glass, metal, and paper. Learn more about marine debris.
Reduce Greywater discharges—This is the soapy water resulting from boat maintenance. Try a phosphate-free biodegradable soap for your maintenance. Also minimize discharge by doing dishes and showers on shore whenever possible. See more tips for minimizing grey water.

earth911

National Online Travel Itineraries

2009-07-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

As our list of Travel Itineraries grows, the historic destinations you can visit online or in person are virtually endless! Each itinerary is a self-guided tour to historic places listed in the National Register. Spotlighting different geographic regions and themes across the country, National Register Travel Itineraries expose you to a huge variety of places significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Register Travel Itineraries can help you plan your next trip!

Each itinerary provides

Descriptions of each historic place and its importance in American history, plus contextual essays
Tourist information for historic places open to the public including hours of operation, tour possibilities, phone numbers, and website links
Interactive maps
Color and vintage photographs
Links to related preservation and tourism web sites

Indianapolis' City Market

Arkansas's Little Rock High School National Historic Site

Travel to Preserve America Communities

The Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Series makes it easy to explore America's extraordinary Historic Places!

Discover our newest itinerary - Pierre and Fort Pierre, South Dakota

Each itinerary provides

Descriptions of each historic place and its importance in American history, plus contextual essays
Tourist information for historic places open to the public including hours of operation, tour possibilities, phone numbers, and website links
Interactive maps
Color and vintage photographs
Links to related preservation and tourism web sites

Northeast
•American Presidents ~ NEW
•Maritime History of Massachusetts
•Amistad: Seeking Freedom in Connecticut
•Aviation:From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms
•Lewis and Clark Expedition
•Shaker Historic Trail
•Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Pennsylvania
•All Aboard for Cumberland, Maryland
•Washington, DC
•Central Vermont
•Kingston, New York
•Baltimore, Maryland
•Places Where Women Made History: Featuring Massachusetts and New York
•Aboard the Underground Railroad
•We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement

Southeast
•American Presidents ~ NEW
•Richmond, VA
•Augusta, Georgia
•James River Plantations, VA
•Raleigh, NC
•Florida Shipwrecks
•Asheville, North Carolina
•Virginia Main Street Communities
•Shelby, North Carolina
•Aviation:From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms
•Lewis and Clark Expedition
•Atlanta, Georgia
•Lexington, Kentucky
•Indian Mounds of Mississippi
•Journey Through Hallowed Ground: Route 15 in the Virginia's Piedmont
•Historic Charleston's Religious and Community Buildings
•Along the Georgia-Florida Coast (OR order printed brochure)
•Aboard the Underground Railroad
•We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement

South/Southwest
•American Presidents ~ NEW
• Cane River National Heritage Area (Louisiana)
•South and West Texas (OR order printed brochure)
•Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (OR order printed brochure)
•Aviation:From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms
•American Southwest (OR order printed brochure)
•Southeastern Louisiana
•We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement

Midwest
•Pierre and Fort Pierre, South Dakota ~ NEW
•American Presidents
•Indianapolis, Indiana
•Ohio and Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor
•Aviation:From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms
•Lewis and Clark Expedition
•Shaker Historic Trail
•Hardin County, Iowa
•Chicago, Illinois
•Pipestone, Minnesota
•Amana Colonies, Iowa
•Detroit, Michigan
•Aboard the Underground Railroad
•We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement

West
•American Presidents ~ NEW
• World War II in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Early History of the California Coast (OR order printed brochure)
•Aviation:From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms
•Three Historic Nevada Cities: Carson City, Reno, Virginia City
•Lewis and Clark Expedition
•Santa Clara County, California
•Ashland, Oregon
•Seattle, Washington
•We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement

2009 Hurricane Season Begins

2009-06-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

The north Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through November. The U.S. Census Bureau produces timely local data that are critical to emergency planning, preparedness and recovery efforts. This edition of Facts for Features highlights the number of people living in areas that could be most affected by these dramatic acts of nature.

35.7 million
Estimated July 1, 2008 population most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes: the coastal portion of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Approximately 12 percent of the nation's population lived in these areas.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php>

10.2 million
The 1950 coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Seven percent of the nation’s population lived in these areas at that time. Source: 1950 Decennial Census <http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts.html>

251%
Percentage growth of the coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas between 1950 and 2008. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php> and 1950 Decennial Census <http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts.html>

180,155
Collective land area, in square miles, of the coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas. Source: Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files <http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html>

3
The number of the nation’s 20 most populous metro areas in 2008 that were within Atlantic or Gulf coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas. These areas are Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (sixth); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla.(seventh); and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. (20th).
Source: County and metro population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013426.html>

8
The number of hurricanes during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. Five were major hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher. Source: National Hurricane Center <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2008atlan.shtml>

Ana
The name of the first Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean storm of 2009. The second storm will be named Bill.
Source: National Hurricane Center <http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml>

Florida

17.9 million
Estimated 2008 coastal population of Florida, accounting for half (50 percent) of the coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Among the Sunshine State's coastal population, approximately 10.6 million lived along the Atlantic and 7.3 million along the Gulf. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php>

1%
Percentage growth of Florida’s coastal population between 2007 and 2008. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php>

Fay
The only storm on record to make landfall four times in the state of Florida, and to prompt tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for the state’s entire coastline (at various times during its August 2008 lifespan).
Source: National Hurricane Center <http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20081126_hurricaneseason.html>

Hurricanes Past

1950
The year the Weather Bureau officially began naming hurricanes. Source: Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorological Laboratory <http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/J6.html>

2005
In one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, 28 named storms form, 15 of them hurricanes, seven of which are major, and four reach Category Five status. For the first time the alternate Greek alphabet scheme for naming storms has to be employed. Source: Source: Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorological Laboratory <http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/J6.html>

455,056
Estimated population of New Orleans on July 1, 2005 — about two months before Hurricane Katrina struck. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2008-01-22.xls>

311,853
Estimated population of New Orleans on July 1, 2008 — three years after Hurricane Katrina struck. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2008-01-22.xls> and <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013426.html>

29,431
The population of Homestead, Fla., near the point of landfall of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In 2007, the population of Homestead was 56,601. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/archives/1990s/su-99-07/SU-99-7_FL.txt> and
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US1232275&-ds_name=PEP_2007_EST&-mt_name=PEP_2007_EST_G2007_T001>

37,789
Population of Galveston, Texas, at the time of the city’s “Great Storm” on Sept. 8, 1900, which killed more than 8,000 people. Source: <http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html>

Note: Coastal counties include those with at least 15 percent of their total land area within the nation’s coastal watershed. Source: NOAA’s List of Coastal Counties <http://www.census.gov/geo/landview/lv6help/coastal_cty.pdf>

New Rules About Travel

2009-06-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or depart the United States from within the Western Hemisphere.

The travel document requirements make up the departments of State and Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

This travel initiative is being implemented in two phases:

Air travel requirements went into effect January 23, 2007 and now all travelers including children must present a passport or secure travel document when entering the United States by air.
Land/Sea requirements are transitioning toward standard and consistent documents for all travelers entering the country with full implementation on June 1, 2009.

Land and Sea Documents

WHTI requires travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States. WHTI establishes document requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. These document requirements are effective June 1, 2009.

Most travelers will require one of the following documents:

U.S. citizens: A passport issued by the U.S. Government, a passport card, a valid trusted traveler program card (FAST, NEXUS, or SENTRI), an enhanced driver’s license (EDL), a Military ID with official travel orders, or a U.S. Merchant Mariner Document.
Canadian citizens: A passport issued by the Government of Canada, a valid trusted traveler program card (FAST, NEXUS, or SENTRI), or an EDL.
U.S. and Canadian children under the age of 16 will be able to present a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship. See the CBP website for more information about children traveling with a school or religious group, social organization, or sports team.
Bermudians: A passport issued by the Government of Bermuda or the United Kingdom.
Mexican citizens: Mexican citizens, including children, are currently required to present a passport with visa or a laser visa border crossing card, and therefore there is little to no expectation of change under these new requirements.

Special Audiences / Issues

Native Americans. The Indian and North Affairs Canada Card and Tribal Enrollment Cards with a photo affixed to the card will be accepted until June 1, 2009. We expect that, in order to be designated as WHTI-compliant, many Native American tribes will have to enhance their tribal enrollment and identification cards. Members of the Kickapoo Band of Texas and Tribe of Oklahoma are permitted to present the Form I-872 American Indian Card in lieu of a passport, as they do currently.
Children. U.S. and Canadian children under the age of 16 will be able to present the original or copy of their birth certificates, or other proof of citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card. Groups of U.S. and Canadian children ages 16 through 18, when traveling with a school or religious group, social organization, or sports team will be able to enter under adult supervision with originals or copies of their birth certificates or other proof of citizenship.
Lost Passport. For lost or stolen passports while traveling overseas, report it immediately to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. You will need to fill out form DS-64, Statement regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport. For information on obtaining a U.S. Passport, visit www.travel.state.gov or call 1-877-487-2778.
First Responders. WHTI does not prevent U.S. Customs and Border Protection from continuing to allow first responders and patients having a medical emergency to enter the country using existing waiver and parole authorities to provide necessary expedited processing on a case-by-case basis for these individuals.
U.S. Territory Travelers. U.S. territories are considered a part of the United States. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the country and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
No Documents. You will be delayed as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers attempt to verify your citizenship and identity.

Traveling by Sea

Cruises

U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by Department of State, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport when you dock at a foreign port, depending on the islands or countries that your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents for the stops you’ll be making on your cruise.

Ferries and Small Boats

All individuals traveling by ferry and small boats are subject to the new requirements. Boaters who have an I-68 form (similar to a vehicle registration) must follow the new travel document requirements. Having either a NEXUS card or a passport will enable I-68 holders to continue to utilize telephonic clearance procedures.

Commercial / Charter Vessels

As long as a commercial or charter vessel does not call at a foreign port, immigration law does not consider this a “departure” from the United States and therefore upon return, is not considered an entry that would require a passport. Therefore, passports or other designated documents would not be required for those, including commercial fishermen traveling on a vessel that sails from a U.S. port and returns without calling at a foreign port.

More About Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

All About Memorial Day

2009-05-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans [the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)] established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Major General John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, NY, the birthplace of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1966, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War.

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was also placed on the last Monday in May at that time.

To ensure the sacrifices of America's fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, Congress passed and the President signed into law the National Moment of Remembrance Act - Public Law 106-579 (.PDF document), creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The National Moment of Remembrance was created to encourage all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.

For additional information and safety tips on making your Memorial Day a fun and safe holiday, please visit the USA.gov Memorial Day web page.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

2009-05-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
100th Anniversary

Needing a test facility for Indianapolis’ burgeoning automobile industry, Carl Fisher and three other investors purchased 325 acres in 1909. They built a 2.5-mile racetrack and dubbed it Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “The Brickyard” — a nickname coming about later that year when 3.2 million bricks were used to pave the track — is the world’s largest sports venue with the ability to accommodate about 400,000 spectators. One hundred years after the first of more than 300 races at the speedway, it remains home of the world-famous Indianapolis 500, as well as NASCAR’s Brickyard 400, and some motorcycle and Formula One events. The 93rd Indy 500 on May 24, 2009, is being billed as the first race in the track’s “Centennial Era” of 2009-2011. To commemorate this automotive milestone, the Census Bureau has compiled a collection of facts and figures relating to our nation, Indiana and Indianapolis during the past 100 years.

