Ring in the New Year with Facts for Features

According to the Census Bureau's Population Estimates, the United States projected population will be more than 315 million.  We'll definitely need a few extra glasses!  Enjoy these and other Facts for Features & Special Editions at the U.S. Census website. Happy New Year from the Journalism Library! Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2008/summarytables.html>. […]

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Cinco de Mayo Facts for Features

Did you know: $31.8 million = the number of U.S. residents of Mexican origin, according to the 2010 Census. These residents accounted for about three-quarters (63 percent) of the 50.5 million Hispanics and increased 54 percent, growing from 20.6 million in 2000 to 31.8 million in 2010. (The Hispanic Population: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf>) $39,264 = median […]

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Social Explorer for Historical Maps

Looking for historical U.S. Census maps?  Try Social Explorer – a database product that helps to visually analyze and understand the demographics of the United States through the use of interactive maps and data reports.  Explore thousands of historical data maps, from the first US Census in 1790 to the present. Census – Population Density, […]

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Back to School Stats

Did you know: the average number of children participating each month in the National School Lunch Program in 2009 was 31.3 million?  the number of classroom computers in the nation’s schools in 2005-2006 was 14.2 million (or one computer for every four students)?   the per-pupil expenditure on public elementary and secondary education nationally in 2009 […]

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Black Friday

In honor of the arrival of Black Friday, here’s a few interesting facts about the wonderful world of holiday shopping: U.S. department stores hauled in $27.4 billion in December 2009, representing a 45 percent increase from the previous month. No other 2009 month-to-month increase in department store sales was greater. Fourteen percent of all department […]

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It’s Turkey Time

Did you know that Minnesota expects to raise about 47 million turkeys in 2010? That’s tops in the nation, followed by North Carolina (31.0 million), Arkansas (28.0 million), Missouri (17.5 million), Indiana (16.0 million) and Virginia (15.5 million). Those six states together will probably account for two-thirds of all the U.S. turkeys produced in 2010. […]

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Statistical Abstract of the United States

The Statistical Abstract has been published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census since 1878 and is an excellent first stop for many statistical needs, since it covers a wide variety of topics and compiles data from government as well as non-governmental sources (including trade associations).  The Statistical Abstract has PDFs and Excel spreadsheets for […]

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