How Times Have Changed

National Population
1909: 90 million
2009: 306 million
Source: National population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/popest/archives/1990s/popclockest.txt>

Global Population
1909: 1.7 billion
2009: 6.8 billion
Source: International database <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/worldpop.html>

Median Age of the U.S. Population
1909: 24.1
2009: 36.8 (projected)
Source: Median Age of the Population: 1820 to 2000
<http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t9/tab07.txt>
and American FactFinder <http://www.census.gov>

Average Price of a New Home
1909: $2,650
2009: $234,600 (as of January 2009)
Source: New residential sales <http://www.census.gov/const/newressales.xls>

Price of a New Car
1909: $1,280
2009: $28,715
Source: National Automotive Dealers Association <http://www.nada.org>

Price of a Gallon of Gas
1909: 6 cents (regular leaded)
2009: $1.93 (regular unleaded as of March 2)
Source: Energy Information Administration
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html>

Median Age of First Marriage
1909: Men, 25.1; women, 21.6
2009: Men, 27.4; women, 25.6 (as of 2008)
Source: Current Population Survey <http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/ms2.xls>

Most Popular Baby Names
1909: John and Mary
2009: Jacob and Emily (as of 2007)
Source: Social Security Administration <http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html>

Indianapolis

233,650
The population of Indianapolis from the 1910 Census, making it the nation’s 22nd largest city at that time.
Source: Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1910
<http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027/tab14.txt>

795,458
The July 1, 2007, estimated population of Indianapolis, making it the nation’s 14th largest city. The 2009 Indy 500 race-day attendance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is expected to approach 400,000. If the speedway itself were a city, its population would be among the nation’s top 50 on that day.
Source: Population Finder <http://www.census.gov>

12.4%
Percentage of Indianapolis’ population in 2000 that was 65 and older. In 2007 in Indiana, 12.5 percent of the population was 65 and older, and in the nation, it was also 12.5 percent.
Source: Census 2000 and 2007 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov>

22.1 minutes
The mean travel time to work for Indianapolis. The national mean commute time was 25.3 minutes.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey at American FactFinder <http://www.census.gov>

Indiana

6,376,792
The July 1, 2008, estimated population of Indiana, up from 2,700,876 at the time of the 1910 Census.
Source: Population Finder <http://www.census.gov>

22.1%
Percentage of Indiana’s population age 25 and over in 2007 that had at least a bachelor’s degree, which is lower than the national percentage of 27.5.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey at American FactFinder <http://www.census.gov>

$47,488
Median household income in Indiana in 2007, which is below the national figure of $50,740.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey at American FactFinder <http://www.census.gov>

557,359
The number of workers employed in manufacturing in 2006 in Indiana, the most of any industry group. That same year there were 23,469 retail trade establishments, the most number of businesses in any industry group in the state.
Source: County Business Patterns: 2006 <http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpsect.pl>

Auto Racing

4.7 million
Number of adults who attended an auto racing event one or more times a month in 2007.
Source: 2009 Statistical Abstract, Table 1206 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/09s1206.xls>

Automobiles

743
Number of U.S. companies involved in automobile manufacturing in 1909, employing more than 85,000 people. These employees earned an average of $680 per year. In 2007, motor vehicle manufacturing employed about 223,000 and these employees earned an average of $29.23 an hour.
Source: 1912 Statistical Abstract, Table 132 <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab1901-1950.htm>
2009 Statistical Abstract, Table 612 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/09s0612.xls>

11,260,000
Number of motor vehicles produced in the United States in 2006, with 4,367,000 of them being passenger cars (39 percent). In 1909, Ford produced 17,771 vehicles (all of them Model T’s), followed by Buick at 14,606. Also in 1909, there were nearly a dozen automobile manufacturers based in Indianapolis and another 30 in the rest of Indiana.
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
<http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_15.html>

244,166,000
Number of registered motor vehicles across the country in 2006. A little more than 135 million, or about 55 percent, of them were cars. In 1909, there were 312,000 registered motor vehicles — 98 percent of them cars.
Source: 2009 Statistical Abstract <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/09s1056.xls>
U.S. Federal Highway Administration <http://www.allcountries.org/uscensus/1027_motor_vehicle_registrations.html>

52,172
Number of automobile dealers across the country in 2006, with nearly 1.3 million employees and an annual payroll of more than $55 billion.
Source: County Business Patterns: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/epcd/cbp/view/cbpview.html>

RVs

$13.5 billion
The projected amount spent on recreational vehicles in 2007. Thousands of spectators across the country attend motorsports events in their RVs.
Source: 2009 Statistical Abstract, Table 1210 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/09s1210.xls>

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.

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>.

Recovery.gov

2009-05-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

Q: What is Recovery.gov
A: Recovery.gov is a website that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going. There are going to be a few different ways to search for information. Within days after the signing of the legislation, Federal agencies will start distributing funds, and you will be able to see which states, Congressional districts, and even Federal contractors are receiving them. As soon as we are able to, we'll display that information visually, through maps, charts, and graphics.

Q: Where can I learn more about how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will affect the budget?
A: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has calculated the impact that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will have on the federal government's budget deficit. You can review those calculations in full, or read a summary on the CBO blog. For more information visit the White House website or, for legislative information, the Library of Congress's THOMAS. (Back to Top)

Q: How will the Recovery Act work?
A: Very soon, the different agencies -- such as the Departments of Education; Health and Human Services; and Energy -- will decide who will receive award grants and contracts. Sometimes the money will go to a state government; other times, the funds will go directly to a school, hospital, contractor, or other organization. Agencies will then deliver that information to the Recovery.gov team. We will subsequently make the information available on Recovery.gov, and you will be able to track where the money is going. You'll be able to search by state or even by Congressional district; you'll be able to look up names of Federal contractors or other recipients of Federal dollars; and you'll be able to send in comments, thoughts, ideas, questions, and any responses you have to what you find.

Q: I heard I'd be able to track recovery funds. Why can't I do that?
A: You aren't able to track funds yet because we have not yet started receiving information from Federal agencies on how they are going to allocate the money. It takes a little bit of time for them to make sure your money is going to be spent wisely. Right now, the site features an overview of the law and an explanation of what it is intended to accomplish. You will have access to data as soon as we begin receiving it from agencies.

Q: Who runs Recovery.gov?
A: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act establishes an oversight board of inspectors general (the watchdogs of government) called the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, which is responsible for overseeing Federal agencies to ensure that there is transparency and accountability for the expenditure of recovery funds. For the interim period until that board becomes operational, the President has coordinated a team from across Federal agencies to track Recovery Act dollars and report findings on this website.

Q: I want to help. What can I do?
A: Over the course of the spring, increasing amounts of information will become available on Recovery.gov that will show where the money is going. We are counting on you to peruse that information and tell us what you find. Please share your stories, your ideas, and your comments. They will then be sent to the Board for their review.

Q: How can I see how much recovery money is coming to my community?
A: Until the funding is distributed by the Federal government to states and local governments, and eventually to your community, we won't be able to determine exactly where all of the funding will go. Over the next few weeks and months, there's going to be a lot of data coming in, as we coordinate with different agencies. As soon as the first dollars start to go out, you'll be able to track where the money is going. Detailed state maps will be available to assist your tracking.

Q: What's the purpose of the new legislation?
A: The purpose of the Recovery Act is to create and save jobs, jumpstart our economy, and build the foundation for long-term economic growth. The Act includes measures to modernize the nation's infrastructure, enhance America's energy independence, expand educational opportunities, increase access to health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.

Q: Where can I find the full text of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009?
A: The text of the law can be found in Text or PDF format here.

Q: What type of programs will this recovery package fund?
A: The Recovery Act specifies appropriations for a wide range of Federal programs and will increase or extend certain benefits payable under the Medicaid, unemployment compensation, and nutrition assistance programs. The legislation also reduces individual and corporate income tax collections and makes a variety of other changes to tax laws. The package provides funds that will:

Create a framework for clean, efficient, American energy;
Transform our economy with science and technology;
Modernize roads, bridges, transit and waterways;
Overhaul education for the 21^st Century;
Dispense tax cuts to make work pay and create jobs;
Expand access to healthcare and lower costs;
Provide assistance to workers hurt by the economy;
Save public sector jobs and protect vital services;

Q: What will I be able to locate on Recovery.gov?
A: Federal agencies are taking in bids for recovery projects, so right now, Recovery.gov features a summary of the funds that are allocated for different programs, as well as the responsible Federal agencies. As Federal agencies and other recipient organizations report information about their spending plans, we will post that information on the site. We are currently developing systems to track the funds and report results.

Q: What’s a better way to find the information I’m looking for -- browsing or searching?
A: The website will have both functions, but for now, browsing is a better bet. As we begin to fill the database with more data, the search function will be more useful in finding specific information.

Q: How does Recovery.gov differ from USASpending.gov?
A: Recovery.gov tracks only the targeted investments allocated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. USASpending.gov collects data about all types of contracts, grants, loans, and spending across government agencies.

Q: How can I contact the Administration with questions or comments about Recovery.gov and the recovery package?
A: The best method to comment or ask a question on Recovery.gov is to use our contact us form. The question or message will be referred to the best person to handle the matter, and they will respond as quickly as possible.

For questions about the federal government, visit USA.gov or call 1 (800) FED INFO (1-800-333-4636) (8 am-8 pm ET Monday-Friday).

Q: Is Recovery.gov accessible for people for with disabilities?
A: Recovery.gov complies with all of the automatic checkpoints of the Section 508 Accessibility Guidelines, and has been manually verified for nearly all of the manual checkpoints.

This compliance has been tested using Watchfire WebXACT program. Because Recovery.gov uses dynamically generated Web pages, it is not possible to test literally every page. However, each dynamically generated output style can be tested. We plan to continue to upgrade Recovery.gov's accessibility for individuals with disabilities in forthcoming updates.

Q: What is a fiscal year (FY)?
A: For accounting purposes, the Federal government uses a defined 12-month period as a financial or fiscal year. The Federal fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the following calendar year. For instance, fiscal year 2009 is 10/1/2008 - 9/30/2009.

Q: Is the spending data on recovery.gov available in a format (like XML) that developers can use to create mashups and gadgets?
A: Not at this time. But, as new systems are developed to capture the allocations and expenditures under the Act, we plan to make that data available in exportable form.

CDC and Swine Flu

2009-04-26T10:11:00.001-07:00

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
State	# of laboratory confirmed cases
California	7 cases
Kansas	2 cases
New York City	8 cases
Ohio	1 case
Texas	2 cases
TOTAL COUNT	20 cases
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection See: World Health Organization
As of April 26, 2009 9:00 AM ET

Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with swine influenza viruses.

CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This includes deploying staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support. CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate this investigation.

Laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir and has issued interim guidance for the use of these drugs to treat and prevent infection with swine influenza viruses. CDC also has prepared interim guidance on how to care for people who are sick and interim guidance on the use of face masks in a community setting where spread of this swine flu virus has been detected. This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide new information as it becomes available.

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Resources for New Immigrants

2009-04-14T09:01:00.001-07:00

The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all over the world. We value the contributions of immigrants, who continue to enrich this country and preserve its legacy as a land of freedom and opportunity. Though we are a nation of diverse cultures and backgrounds, we are bound by our shared history, the common civic values set forth in our founding documents, and the English language.

USCIS is committed to helping immigrants successfully integrate into American civic culture. Through the landmark publication Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants, USCIS offers a comprehensive guide containing practical information to help immigrants settle into everyday life in the United States, as well as basic civics information that introduces new immigrants to the U.S. system of government. Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants is available online in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Urdu, and Vietnamese. New permanent residents can request a free copy of the guide in English (Form M-618), Spanish (Form M-618-S), or Chinese (Form M-618-C) from the USCIS Forms Line by calling 1-800-870-3676.

Welcome to the United States is also available for purchase in English, Spanish, and Chinese through the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). To order a print version of this publication, follow the GPO link to the right or call 1-866-512-1800 (toll-free) or 202-512-1800 if you live in the Washington, DC metro area.

*This guide contains information on a variety of topics that are not within the jurisdiction of DHS/USCIS. If you have a question about a non DHS/USCIS issue, please refer directly to the responsible agency or organization for the most current information. The information in this guide is correct at the time of publication; however it may change in the future.

Top Ten Tips for Last Minute Filers

2009-04-08T09:57:00.001-07:00

IRS Tax Tip 2009-62

With the tax filing deadline close at hand, here are the top 10 tips for taxpayers still working on their tax return.

E-file your return. Consider filing electronically instead of using paper tax forms. Choosing to e-file is the best way to ensure your return is accurate and complete.
Review tax ID numbers. Remember to carefully check all identification numbers on your return. Incorrect or illegible Social Security Numbers can delay or reduce a tax refund.
Double-check your figures. Whether you are filing electronically or by paper, review all the amounts you transferred over from your W-2 or 1099.
Review your math. Taxpayers filing paper returns should also double-check that they have correctly figured the refund or balance due and have used the right figure from the tax table.
Sign and date your return. Both spouses must sign a joint return, even if only one had income. Anyone paid to prepare a return must also sign it.
Choose Direct Deposit. To get your refund quicker, select Direct Deposit and the IRS will deposit your refund directly into your bank account.
How to make a payment. People sending a payment should make the check out to "United States Treasury" and should enclose it with, but not attach it to the tax return or the Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher, if used. Write your name, address, SSN, telephone number, tax year and form number on the check or money order.
File an extension. Taxpayers who will not be able to file a return by the April deadline should request an extension of time to file. Remember, the extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay.
Visit the IRS Web site. IRS.gov has forms, publications and helpful information on a variety of tax subjects, which is available around the clock on the IRS.gov.
Review your return….one more time. Before you seal the envelope or hit send, go over all the information on return again. Errors may delay the processing of your return, so it’s best for you to make sure everything on your return is correct.

Links:

Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request (PDF 100K)
Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher (PDF 47K)
Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (PDF 50K)
Official Payments Corporation
Link2Gov

National Cherry Blossom Festival

2009-03-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Bloom Schedule

2009 Peak Bloom Forecast: April 1st – April 4th.

2009 Blooming Period Forecast: March 28 - April 11.

2009 CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL DATES: March 28-April 12.

The Peak Bloom Date and Blooming Period

The Peak Bloom Date is defined as the day in which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) trees are open. The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms reach peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions. Cherry Blossom Festival dates are set based on the average date of blooming (April 4), but nature is not always cooperative. Unseasonably warm and/or cool temperatures have resulted in the Yoshino cherries reaching peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958).

The Blooming Period is defined as the period that starts when 20% of the blossoms are open and ends when the petals fall and the leaves appear. The Blooming period starts several days before the Peak Bloom Date and can last as long as 14 days; however, frost or high temperatures combined with wind and/or rain can shorten this period.

During the Blooming Period, the National Park Service conducts annual Cherry Tree Walks and bike tours around the Tidal Basin. These Park Ranger conducted programs present an interpretive look at the historical and cultural influence of the Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees in our Nation's Capital. For information on the dates and times of the walks and bike tours please call (202) 426-6841.

It is pretty much impossible to give an accurate forecast much more than 10 days before the Peak Bloom and ach year National Park Service Horticulturists monitor 5 stages of bud development and provide a forecast and updates as needed. The following is a comparative record of past bud development in which 70% of the buds reached each stage:

NPS

Green Color in Buds: Late February to Early March

NPS

Florets Visible: March, Average 16-21 days to Peak Bloom.

NPS

Extension of Florets: Average 12-17 days to Peak Bloom.

NPS

Peduncle Elongation:(Frost Critical) Average 6-10 days to Peak Bloom.

NPS

Puffy White: Average 4-6 days to Peak Bloom.

Year	Green in Buds	Florets Visible	Extension of Florets	Peduncle Elongation	Puffy White	Peak Bloom
2009	3-Mar	12-Mar	18-Mar	23-Mar	27-Mar	?
2008	19-Feb	11-Mar	17-Mar	18-Mar	24-Mar	26-Mar
2007	5-Mar	20-Mar	25-Mar	27-Mar	28-Mar	1-Apr
2006	28-Feb	13-Mar	14-Mar	16-Mar	22-Mar	30-Mar
2005	7-Mar	22-Mar	31-Mar	3-Apr	4-Apr	9-Apr
2004	4-Mar	12-Mar	15-Mar	22-Mar	27-Mar	31-Mar
2003	17-Mar	23-Mar	25-Mar	27-Mar	29-Mar	2-Apr
2002	7-Mar	14-Mar	18-Mar	20-Mar	27-Mar	2-Apr
2001	26-Feb	11-Mar	20-Mar	25-Mar	30-Mar	6-Apr
2000	Feb-29	8-Mar	9-Mar	10-Mar	14-Mar	17-Mar
1999	16-Mar	22-Mar	26-Mar	30-Mar	1-Apr	5-Apr
1998	13-Feb	1-Mar	8-Mar	13-Mar	23-Mar	27-Mar
1997	21-Feb	2-Mar	10-Mar	13-Mar	20-Mar	26-Mar
1996	Feb-29	15-Mar	18-Mar	25-Mar	30-Mar	4-Apr
1995	8-Mar	20-Mar	25-Mar	29-Mar	1-Apr	5-Apr
1994	8-Mar	20-Mar	25-Mar	29-Mar	1-Apr	5-Apr
1993	15-Mar	22-Mar	28-Mar	2-Apr	5-Apr	11-Apr
1992	7-Mar	15-Mar	23-Mar	31-Mar	1-Apr	5-Apr

Link to Maps of Cherry Tree Locations.


			Did You Know? Although Yoshino Cherry Trees are the predominant variety in downtown, there are other beautiful varieties? The one in the photo is a higan... Find out more.... more...

The thousands of cherry trees that border the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., are one of the best known symbols of the nation's capital, especially when they are in full bloom. To celebrate this, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is held. The 2009 Festival is scheduled from March 28 through April 12.

The National Cherry Blossom web page from the National Park Service's (NPS) contains information about the trees themselves and activities that celebrate their annual bloom, as well as a frequently asked questions web page. The National Cherry Blossom Festival website is located at http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/. This website gives information about activities planned for the festival and has a "Visitor Information" link which provides details on hotels, restaurants and transportation for tourists.

The National Building Museum also celebrates the annual opening of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with a Family Day. Visitors are invited to participate in the hand-on activities.

About 2010 Census

2009-03-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

What
Count
The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.

Who
Everyone
All residents of the United States must be counted. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens.

When
Every 10 years
Every 10 years, and the next census occurs in 2010. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. The questions ask you to provide information that is accurate for your household as of April 1, 2010.

The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the U.S. President by December 31, 2010.

The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then.

Where
Everywhere in the U.S.
The census counts everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.

People should be counted where they live and sleep most of the year.

Why
The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2) mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the United States. The population totals determine each state’s Congressional representation. The numbers also affect funding in your community and help inform decision makers about how your community is changing. More info…

How
The Census Bureau will mail or deliver questionnaires to your house in March 2010. We will mail a second form to households that do not respond to the initial questionnaire.

Households that still do not respond will be called or visited by a Census worker. (Census workers can be identified by a census badge and bag.)

March is Women’s History Month

2009-03-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of women whose commitment to nature and the planet have proved invaluable to society.

About Women’s History Month

Before the 1970’s, the topic of women’s history was largely missing from general public consciousness. To address this situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978 and chose the week of March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day.

The celebration was met with positive response, and schools began to host their own Women’s History Week programs. The next year, leaders from the California group shared their project at a Women’s History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. Other participants not only became determined to begin their own local Women’s History Week projects but also agreed to support an effort to have Congress declare a national Women’s History Week.

In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) cosponsored the first Joint Congressional Resolution proclaiming a “Women’s History Week.”

In 1987, the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to expand the celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women’s History Month Resolution has been approved every year with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.

Information from the National Women’s History Project

About This Year's Theme

Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet

In 2009, the National Women's History Project honors women who have taken the lead in the environmental or “green” movement. Rachel Carson, the founder of the contemporary environmental movement, serves as the iconic model of the theme, which recognizes scientists, engineers, business leaders, writers, filmmakers, conservationists, teachers, community organizers, religious or workplace leaders, or others whose lives show exceptional vision and leadership to save the planet.

2008 Tax Filing

2009-03-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

Taxpayers are filing earlier and receiving larger refunds so far this year, according to early filing season statistics released today by the Internal Revenue Service.

As of Feb. 27, 2009, the IRS had received 56 million individual tax returns, a slight increase over the previous year. And, the average individual refund was $2,869, a 9 percent increase or $232 more than the same time last year.

The IRS notes that possible reasons for the larger refunds may include taxpayers benefiting from the recovery rebate credit and other tax breaks such as the first-time homebuyer credit and the additional standard deduction for real estate taxes. The average refund amount generally will decrease slightly as the filing season progresses.

More taxpayers choose to receive their refunds through direct deposit each year. As of Feb. 27, more than 84 percent of all refunds were issued through direct deposit, up from 81 percent for the same period last year.

While the IRS has issued almost 3 percent more refunds this year compared to the same time last year, the number of taxpayers who choose to receive their refunds quickly and safely through direct deposit is up almost 7 percent compared to the same time last year. On Feb. 27, the average direct deposit refund totaled $3,063.

The IRS cautioned that year-to-year analysis of total returns filed will be an anomaly this year because last year’s results include those returns filed for the economic stimulus payment. As the year progresses, the IRS expects to receive and process more individual income tax returns during 2009 than in 2007 but fewer than in 2008.

To File or Not To File

2009-03-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

IRS TAX TIP 2009-27

You must file a tax return if your income is above a certain level. The amount varies depending on filing status, age and the type of income you receive.

For example, a married couple both under age 65 generally is not required to file until their joint income reaches $17,900. However, self-employed individuals generally must file a tax return if their net income from self employment was at least $400.

Check the “Individuals” section of the IRS Web site at IRS.gov or consult the instructions for form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ for specific details that may affect your need to file a tax return with IRS this year.

Even if you don’t have to file, here are six reasons why you may want to file:

Federal Income Tax Withheld. If you are not required to file, you should file to get money back if Federal Income Tax was withheld from your pay, if you made estimated tax payments, or had a prior year overpayment applied to this year's tax.
Recovery Rebate Credit. If you did not qualify or did not receive the maximum amount for the 2008 Economic Stimulus Payment, you may be entitled to a Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2008 tax return.
Earned Income Tax Credit. You may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, if you worked, but did not earn a lot of money. EITC is a refundable tax credit meaning you could qualify for a tax refund.
Additional Child Tax Credit. This credit may be available to you if you have at least one qualifying child and you did not get the full amount of the Child Tax Credit.
First time Homebuyer Credit. If you bought a main home after April 8, 2008, and before July 1, 2009 and did not own a main home during the prior 3 years, you may be able to take this refundable credit.
Health Coverage Tax Credit. Certain individuals, who are receiving certain Trade Adjustment Assistance, Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance, or pension benefit payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, may be eligible for a Health Coverage Tax Credit when you file your 2008 tax return.

For more information about filing requirements and your eligibility to receive tax credits, visit the IRS Web site at IRS.gov.

Links:

Black (African-American) History Month: February 2009

2009-02-15T15:19:00.000-08:00

To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on Feb. 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. Each year, U. S. presidents proclaim February as National African-American History Month.

Population

40.7 million
As of July 1, 2007, the estimated population of black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. They made up 13.5 percent of the total U.S. population. This figure represents an increase of more than half a million residents from one year earlier.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

65.7 million
The projected black population of the United States (including those of more than one race) for July 1, 2050. On that date, according to the projection, blacks would constitute 15 percent of the nation’s total population.
Source: Population projections <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012496.html>

18
Number of states with an estimated black population on July 1, 2007, of at least 1 million. New York, with 3.5 million, led the way. The 17 other states on the list were Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

38%
Percentage of Mississippi’s population that is black, highest of any state. Blacks also make up more than a quarter of the population in Louisiana (32 percent), Georgia (31 percent), Maryland (30 percent), South Carolina (29 percent) and Alabama (27 percent). They comprise 56 percent of the population in the District of Columbia.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

84,000
The increase in Georgia’s black population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, which led all states. Texas (62,000), Florida (48,000) and North Carolina (45,000) also recorded large increases.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

24
Number of states or equivalents in which blacks are the largest minority group. These include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. (Note: Minorities are part of a group other than single-race non-Hispanic white.)
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

1.4 million
The number of blacks in Cook County, Ill., as of July 1, 2007, which led the nation’s counties in the number of people of this racial category. Orleans Parish, La., had the largest numerical increase in the black population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007 (20,800). Neighboring St. Bernard Parish had the largest percent increase over the period (97 percent).
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

Among counties with total populations of at least 10,000, Claiborne County, Miss., had the largest percent of population that was black (84.5 percent). Claiborne led 82 majority-black counties or equivalents, all but one of which (St. Louis city, Mo.) was in the South.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

31%
The proportion of the black population younger than 18 as of July 1, 2007. At the other end of the spectrum, 8 percent of the black population was 65 and older.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

Note: Unless otherwise noted, the estimates in this section refer to the population that is either single-race black or black in combination with one or more other races.

Serving Our Nation

2.4 million
Number of single-race black military veterans in the United States in 2007. More military veterans are black than any other minority group.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Education

82%
Among single-race blacks 25 and older, the proportion who had at least a high school diploma in 2007.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

19%
Percentage of single-race blacks 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

1.2 million
Among single-race blacks 25 and older, the number who had an advanced degree in 2007 (e.g., master’s, doctorate, medical or law). In 1997, 717,000 blacks had this level of education.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

2.3 million
Number of single-race black college students in fall 2006. This was an increase of roughly 1 million from 15 years earlier.
Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2006
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011921.html>

Businesses

$88.6 billion
Revenues for black-owned businesses in 2002. The number of black-owned businesses totaled nearly 1.2 million in 2002. Black-owned firms accounted for 5 percent of all nonfarm businesses in the United States.

129,329
The number of black-owned firms in New York in 2002, which led all states. New York City alone had 98,080 such firms, which led all cities.

10,716
The number of black-owned firms operating in 2002 with receipts of $1 million or more. These firms accounted for 1 percent of the total number of black-owned firms in 2002 and 55 percent of their total receipts, or $49 billion.

969
The number of black-owned firms with 100 or more employees in 2002. Firms of this size accounted for 24 percent of the total revenue for black-owned employer firms in 2002, or $16 billion.
Source: Black-Owned Firms: 2002 <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200csblk.pdf>

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$33,916
The annual median income of single-race black households in 2007, up from $32,876 (in 2007 constant dollars) in 2006.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

$36,068 & $31,009
The 2007 median earnings of single-race black men and women, respectively, 15 and older who worked full time, year-round.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

24.5%
Poverty rate in 2007 for single-race blacks, statistically unchanged from 2006.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

19.5%
The percentage of single-race blacks lacking health insurance in 2007, down from 20.5 percent in 2006.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

Families and Children

64%
Percentage of families among households with a single-race black householder. There were 8.5 million black family households.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>

45%
Among families with single-race black householders, the percentage that are married couples.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>

1.2 million
Number of single-race black grandparents living with their own grandchildren younger than 18. Of this number, 50 percent were also responsible for their care.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Homeownership – the American Dream

46%
Nationally, the percentage of households with a householder who is single-race black who lived in owner-occupied homes. The rate was higher in certain states, such as Mississippi, where it reached 59 percent.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Jobs

27%
The percentage of single-race blacks 16 and older who work in management, professional and related occupations. There are 49,730 black physicians and surgeons, 70,620 postsecondary teachers, 49,050 lawyers, and 57,720 chief executives.
Sources: 2007 American Community Survey and Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009
<http://factfinder.census.gov> and <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

Consumer Action Handbook tips

2009-02-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Check out CONSUMER TOPICS to get helpful tips on specific consumer issues, like buying a car or home or preventing identity theft.
If you have a consumer problem, use our HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT tab for a step-by-step guide to the process. You can read more about your options as a dissatisfied consumer and use the sample complaint letter to take action.
Scroll over WHERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT to contact a specific company or your local consumer protection office or BBB.
If you�re a teacher, a member of the military or the media, or a person with disabilities, try our SPECIFIC AUDIENCES tab.
If you still haven�t found what you need, try WANT MORE HELP for links to other useful websites.

Say no to credit insurance offers. Often offered with credit cards, car loans and home mortgages, it is almost always better to purchase regular property, life or disability insurance.

More Quick Consumer Tips

Order the 2008 Consumer Action Handbook. This everyday guide to being a smart shopper is hot off the press and chocked full of helpful tips about preventing identity theft, understanding credit, filing a consumer complaint, and much more. In the 2008 edition, you'll find updated information about filing for bankruptcy, finding a lawyer, and planning a funeral, along with many other useful topics.

All about the Superbowl

2009-01-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl XLIII

Super Bowl XLIII will be played Feb. 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. To commemorate this occasion, the Census Bureau has compiled a collection of facts examining the demographics of the host area, as well as the cities represented by the contenders, in this year’s edition of our nation’s most celebrated sporting event.

Phoenix (Arizona Cardinals)

Unless otherwise indicated, the data come from the 2007 American Community Survey.

5th
Where Phoenix ranked on the list of the nation’s most populous cities. The estimated population of Phoenix on July 1, 2007, was 1.6 million. Phoenix gained 34,941 people from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007, the second-largest numerical increase in the nation. (The Cardinals actually play in Glendale, Ariz., which had an estimated population on July 1, 2007, of 253,152, making it the 70th most populous city in the nation.)
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>

24%
Percentage of Phoenix residents 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007; 77 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 28 percent and 85 percent.

26 minutes
Average amount of time it took Phoenix residents to get to work. Seventy-three percent of the city’s workers drove to work alone, 15 percent carpooled and 4 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took workers an average of 25 minutes to get to work. (There is no statistically significant difference between Phoenix and the nation in the average travel-to-work time.)

40%
Percentage of Phoenix residents 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home. The national average was 20 percent.

$48,061
Median household income for Phoenix. The national median was $50,740.

$246,600
Median home value of owner-occupied homes in Phoenix. The national median was $194,300.

Pittsburgh (Steelers)

Unless otherwise indicated, the data come from the 2007 American Community Survey.

60th
Where Pittsburgh ranked on the list of the nation’s most populous cities. The estimated population of Pittsburgh on July 1, 2007, was 311,218. Pittsburgh’s population declined by 2,450 from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>

32%
Percentage of Pittsburgh residents 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007; 87 percent had at least graduated from high school. The respective national figures were 28 percent and 85 percent.

22 minutes
Average amount of time it took Pittsburgh residents to get to work. Fifty-six percent of the city’s workers drove to work alone, 9 percent carpooled and 18 percent took public transportation. Nationally, it took workers an average of 25 minutes to get to work.

11%
Percentage of Pittsburgh residents 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home. The national average was 20 percent.

$32,363
Median household income for Pittsburgh. The national median was $50,740.

$84,500
Median home value of owner-occupied homes in Pittsburgh. The national median was $194,300.

Tampa, Fla. (host city) and vicinity

Unless otherwise indicated, the data come from the 2007 American Community Survey.

54th
Where Tampa, Fla., ranked on the list of the nation’s most populous cities. Tampa’s estimated population on July 1, 2007, was 336,823.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>

19th
Rank of Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., among metro areas with respect to population size. The metro area had an estimated population of 2.7 million on July 1, 2007.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011671.html>

31%
Percentage of Tampa’s residents 25 or older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007; this compares with 26 percent in the metro area. The respective national figure was 28 percent.

24 minutes
Average amount of time it took Tampa’s residents to get to work. Seventy-eight percent of the city’s workers drove to work alone. In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., metro area, it took an average of 26 minutes and 81 percent drove to work solo. Nationally, the respective figures were 25 minutes and 76 percent. (There is no statistically significant difference between Tampa and the nation in the percentage of workers who drove to work alone. Nor is there a statistically significant difference between the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., metro area, and the nation in the average travel-to-work time.)

25%
Percentage of Tampa’s residents 5 or older who spoke a language other than English at home. In the metro area, the respective percentage was 18 percent. The national average was 20 percent.

$44,079
Median household income for Tampa; this compares with $46,607 in the metro area. The national median was $50,740.

$223,200
Median value of owner-occupied homes in Tampa. The respective median in the metro area was $203,300. The national median was $194,300.

census.gov

http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/
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Blogs from the U.S. Government

2009-01-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

Find active and archived blogs from U.S. federal agencies.

Active Government Blogs

AIDS.gov Blog – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides this blog as a part of the AIDS.gov website to provide information on the uses of new media for the HIV/AIDS community.
Arctic Chronicles – This journal will document my journey to one of the most unexplored areas in the world, the Arctic, as I accompany scientists on an expedition to map the seafloor. This will be a collaborative effort between the U.S. and Canada.
ASY Live Blog – The "ASY Live Blog," an extension of the Department of Defense America Supports You program, highlights the support supplied by citizens and corporations nationwide to our men and women in uniform and communicates that support to our troops.
Big Read Blog – National Endowment for the Arts literature director David Kipen blogs regularly about his experiences promoting the 2007 Big Read initiative.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Injury Center Director's View – The Director of the CDC Injury Center, Ileana Arias, blogs to foster public discussion about injury and violence prevention.
Coast Guard Commandant – Admiral Thad Allen uses this web journal to communicate thoughts, ideas, issues and events in near real-time.
Congressional Budget Office Director's Blog – Peter R. Orszag, Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) blogs as an additional way to communicate with Congress and the public. Learn about the type of work done by the CBO including how they do it and what types of analysts they have. Dr. Orszag will also use the blog to clarify potential misinterpretations of CBO data. This blog does not accept comments.
Corps e-spondence – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Chief of Engineers and Commanding General Lieutenant General Robert L. Van Antwerp blogs about all things relevant to the Corps, including their many missions in service to the Nation, leadership, selfless service and people.
Dipnote – This blog offers the public an alternative source to mainstream media for U.S. foreign policy information and the opportunity to discuss important foreign policy issues with senior State Department officials.
Energy Savers – The Energy Savers Blog provides a place for consumers to learn about and discuss energy efficiency and renewable technologies at home, on the road, and in the workplace.
Evolution of Security – Five employees of the Transportation Security Administration blog to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process.
Eye Level – This Smithsonian American Art Museum blog covers American art and the ways it reflects American history and culture.
Fast Lane – This blog from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) provides a forum for discussing the nation's transportation system and making announcements about future projects. Contributors will include Secretary Peters, other senior officials from DOT, and guest bloggers.
Future Digital System – U.S. Government Printing Office blog about the Future Digital System program that will be a world-class information life-cycle management system
GLOBE Program – Dr. Peggy LeMone, chief scientist of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE), shares her comments and thoughts on science topics through this blog.
Gov Gab – Gov Gab's seven bloggers share practical, useful tips and information from the federal government, to help you make life a little simpler. Sample posts cover saving gas, smart shopping, weeding out poison ivy, checking your credit report, and helping your pre-teen build self-esteem. Read along each weekday and comment and share your own experiences.
Grants.gov – Updates for the grant community.
Greenversations – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blog is authored by EPA employees who share their unique perspective on environmentalism and personal experiences in protecting and improving our nation's water, land, and air.
Health and Human Services Department Blog – Secretary Mike Leavitt blogs about health and the related challenges that face United States.
Health Marketing Musings – A blog about research, science, and practice in health marketing and communication, social marketing, information technology, public health partnerships, and more with Jay Bernhardt, Director of CDC's National Center for Health Marketing.
Homeland Security Leadership Journal – Secretary Michael Chertoff blogs about working to protect the American people, building an effective emergency preparedness and response capability, enforcing immigration laws, and promoting economic prosperity.
InfoFarm – The National Agricultural Library blogs about what they do and your world of agriculture, food, nutrition, animal care, and the environment.
Library of Congress Blog – Highlights news and collections for the Library of Congress. Written by the Library's Director of Communications.
Military Health System Blog – Department of Defense leadership discusses the future of the U.S. Military Health System.
Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) CEO's Blog – Through this blog, Ambassador John J. Danilovich, the MCC CEO, directlycommunicates with the public to offer his first-hand perspective of MCC programs and the results that assistance to partner countries is producing on the ground for the benefit of the world's poor.
Mount Rainier National Park Volunteers Blog – Get the latest news about the volunteer program at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington.
NASA Goddard CIO Blog – NASA Goddard CIO, Linda Y. Cureton, blogs about technology, leadership, and being a Chief Information Officer.
National African HIV AIDS Initiative (NAHI) Blog – Margaret Korto, a member of the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health Resource Center's HIV Capacity Building Team, hosts this blog as a way for communities in Seattle, New York, Massachusetts, Atlanta and Washington, DC to communicate and gather ideas about upcoming health summits.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Science Blog – This blog helps NIOSH to fulfill it's mission of translating scientific research into practice. It also provides a forum for NIOSH partners and the public to present ideas to NIOSH scientists and each other while engaging in scientific discussion.
National Museum of the Air Force – Blog posts from the public about their experiences at the National Museum of the Air Force
National Parks – The National Park Foundation enriches the connection Americans have with our National Parks.
Navy Department Chief Information Officer Blog – Robert Carey, CIO for the Department of the Navy, blogs about matters related to information management and information technology and how they impact the Navy Department.
Peace Corps Volunteer Journals – Blogs about experiences of Peace Corps volunteers from around the globe.
Pushing Back – Office of National Drug Control Policy blog to educate Americans about illegal drugs and the latest international, federal, state, and local efforts to reduce drug use
Smithsonian Institution – Bloggers offer insights and information about Smithsonian Institution exhibitions, events, collections, research projects, and more.
Take Pride in America: The Blog – Take Pride in America, a national partnership program aimed at increasing volunteer service on America's public lands, hosts this blog to empower volunteers from every corner of America to maintain and enhance our natural, cultural, and historical sites.
U.S. Fire Administration – The U.S. Fire Administration faciliatates a conversation with the public to help prevent, prepare for, and respond to fire-related emergencies.
Walter Reed Health Care System Commander's Blog – Colonel Patricia D. Horoho, Commander of the Walter Reed Health Care System, blogs as an added communication tool for staff, patients and their families, and for anyone else who is interested in the Walter Reed military medical institution.
White House Blog – The White House blog is a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.

Archived Government Blogs

1-800-QUIT-NOW Challenge – Blogs from the Quit Now Challenge participants reporting their experiences between December 2006 and February 2007 as they quit smoking using the services of the 1-800-Quit-Now Quitlines
America's Marines Blog – In the fall of 2007 the America's Marines Tour followed the Silent Drill Platoon to cities and towns across the nation. Discover the connection between Marines, Americans, and the Marine Corps by reading the blog entries from each event.
EPA's National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information – EPA's online discussion about identifying and sharing the best resources, tools, and ideas for improving access to EPA's environmental information.
GI Jill: Sgt. Jill Stevens' Blog – Jill Stevens, a Combat Medic in the Utah National Guard and Miss Utah 2007, blogs about the many experiences that led up to her participation in the 2008 Miss America competition.
Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge Blog – Employees from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 office in Chicago blog from April 1 to May 9, 2008 to share personal insights into how they approach Earth Day, and how Great Lakes communities are participating in the Earth Day Challenge. The "Challenge" to communities around the Great Lakes is to collect 1 million pounds of electronics (e-waste) and (the equivalent of) 1 million pills of unwanted or unused medications.
Lost Tribe of Green 5 – Weekly blog that chronicles the experiences of an AmeriCorps*NCCC team working in the field to serve community needs
NOAA's 200th Anniversary Celebration Blog – Chronicle of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 200th anniversary celebration events from around the country between December 2006 and April 2007.
Pandemic Flu Leadership Blog – Five-week long (5/22/07 - 6/27/07) blog summit, from HHS, to expand the conversation about pandemic flu preparedness
Tech-Ade Hearings – Blog from Federal Trade Commission staff about the November 2006 hearings on "Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-ade"
Trip Notes from the Middle East – Senior White House staff members blog about President Bush's trip to the Middle East region January 8 - 16, 2008.
What Would You Put on a New Golden Record? – Aboard each spacecraft is a Golden Record, a collection of sites, sounds and greetings from Earth. If a new Golden Record were to be created, what one item from the past 30 years would you include?

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Travel Safely from USA.gov

2008-12-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

Be prepared for domestic or international travel this holiday season.

Air Travel

Domestic Travel

International Travel

Americans Living and Traveling Abroad
Border and Port Security
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Track Santa Via NORAD

2008-12-22T07:33:00.000-08:00

All the preparations for this year are in place! Return on Christmas Eve to track St. Nick on his magical flight around the world!

Until then, come back each day to receive updates from the North Pole and to discover new surprises in the Kids' Countdown.

Winter Holiday Hazards

2008-12-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

SafeTips
Winter Holiday Hazards

* Carry a plastic bottle of sand mixed with rock-salt in the trunk of your car. If you get stuck on sheet ice, sprinkling some around the tire may provide traction. Some people fill up empty gallon paint cans with sand and replace the lids, instead of carrying bags of sand. Roofing shingles also work well.
* When shoveling snow, take your time and don't try to do too much at once. It is an excellent cardio-vascular workout, but you have to be in good shape at the outset. One tip to make it easier: If wet snow sticks to your snow shovel, spray the shovel with spray shortening.
* Don't pick up the pan your turkey is roasting in and discover that the "hot mitt" gloves you are wearing don't provide enough insulation. Check to make sure before you lift the pan.
* If you have a new puppy or child in the house, don't decorate your tree with popcorn garlands, candy canes, or other edibles. Many a big tree has been toppled by little people and animals.
* When the gas tank in your car gets to half full, fill it up. You never know when a massive traffic jam will snare you.
* Some cats love to eat tinsel. It doesn't agree with them.
* Walking your dog at lunch time is more pleasant and safer than trying to do it in the dark before or after work. You can see icy patches more clearly, and motorists can see you better, also.
* If you have cookies baking, don't ask someone to take over if that person is sleepy, lying on the couch and watching television. Or, if you do, make sure you smoke detector works and is loud enough to wake them.
* Traffic jams, sudden storms and detours might mean that you have to spend much longer than you planned in your car. It can take two to three hours to drive as little as 15 miles on an icy road. Put together a winter-driving kit, including a pair of gloves, a warm hat, and a blanket.

Special thanks to Peggy Durbin, ES&H Team Leader in the Information Management Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory for sending these tips in.

The latest in Politics

2008-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

NRF’s Top 10 Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping

2008-12-12T11:09:00.000-08:00

NRF’s Top 10 Holiday Shopping Tips

Shop after 6:00 p.m. the evening before a sale is advertised to begin. Many retailers program the registers the night before, so the sale may already come up in the register even if they have not signed the selling floor yet. Ask the associate in advance for any possible upcoming sales, especially on big ticket items.
Prepare a list to use while you are shopping. Make sure to include alternative selections in case you are unable to find some of the items on your list.
Avoid crowds by shopping during stores’ early and late extended hours.
If you are looking for specific advertised items, take the complete ad with you so that you don’t end up in the wrong store looking for a specific price.
Staple a gift receipt to the merchandise tag in case it needs to be returned or exchanged. Keep your original receipts with any warranty paperwork for the life of the warranty.
Remember when gift shopping you are buying for someone else’s wants and needs, not your own. But don’t be surprised if you find some new necessities for yourself in the process!
Shop safely! Watch your personal belongings at all times including handbags and purchases. The stores are not responsible for any lost items so be careful, especially at the register when you can get easily distracted by the transaction itself.
Save yourself some wear-n-tear, let the charity group at the mall wrap your gifts for you. This will save you a lot of time and free you up to do other things on your holiday to-do lists.
When shopping online, have your credit cards and address book handy. Many websites have timed windows to complete a transaction, so you need to have any shipping information at your fingertips.
Wear comfortable shoes - you are going to be walking on a lot of marble and tile.

www.nrf.com

Additional information from FCIC:

Publications available for ordering from the Money Page

Websites*:

Ship Your Packages

2008-12-10T15:13:00.000-08:00

Your local postal carrier can pick up an unlimited number of packages from your home at no cost. Your pick-up can be scheduled up to three months in advance

The United States Postal Service (USPS) web site provides online access to many of the services provided at your local post office. You can learn how to calculate postage, change your address, find a ZIP code, and find a local post office.

The USPS can answer most postal-related inquiries. They maintain a toll-free hotline from which you can access information through a menu of automated options 24 hours a day. During regular business hours (8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET on Saturdays), you can also speak to a USPS representative.

A local postal carrier can pick up an unlimited number of packages from a home at no cost. A pick-up can be scheduled up to three months in advance.

You may wish to view a list of USPS frequently asked questions. Or you may wish to contact the USPS by phone at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

Get a T-Shirt for Change

2008-12-05T15:11:00.000-08:00

On January 20, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th president.

We've designed some cool shirts to commemorate this historic day. And if we all wear them on Inauguration Day—to school, or work, or to the inauguration itself—we'll show that Obama's got widespread support for big progressive change.

We'll send a shirt to anyone who contributes $12 or more to our big campaign to pass Obama's change agenda—and we'll deliver it in time to wear on Inauguration Day. Click here to get yours, then tell all your friends:

http://pol.moveon.org/o-shirts/?id=15215-14509088-WrEU1Nx&t=4

Barack Obama has said many times that he can't deliver universal health care or a sweeping clean energy policy on his own. We all need to do our part.

So we've launched a campaign called "Real Voices for Change" to make Obama's progressive mandate impossible to ignore. We're organizing grassroots events. We're putting together a major ad campaign. And MoveOn members are already out gathering messages of support from their neighbors.

We're going to make sure the voice of the people speaks louder than the HMO lobbyists and oil companies.

But in order to hit the ground running the minute Obama becomes president, we need resources now. And that means we all need to help out. Please chip in $12 or more today, and we'll send you an Obama shirt in time for Inauguration Day. Click here:

http://pol.moveon.org/o-shirts/?id=15215-14509088-WrEU1Nx&t=5

Thanksgiving Day

2008-11-20T15:59:00.000-08:00

In the fall of 1621, the religious separatist Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. It eventually became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.

271 million
The preliminary estimate of turkeys raised in the United States in 2008. That’s not statistically signficantly different from the number raised during 2007. The turkeys produced in 2007 together weighed 7.9 billion pounds and were valued at $3.7 billion. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>

Weighing in With a Menu of Culinary Delights

49 million
The preliminary estimate of turkeys Minnesota expects to raise in 2008. The Gopher State is tops in turkey production. It is followed by North Carolina (39 million), Arkansas (31 million), Virginia (21 million), Missouri (20 million) and Indiana (15.9 million). These six states together will probably account for about two-thirds of U.S. turkeys produced in 2008.

689 million pounds
The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2008, up 5 percent from 2007 and slightly below 2006. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 385 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (190 million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected to have substantial production, ranging from 15 million to 50 million pounds.

1.8 billion pounds
The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular Thanksgiving side dish — produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2007. North Carolina (667 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state. It was followed by California (426 million pounds). Mississippi and Louisiana also produced large amounts: at least 300 million pounds each.

1.1 billion pounds
Total production of major pumpkin-producing states in 2007. Illinois led the country by producing 542 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. Pumpkin patches in Ohio, California and New York also provided lots of pumpkins: Each state produced at least 100 million pounds. The value of all pumpkins produced by major pumpkin-producing states was $117 million.

If you prefer cherry pie, you will be pleased to learn that the nation’s forecasted tart cherry production for 2008 totals 177 million pounds. Of this total, the overwhelming majority (135 million) will be produced in Michigan.

2.1 billion bushels
The total volume of wheat — the essential ingredient of bread, rolls and pie crust — produced in the United States in 2007. Kansas and North Dakota accounted for 28 percent of the nation’s wheat production.

769,760 tons
The 2008 contracted production of snap (green) beans in major snap (green) bean-producing states. Of this total, Wisconsin led all states (293,200 tons). Many Americans consider green bean casserole a traditional Thanksgiving dish.

Source: The previous data came from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>.

$9.2 million
The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys from January through July of 2008 — 99.3 percent from Canada. Our northern neighbor accounted for all of the cranberries the United States imported ($2.1 million). When it comes to sweet potatoes, however, the Dominican Republic was the source of 86.3 percent ($3.8 million) of total imports ($4.4 million). The United States ran a $4.9 million trade deficit in live turkeys during the period but had surpluses of $15.0 million in cranberries and $22.3 million in sweet potatoes. Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www>.

13.3 pounds
The quantity of turkeys consumed by the typical American in 2006, with a hearty helping devoured at Thanksgiving time. Per capita sweet potato consumption was 4.6 pounds. Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Tables 209-210 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>.

The Turkey Industry

$3.6 billion
The value of turkeys shipped in 2002. Arkansas led the way in turkey shipments, with $581.5 million, followed by Virginia ($544.2 million) and North Carolina ($453 million). In 2002, poultry businesses whose primary product was turkey totaled 35 establishments, employing about 17,000 people.
Source: Poultry Processing: 2002 <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i311615.pdf>

$4.3 billion
Forecast 2008 receipts to farmers from turkey sales. This exceeds the total receipts from sales of products such as rice and peanuts.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service <http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/farmincome/finfidmu.htm>

The Price is Right

$1.01
Retail cost per pound of a frozen whole turkey in December 2007.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 709 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

Where to Feast

3
Number of places in the United States named after the holiday’s traditional main course. Turkey, Texas, was the most populous in 2007, with 465 residents, followed by Turkey Creek, La. (363) and Turkey, N.C. (270). There also are nine townships around the country named Turkey, three in Kansas.
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>,
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

5
Number of places and townships in the United States that are named Cranberry or some spelling variation of the red, acidic berry (e.g., Cranbury, N.J.), a popular side dish at Thanksgiving. Cranberry township (Butler County), Pa., was the most populous of these places in 2007, with 27,126 residents. Cranberry township (Venango County), Pa., was next (6,810).
Source: Population estimates <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>,
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>

28
Number of places in the United States named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the first Pilgrims. Plymouth, Minn., is the most populous, with 71,057 residents in 2007; Plymouth, Mass., had 55,188. There is just one township in the United States named “Pilgrim.” Located in Dade County, Mo., its population was 130. And then there is Mayflower, Ark., whose population was 2,134.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>,
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

116 million
Number of households across the nation — all potential gathering places for people to celebrate the holiday.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/marital_status_living_arrangements/012437.

the Plumb book.

2008-11-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

Need a job? Check out the Plumb book.

Every four years, just after the Presidential election, the United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, commonly known as the Plum Book, is published. The Plum Book is used to identify presidentially appointed positions within the Federal Government.

This year the book will feature jobs for the new administration.
Obama-Biden Administration. President-Elect Obama will make appointments throughout the federal government. Some positions will require Senate confirmation while others will not. Some appointments will be made during the transition process and others during the early part of the new Administration.

Applicants for any of these non-career positions - whether in the White House or in any Federal Department, Agency or Commission - can use the change.gov website, as applying on-line is the fastest and most accurate way to get your information to them.

(If you are interested instead in a career, civil service position with the federal government, you should proceed to the Office of Personnel Management website at http://www.usajobs.gov.)

If you apply for a position now, you will not need to apply again after January 20th. Applications submitted now to the Obama-Biden Transition Project will be retained and considered by the Office of Presidential Personnel after President-Elect Obama takes office.

Application Process:

Please complete and submit the on-line Expression of Interest Form .
Within a few days, you will receive an email with a link to a more complete on-line application.
Upon submitting your full on-line application you will receive an e-mail acknowledgment.
If and when you are considered for a specific position, you will be asked to fill out additional forms, including financial disclosures, and be subject to other reviews which may include FBI background checks.

American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage

2008-11-13T07:49:00.000-08:00

American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage
Month: November 2008

The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. Red Fox James, a Blackfeet Indian, rode horseback from state to state, getting endorsements from 24 state governments, to have a day to honor American Indians. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating November 1990 as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994. This Facts for Features presents data for American Indians and Alaska Natives, as this is one of the six major race categories.

Note: Unless otherwise specified, the data in the “Population” section refer to the population who reported a race alone or in combination with one or more other races.

Population

4.5 million
As of July 1, 2007, the estimated population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race. They made up 1.5 percent of the total population.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

8.6 million
The projected population of American Indians and Alaska Natives, including those of more than one race, on July 1, 2050. They would comprise 2 percent of the total population.
Source: Source: Population projections <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012496.html>

44,803
Increase in the nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native population from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007. The population of this group increased by 1 percent during the period.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

30.3
Median age of the single-race American Indian and Alaska Native population in 2007, younger than the median of 36.6 for the population as a whole. About 27 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives were younger than 18, and 8 percent were 65 and older.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

689,120
The American Indian and Alaska Native population in California as of July 1, 2007, the highest total of any state. California was followed by Oklahoma (393,500) and Arizona (335,381).

About 8,300 American Indians and Alaska Natives were added to Texas’ population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007. That is the largest numeric increase of any state. Georgia (3.4 percent) had the highest rate of increase during the period.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

5
Number of states where American Indians and Alaska Natives were the largest race or ethnic minority group in 2007. These states are Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

11
Number of states with more than 100,000 American Indian and Alaska Native residents on July 1, 2007. These states were California, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, New York, Washington, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan and Alaska. Combined, these states were home to 62 percent of the nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native residents.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>>

18%
The proportion of Alaska’s population identified as American Indian and Alaska Native as of July 1, 2007, the highest rate for this race group of any state. Alaska was followed by Oklahoma (11 percent) and New Mexico (10 percent).
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

146,500
The number of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Los Angeles County, Calif., as of July 1, 2007. Los Angeles led all of the nation’s counties in the number of people of this racial category.

Maricopa County, Ariz., added about 2,300 people to this group between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, leading the nation’s counties in this category.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

10
Among counties or equivalents with total populations of 10,000 or more, number that were majority American Indian and Alaska Native, as of July 1, 2007. Shannon, S.D., led the way, with 87 percent of its population being a member of this race group.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

Families and Children

537,500
The number of American Indian and Alaska Native families in 2007. Of these:

314,900 were married-couple families, including those with children.
146,400 were married couples with their own children, under the age of 18.

Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov>

3.57
Average number of people in an American Indian and Alaska Native family in 2007. This was larger than the national average size for all families (3.2 people). Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Housing

56%
The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native households who owned their own home in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov>

$116,700
Median value of homes owned by American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Languages

27%
Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 5 and older who spoke a language other than English at home.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Education

76%
The percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma. Also, 13 percent had at least a bachelor’s degree.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov>

61,976
Number of American Indians and Alaska Natives 25 and older who had a graduate or professional degree.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Businesses

$26.9 billion
Receipts for American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses in 2002. These businesses numbered 201,387.

20,380
Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside combined statistical area, making that area number one in the metro category. Among counties, Los Angeles had the highest number of firms (13,061).

38,125
Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms in California, which led the states. Oklahoma, Texas, New York and Florida followed.

Nearly 3 in 10
Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms that operated in construction and other services (such as personal services, and repair and maintenance).

24,498
Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms that had paid employees. These businesses employed 191,270 people.

3,631
Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more. These firms accounted for nearly 2 percent of the total number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms and more than 64 percent of their total receipts.

178
Number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms with 100 or more employees. These firms generated nearly $5.3 billion in gross receipts — 24 percent of the total revenue for American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned employer firms.

New York; Los Angeles; and Gallup, N.M.
The three cities with the largest number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned firms, with 7,134; 5,767; and 2,642, respectively.

Source for data in this section: American Indian- and Alaska Native-Owned Firms: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/007013.html>

Jobs

25%
The percentage of civilian-employed American Indian and Alaska Native people 16 and older who worked in management, professional and related occupations. In addition, 23 percent worked in sales and office occupations and about the same percentage worked in service occupations.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population. <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Caregivers

54%
Percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives 30 and older who lived with grandchildren and were responsible for their care. The corresponding rate for the population as a whole was 40 percent.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population. <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Veterans

165,200
The number of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. armed forces. Source: 2007 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population. <http://factfinder.census.gov>

Income and Poverty

$35,343
The 2007 median income of households where the householder reported being American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race.
Source: Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data from the 2007 American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

25.3%
The 2007 poverty rate of people who reported they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race.
Source: Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data from the 2007 American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

Health Insurance

32.1%
The percentage of people who reported they were American Indian and Alaska Native and no other race who lacked health insurance coverage, based on a three-year average (2005-2007).
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007,
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

Veterans Day 2008: Nov. 11

2008-11-11T07:46:00.000-08:00

Veterans Day 2008: Nov. 11

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day has evolved into also honoring living military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

23.6 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2007.
Source: Table 502, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009

Female Veterans

1.8 million
The number of female veterans in 2007.
Source: Source: Table 502, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009

16%
Percentage of Gulf War veterans in 2007 who were women.
Source: Table 503, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009

Race and Hispanic Origin

2.4 million
The number of black veterans in 2007. Additionally, 1.1 million veterans were Hispanic; 278,000 were Asian; 165,000 were American Indian or Alaska Native; 27,000 were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and 18.7 million were non-Hispanic white. (The numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and non-Hispanic whites cover only those reporting a single race.)
Source: 2007 American Community Survey

When They Served

9.3 million
The number of veterans 65 and older in 2007. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.9 million were younger than 35.
Source: Table 503, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009

7.9 million
Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2007. Thirty-three percent of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition, 5 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 2.9 million in World War II (1941-1945); 3 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 6.1 million in peacetime.
Source: Table 503, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009

358,000
In 2007, number of living veterans who served during both the Vietnam and Gulf War eras.

Other living veterans in 2007 who served during two or more wars:

315,000 served during both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
69,000 served during three periods: World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
263,000 served during World War II and the Korean War.

Source: 2007 American Community Survey

Where They Live

5
Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2007. These states are California (2.1 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas (1.7 million),
New York (1.1 million) and Pennsylvania (1.1 million).
Source: Table 502, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009

Education

25%
Percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey

90%
Percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey

Income and Poverty

$36,053
Annual median income of veterans, in 2007 inflation-adjusted dollars.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey

5.7%
Percentage of veterans living in poverty, as of 2007. The corresponding rate for nonveterans was 12 percent.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey

On the Job

10.7 million
Number of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey

$32,217
Earnings for women veterans, higher than the $27,272 for women civilians with no military experience.
Source: Exploring the Veteran-Nonveteran Earning Differential in the 2005 American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/women/012062.html>

$42,128
Earnings for male veterans, higher than the $39,880 for nonveterans.
Source: 2006 Exploring the Veteran-Nonveteran Earning Differential in the 2005 American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/women/012062.html>

Women veterans were more likely to work 35 or more hours per week (84.3 percent vs. 77.6 percent), to work at least 50 weeks per year
(73.1 percent vs. 71.6 percent) and to work in public administration (16 percent vs. 4.8 percent) than nonveterans.
Source: Exploring the Veteran-Nonveteran Earning Differential in the 2005 American Community Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/women/012062.html>

Disabilities

6 million
Number of veterans with a disability.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey

Voting

17.4 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2004 presidential election. Seventy-four percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 63 percent of nonveterans.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2004
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/006562.html>

14 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2006 congressional election. Sixty-one percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 46 percent of nonveterans.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2004
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/012234.html>

Business Owners

14.5%
Percentage of owners of firms responding to the 2002 Survey of Business Owners who were veterans. Veteran business owners comprised an estimated 3 million of the 20.5 million owners represented by survey respondents.
Source: Characteristics of Veteran-Owned Businesses: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/010337.html>

68%
Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were 55 and older. This compares with 31 percent of all owners of respondent firms. Similarly, in 2002, 55 percent of veteran-owned respondent firms with employees reported that their businesses were originally established, purchased or acquired before 1990, compared with 36 percent of all employer respondent firms.
Source: Characteristics Veteran-Owned Businesses: 2002 and Characteristics of Veteran Business Owners: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/010337.html>

7%
Percentage of veteran business owners of respondent firms who were disabled as the result of injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.
Source: Characteristics Veteran-Owned Businesses: 2002 and Characteristics of Veteran Business Owners: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/010337.html>

Benefits

2.7 million
Number of veterans who received compensation for service-connected disabilities as of 2006. Their compensation totaled $28.2 billion.
Source: Tables 505 and 506, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009

$72.8 billion
Total amount of federal government spending for veterans benefits programs in fiscal year 2006. Of this total, $34.6 billion went to compensation and pensions, $33.7 billion for medical programs and the remainder to other programs, such as vocational rehabilitation and education.
Source: Table 505, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009

Veterans Day

2008-11-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

Veterans Day is an American federal holiday honoring military veterans. It is also celebrated in many countries around the world every November 11, where it is known as Armistice or Remembrance Day. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.

November 11 was declared "Armistice Day" in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson to honor the soldiers of World War I, and was changed to "Veterans Day" in 1954. Today Veterans Day is intended to thank all living veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Veterans Day is always observed officially on November 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. The Veterans Day National Ceremony, like most ceremonies around the nation, is held on Veterans Day itself. However, when Veterans Day falls on a weekday, many communities choose to hold Veterans Day parades or other celebrations on the weekend before or after November 11 so that more people can participate.

For more information on Veterans Day, please visit the Library of Congress's section on "Today in History: November 11."

The Veterans Pride Initiative encourages America's veterans to wear their medals or miniature replicas on civilian attire on patriotic national holidays.

The Latest Election Coverage

2008-10-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

Check back soon- updated often!

Register to Vote -- The National Voter Registration Act

2008-10-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

Register to vote

The National Mail Voter Registration Form (formulario nacional de inscripción de votantes) can be used to register to vote, to update your registration information due to a change of name, make a change of address or to register with a political party.

The national form also contains voter registration rules and regulations for each state and territory. For more information about registering to vote, contact your state election office. Read our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the national form.

State registration deadlines

Click here for state-by-state registration deadlines, contact information and Web site and mailing addresses.

National Voter Registration Act

Every two years, EAC reports to Congress on the impact of NVRA on the administration of Federal elections and provides information to states on their responsibilities under that law. Go here to view NVRA reports. Also, go here to view Commission decisions regarding the NVRA, as well as related correspondence.

http://www.eac.gov

PEW 2008 Election Information

2008-10-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

Information about state voter registration deadlines, polling place hours and election web sites.

STATE	Voter Registration Deadline	Polling place hours	State Election Web site
ALABAMA	Oct. 24	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.sos.state.al.us/elections
ALASKA	Oct. 5	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.elections.alaska.gov
ARIZONA	Oct. 6	6 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.azsos.gov/election
ARKANSAS	Oct. 6	7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.	www.sosweb.state.ar.us/elections.html
CALIFORNIA	Oct. 20	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.sos.ca.gov/elections
COLORADO	Oct. 6	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.elections.colorado.gov/ DDefault.aspx?
CONNECTICUT	Oct. 21 by mail; Oct. 28 in person; presidential ballots available to unregistered voters on and before election day	6 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/ view.asp?a=3&q=415810
DELAWARE	Oct. 11	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	elections.delaware.gov
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	Oct. 6	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.dcboee.org
FLORIDA	Oct. 6	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	election.dos.state.fl.us
GEORGIA	Oct. 6	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	sos.georgia.gov/elections/default.htm
HAWAII	Oct. 6	7 a.m. – 6 p.m.	hawaii.gov/elections
IDAHO	Election day registration. Oct. 10 last day to pre-register.	8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Clerks can opt to open polling places one hour earlier	www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/eleindex.htm
ILLINOIS	Oct. 7	6 a.m. - 7 p.m.	www.elections.state.il.us
INDIANA	Oct. 6	6 a.m. – 6 p.m.	www.in.gov/sos/elections
IOWA	Election day registration. Oct. 25 last day to pre-register.	7 a.m. – 9 p.m.	www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/index.html
KANSAS	Oct. 20	7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Counties can opt to open polls at 6 a.m. and close them at 8 p.m.	www.kssos.org/elections/elections.html
KENTUCKY	Oct. 6	6 a.m. – 6 p.m.	sos.ky.gov/elections
LOUISIANA	Oct. 6	6 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.sos.louisiana.gov/tabid/ 68/Default.aspx
MAINE	Election day registration; Oct. 14 last day to pre-register by mail	Open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. depending on the town, close at 8 p.m.	maine.gov/sos/cec/elec
MARYLAND	Oct. 14	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.elections.state.md.us
MASSACHUSETTS	Oct. 15	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.sec.state.ma.us/ele
MICHIGAN	Oct. 6	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.michigan.gov/sos/ 0,1607,7-127-1633---,00.html
MINNESOTA	Election day registration. Oct. 14 last day to pre-register.	7 a.m. – 8 p.m. (polls open at 10 a.m. in some townships)	www.sos.state.mn.us/home/ index.asp?page=4
MISSISSIPPI	Oct. 4	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.sos.state.ms.us/elections /elections.asp
MISSOURI	Oct. 8	6 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.sos.mo.gov/elections
MONTANA	Late and election day registration; Oct. 6 last day to pre-register by mail	7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Polling places having fewer than 400 electors must be open from noon - 8 p.m.	sos.mt.gov/ELB/index.asp
NEBRASKA	Oct. 17 by mail; Oct. 24 in person	8 a.m. - 8 p.m. in the Central Time Zone; 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. in the Mountain Time Zone	www.sos.ne.gov/dyindex.html
NEVADA	Oct. 4 by mail; Oct. 14 in person	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	sos.state.nv.us/elections
NEW HAMPSHIRE	Election day registration. Oct. 25 to pre-register	Polls open from 6 a.m. - 11 a.m. depending on the polling place and close at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.	www.sos.nh.gov/electionsnew.htm
NEW JERSEY	Oct. 14	6 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.state.nj.us/state/elections
NEW MEXICO	Oct. 7	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-elections.html
NEW YORK	Oct. 10	6 a.m. – 9 p.m.	www.elections.state.ny.us
NORTH CAROLINA	Oct. 10 or one stop registration and absentee voting from Oct. 16 – Nov. 1	6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.	www.sboe.state.nc.us
NORTH DAKOTA	No voter registration	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.nd.gov/sos/electvote
OHIO	Oct. 6	6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.	www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections.aspx
OKLAHOMA	Oct. 10	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.state.ok.us/~elections
OREGON	Oct. 14	Vote by mail; 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. at county offices for in-person voting	www.sos.state.or.us/elections
PENNSYLVANIA	Oct. 6	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/site/ default.asp
RHODE ISLAND	Oct. 4; presidential ballots available to unregistered voters on election day	Most cities and towns, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Several towns polls open at 6 a.m., 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.	www.elections.state.ri.us
SOUTH CAROLINA	Oct. 4	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.scvotes.org
SOUTH DAKOTA	Oct. 20	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.sdsos.gov/ electionsvoteregistration/ electionsvoteregistration_overview.shtm
TENNESSEE	Oct. 6	Opens between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. (varies) - 7 p.m.	www.state.tn.us/sos/election/index.htm
TEXAS	Oct. 6	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.sos.state.tx.us/elections /index.shtml
UTAH	Oct. 6 by mail; Oct. 20 in person	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.elections.utah.gov
VERMONT	Oct. 29	Opens between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. (varies) - 7 p.m.	vermont-elections.org/soshome.htm
VIRGINIA	Oct. 6	6 a.m. – 7 p.m.	www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms
WASHINGTON	Oct. 4 for mail and online voter registration; Oct. 20 for in person registration	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	www.secstate.wa.gov/elections
WEST VIRGINIA	Oct. 14	6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.	www.wvsos.com/elections/main.htm
WISCONSIN	Election day registration. Oct. 15 last day to pre-register.	7 a.m. – 8 p.m.	elections.state.wi.us
WYOMING	Election day registration. Oct. 6 last day to pre-register.	7 a.m. – 7 p.m.	soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/ Elections.aspx

College Enrollment Up 17 Percent Since 2000

2008-10-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

Enrollment in two- and four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. reached 20.5 million in 2006, up 3 million since 2000. This included 17.1 million undergraduates and 3.4 million students in graduate or professional schools.

These statistics are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s School Enrollment in the United States: 2006 [PDF], a report that describes the characteristics of the nation’s 79 million students in 2006.

This is the first school enrollment report from the Census Bureau to use data from both the Current Population Survey (on which previous reports have been based) and the American Community Survey. Incorporating these data result in new state-by-state comparisons of enrollment characteristics while preserving the historical comparisons of school enrollment.

In 2006, there were more students in college and high school, but fewer in nursery school, kindergarten and elementary school, than in 2000. This change reflects the composition of school enrollment by age in the United States for that time period.

Other findings:

More than half of undergraduates (56 percent) – as well as 59 percent of graduate students – were women.
In 2006, 4.7 million children age 3 and over were enrolled in nursery school or preschool. Among 3-year-olds, 41 percent were enrolled in nursery school, compared with 60 percent of 4-year-olds. Children 5 and older made up 12 percent of nursery school students.
The West reported the lowest percentage of native non-Hispanic white students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade (44 percent), while the Midwest reported the highest (72 percent). The highest percentage of native-born, single-race black elementary school students was in the South (23 percent), and the West reported the highest percentage of native-born, single-race Asian students (5.8 percent).
California (50 percent), Nevada (36 percent) and New York (33 percent) had the highest percentages of students with at least one foreign-born parent, while West Virginia and Mississippi were among the lowest at 2.5 percent.
In California, Texas and New Mexico, one-third or more of students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade spoke a language other than English at home. By contrast, about 3 percent of students in Mississippi spoke a language other than English at home.

MyMoney.gov

2008-09-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

MyMoney.gov.

Do you want to learn how to save, invest, and manage your money better?

MyMoney.gov can help you.

MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401k, the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you do it better. Throughout the site, you will find important information from 20 federal agencies government wide.

Free "My Money" Tool Kit Order Form
The Power of Partnerships - By partnering with other government agencies and the private sector, the Commission and its member agencies can further raise the level of the nation's financial literacy. This section is designed to highlight such partnerships.
Beware of Advance Fee Loan Scams
Beware of Foreclosure Rescue Scams (also available in Spanish)

Hispanic Heritage Month 2008:

2008-09-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

Sept. 15 – Oct. 15

Population

45.5 million
The estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2007, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 15 percent of the nation’s total population. In addition, there are approximately 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html> and
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011109.html>

About 1
. . . of every two people added to the nation’s population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, was Hispanic. There were 1.4 million Hispanics added to the population during the period.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

3.3%
Percentage increase in the Hispanic population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, making Hispanics the fastest-growing minority group.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

22.4 million
The nation’s Hispanic population during the 1990 Census — less than half the current total.
Source: The Hispanic Population: 2000 <http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-3.pdf>

2nd
Ranking of the size of the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide, as of 2007. Only Mexico (108.7 million) had a larger Hispanic population than did the United States (45.5 million). (Spain had a population of 40.4 million.)
Source: International Data Base <http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ipc/idbrank.pl>
<http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbsum.html> and population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

64%
The percentage of Hispanic-origin people in the United States who are of Mexican background. Another 9 percent are of Puerto Rican background, with 3.4 percent Cuban, 3.1 percent Salvadoran and 2.8 percent Dominican. The remainder are of some other Central American, South American or other Hispanic or Latino origin.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

About 50 percent of the nation’s Dominicans live in New York City and about half of the nation’s Cubans in Miami-Dade County, Fla.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

27.6 years
Median age of the Hispanic population in 2007. This compares with 36.6 years for the population as a whole.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

107
Number of Hispanic males in 2007 per every 100 Hispanic females. This was in sharp contrast to the overall population, which had 97 males per every 100 females.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

States and Counties

48%
The percentage of the Hispanic-origin population that lives in California or Texas. California is home to 13.2 million Hispanics, and Texas is home to 8.6 million.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

16
The number of states with at least a half-million Hispanic residents. They are Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

44%
The percentage of New Mexico’s population that is Hispanic, the highest of any state. Hispanics also make up more than a quarter of the population in California and Texas, at 36 percent each, Arizona (30 percent) and Nevada (25 percent).
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

4.7 million
The Hispanic population of Los Angeles County, Calif., in 2007 — the largest of any county in the nation. Maricopa County, Ariz. (home of Phoenix) had the biggest numerical increase in the Hispanic population (60,700) since July 2006.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

97%
Proportion of the population of Starr County, Texas, that was Hispanic as of 2007, which led the nation. In fact, each of the top 10 counties in this category was in Texas.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

308,000
The increase in Texas’ Hispanic population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, which led all states. California (268,000) and Florida (131,000) also recorded large increases.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

Businesses

Source for statements in this section: Hispanic-owned Firms: 2002 <http://www.census.gov/csd/sbo/hispanic2002.htm>

1.6 million
The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002.

Triple
The rate of growth of Hispanic-owned businesses between 1997 and 2002 (31 percent) compared with the national average (10 percent) for all businesses.

$222 billion
Revenue generated by Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002, up 19 percent from 1997.

44.6%
. . . of all Hispanic-owned firms were owned by Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and Chicanos.

29,168
Number of Hispanic-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more.

Nearly 43 percent of Hispanic-owned firms operated in construction; administrative and support, and waste management and remediation services; and other services, such as personal services, and repair and maintenance. Retail and wholesale trade accounted for nearly 36 percent of Hispanic-owned business revenue.
Counties with the highest number of Hispanic-owned firms were Los Angeles County (188,422); Miami-Dade County (163,187); and Harris County, Texas (61,934).

Families and Children

9.9 million
The number of Hispanic family households in the United States in 2006. Of these households, 62 percent included children younger than 18.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

67%
The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

44%
The percentage of Hispanic family households consisting of a married couple with children younger than 18.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

66%
Percentage of Hispanic children living with two married parents.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

24%
Percentage of total population younger than 5 that was Hispanic as of July 1, 2007.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/011910.html>

Spanish Language

34 million
The number of U.S. residents 5 and older who speak Spanish at home. Spanish speakers constitute 12 percent of U.S. residents.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

29%
Percentage of Texas residents 5 and older who speak Spanish at home, which leads all states. (The percentage for Texas is not significantly different from that of New Mexico, however.) This compares with the national average of 12 percent.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

78%
Percentage of Hispanics 5 and older who speak Spanish at home.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$38,679
The median income of Hispanic households in 2007, statistically unchanged from the previous year after adjusting for inflation.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007
<<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html>

Education

60%
The percentage of Hispanics 25 and older who had at least a high school education in 2007.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

13%
The percentage of the Hispanic population 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007
<<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

3.3 million
The number of Hispanics 18 and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2007, up from 1.7 million a decade earlier.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

811,000
Number of Hispanics 25 and older with advanced degrees in 2007 (e.g., master’s, professional, doctorate).
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

11%
Percentage of all college students in October 2006 who were Hispanic. Among elementary and high school students combined, the corresponding proportion was 19 percent.
Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2006
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011921.html>

Educational attainment levels are higher among certain Hispanic groups than among others. For example, among Cubans 25 and older, 75 percent were at least high school graduates, and 26 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Jobs

68%
Percentage of Hispanics 16 and older who are in the civilian labor force.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

17%
The percentage of Hispanics 16 or older who work in management, professional and related occupations. Roughly the same percentage work in construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations (although this percentage is significantly lower than for those in management, professional and related occupations). Approximately 24 percent of Hispanics 16 or older work in service occupations; 22 percent in sales and office occupations; 2 percent in farming, fishing and forestry occupations; and 18 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

82,500
Number of Hispanic chief executives. In addition, 46,200 physicians and surgeons; 53,600 postsecondary teachers; 43,000 lawyers; and 5,700 news analysts, reporters and correspondents are Hispanic.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 596 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

Voting

7.6 million
The number of Hispanic citizens who reported voting in the 2004 presidential election. The percentage of Hispanic citizens voting — about 47 percent — did not change statistically from four years earlier.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2004
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/004986.html>

5.6 million
The number of Hispanic citizens who reported voting in the 2006 congressional elections. The percentage of Hispanic citizens voting — about 32 percent — did not change statistically from four years earlier.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2006
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/012234.html>

Serving our Country

1.1 million`
The number of Hispanic veterans of the U.S. armed forces.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Unmarried and Single Americans Week

2008-09-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

Sept. 21-27, 2008

“National Singles Week” was started by the Buckeye Singles Council in Ohio in the 1980s to celebrate single life and recognize singles and their contributions to society. The week is now widely observed during the third full week of September (Sept. 21-27 in 2008) as “Unmarried and Single Americans Week,” an acknowledgment that many unmarried Americans do not identify with the word “single” because they are parents, have partners or are widowed. In this edition of Facts for Features, unmarried people include those who were never married, widowed, or divorced, unless otherwise noted.

Single Life

92 million
Number of unmarried Americans 18 and older in 2006. This group comprised 42 percent of all U.S. residents 18 and older.

54%
Percentage of unmarried Americans 18 and older who are women.

60%
Percentage of unmarried Americans 18 and older who have never been married. Another 25 percent are divorced, and 15 percent are widowed.

15 million
Number of unmarried Americans 65 and older. These older Americans comprise 16 percent of all unmarried and single people 18 and older.

86
Number of unmarried men 18 and older for every 100 unmarried women in the United States.

50.7 million
Number of households maintained by unmarried men or women. These households comprise 44 percent of households nationwide.

30.5 million
Number of people who live alone. They comprise 27 percent of all households, up from 17 percent in 1970.

Source for statements in this section: America’s Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

Parenting

35%
Percentage of births in the last 12 months, as of 2006, to women who either were separated, widowed, divorced or never married. Of these 1.5 million unmarried mothers, 199,000 were living with an unmarried partner.
Source: Fertility of American Women: 2006
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012510.html>

12.9 million
Number of single parents living with their children in 2006. Of these, 10.4 million were single mothers.
Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

9%
Percentage of households headed by single parents in 2006, up from 5 percent in 1970.
Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

39%
Percentage of opposite-sex, unmarried-partner households that include children. Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

733,000
Number of unmarried grandparents who were caregivers for their grandchildren in 2006. They comprised about three in 10 grandparents who were responsible for their grandchildren.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Unmarried Couples

6 million
Number of unmarried-partner households in 2006. These include 5.2 million of the opposite sex and 780,000 of the same sex.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Dating

904
The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2002. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed nearly 4,300 people and generated $489 million in revenues.
Source: 2002 Economic Census <http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/guide/SUBSUMM.HTM>

Voters

36%
Percentage of voters in the 2004 presidential election who were unmarried.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2004 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/004986.html>

Education

83%
Percentage of unmarried people 25 and older in 2007 who were high school graduates.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

24%
Percentage of unmarried people 25 and older in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree or more education.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

Seat Belt use Hits Record Level in 2008

2008-09-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

More Americans are buckling up than ever before, with 83 percent of vehicle occupants using seatbelts during daylight hours, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters has announced . In 2007, 82 percent used seat belts.

“More and more Americans are realizing that the mere seconds it takes to buckle up can mean the difference between life and death,” Secretary Peters said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 270 lives are saved for every one percent increase in belt use. Acting NHTSA Administrator David Kelly said a contributing factor for such historically high seat belt use is high-visibility law enforcement efforts, such as the Department’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

“We are committed to supporting state and local law enforcement in their front-line efforts to encourage belt use,” Kelly said.

According to the report, 84 percent of passenger car occupants are buckling up. Even more people, 86 percent, are buckling up in vans and SUVs while pickup truck occupants buckled up 74 percent of the time.

The report finds that safety belt use increased or remained level in every region of the country, with the highest use being reported in the West (93 percent), and the lowest in the Midwest and Northeast (79 percent). The South reported 81 percent.

The report reveals that states with primary belt laws are averaging about 13 percentage points higher for seat belt use (88 percent) than states with secondary laws (75 percent). In primary belt law states, officers can issue a citation for a seat-belt violation alone. In secondary law states, seat belt citations are allowed only after a stop for another violation.

The report also notes that belt use on expressways is now at an estimated 90 percent while belt use on lower-speed “surface” streets remains at 80 percent.

Seat belt use and other data are collected annually by NHTSA as part of the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS). The latest survey, conducted in June of 2008, involved daylight observations of vehicle occupant behavior at more than 1800 sites nationwide.

To see the latest seat belt report, click on the link below: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811036.PDF

The Star Spangled Banner

2008-09-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Star Spangled Banner

Sunday, September 14, marks the 194th anniversary of the penning of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland."The Star-Spangled Banner" is a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and amateur poet, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, by British ships during the War of 1812. Frances Scott Key also included a note that it should be sung to the popular British melody "To Anacreon in Heaven."

A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition that is formally recognized by a country's government as their official national song. The United States of America's national anthem is "The Star-Spangled Banner."

In 1916, Woodrow Wilson ordered that "The Star-Spangled Banner" be played at military and other appropriate occasions. On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover sigppropriate occasions. On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a law adopting "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthe

United States of America National Anthem: Star Spangled Banner
Listen to the National Anthem

Oh, say can you see,
By the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
Through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there.
O, say, does that
Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave?

Hispanic Heritage Month

2008-09-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim a week in September as National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month long celebration (September 15 - October 15), honoring our Nation's Hispanic heritage. During this time, America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to focus national attention upon the contributions of the Hispanic community to American society. Each year Hispanic Heritage Month is observed by an increasing number of agencies. Most of the activities help to spread the word about Hispanic culture and individual and community achievements.

You may wish to view more information on Hispanic Heritage Month at:

You may also wish to visit GobiernoUSA.gov, the U.S. government's official Web portal in Spanish.

The Official Time

2008-09-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

This public service is cooperatively provided by the two time agencies of the United States: a Department of Commerce agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and its military counterpart, the U. S. Naval Observatory (USNO). Readings from the clocks of these agencies contribute to world time, called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The time maintained by both agencies should never differ by more than 0.000 0001 seconds from UTC (see recent comparisons).

Go to:

Time & Frequency Division, NIST

Time Service Department, USNO

	A Walk through Time
	History of timekeeping from ancient to modern times. (at NIST)

	Calendars through the Ages
	Systems of counting the days, months, and years. (at webexhibits.org)

	Daylight Saving Time
	When and why do we change our clocks? (at webexhibits.org)

	ClockWorks
	Illustrated mechanisms of many historical clocks. (at Britannica)

	It's About Time
	Advances in timekeeping accuracy and atomic clocks. (at University of Wisconsin)

	The Quartz Watch
	What's inside your wristwatch? See stories and timeline. (at Smithsonian)

Disclaimer Note: Linking to these sites does not imply recommendation or
endorsement of the information or commercial products by NIST or USNO.

National Preparedness Month

2008-09-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

September is National Preparedness Month, which encourages Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and schools, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the observance features events and activities to encourage individuals to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses, and get involved in preparing their communities.

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. National Preparedness Month 2008 is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Ready Campaign. The goal of National Preparedness Month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks, and to encourage individuals to take action to prepare themselves and their families. Events and activities across the nation will encourage individuals to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses and get involved in preparing their communities.

For more information, please visit the National Preparedness Month's web page.

You may also wish to view information on local National Preparedness Month events.

Finally, general information on emergency preparedness and natural disasters can be found at the following links:

For more information, visit USA.gov.

To Be in America

I love POSH!

Hispanic Heritage Month 2009:

Sept. 15 – Oct. 15

Population

States and Counties

Businesses

Families and Children

Spanish Language

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

Education

Names

Jobs

Voting

Serving our Country

Grandparents Day 2009: Sept. 13

Ten Tips for Clean and Green Boating

National Online Travel Itineraries

2009 Hurricane Season Begins

Florida

Hurricanes Past

New Rules About Travel

Land and Sea Documents

Special Audiences / Issues

Traveling by Sea

Cruises

Ferries and Small Boats

Commercial / Charter Vessels

More About Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

All About Memorial Day

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis Motor Speedway100th Anniversary

How Times Have Changed

Indianapolis

Indiana

Recovery.gov

CDC and Swine Flu

Resources for New Immigrants

Top Ten Tips for Last Minute Filers

National Cherry Blossom Festival

About 2010 Census

March is Women’s History Month

About Women’s History Month

About This Year's Theme

2008 Tax Filing

To File or Not To File

Black (African-American) History Month: February 2009

Population

Serving Our Nation

Education

Businesses

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

Families and Children

Homeownership – the American Dream

Jobs

Consumer Action Handbook tips

All about the Superbowl

Super Bowl XLIII

Phoenix (Arizona Cardinals)

Pittsburgh (Steelers)

Tampa, Fla. (host city) and vicinity

Blogs from the U.S. Government

Active Government Blogs

Travel Safely from USA.gov

Air Travel

Domestic Travel

International Travel

Track Santa Via NORAD

Winter Holiday Hazards

The latest in Politics

NRF’s Top 10 Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping

Ship Your Packages

Get a T-Shirt for Change

Thanksgiving Day

Weighing in With a Menu of Culinary Delights

The Turkey Industry

The Price is Right

Where to Feast

the Plumb book.

Need a job? Check out the Plumb book.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
100th Anniversary

American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage
Month: November 2008