Archive for the ‘Fast Facts’ Category
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Once again, the U.S. Census is online with another useful compilation of facts that include direct links to the sources where the facts are found. This time we’re posting a “Fact for Features” about Veterans Day which will take place next Wednesday.
Access the Complete Document
Here is just a small portion of what you’ll find:
+ 23.2 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2008. Source: Table 508, Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010
+ 9.2 million
The number of veterans 65 and older in 2008. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.9 million were younger than 35
+ 5
Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2008. These states were California (2.1 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas (1.7 million), New York (1 million) and Pennsylvania (1 million).
+ 10.4 million
Number of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2008.
+ 15.8 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2008 presidential election. Seventy-one percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 63 percent of nonveterans.
+ 2.9 million
Number of veterans who received compensation for service-connected disabilities as of 2008. Their compensation totaled $36.2 billion.
Access the Complete Document
Source: U.S. Census
Posted in Fast Facts, Government Documents and Political Information, History, Resources | No Comments »
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
Resource of the Week: Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States
By Kirin K. Kalia, Editor, Migration Information Source, Migration Policy Institute
Our just-published article, Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States, covers everything from Mexican immigrants to health-care coverage to government budgets and backlogs. A few interesting numbers:
- Of the 46.9 million people in 2008 who identified themselves as having Hispanic or Latino ancestry, nearly two-thirds (62.0 percent) were native-born US citizens. The remaining 38.0 percent were immigrants.
- Immigrants, who in 2008 made up 12.5 percent of the US population, accounted for 29 percent of the 46.6 million working-age adults and children under 18 with no health insurance in 2008.
- According to a Mexican survey, 14.2 percent of Mexican migrants who headed toward the United States in 2008 came from the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.
- Funding for the US Border Patrol increased 519 percent between 1986 and 2002, from $268 million to $1.6 billion. The Border Patrol budget was more than $3.5 billion in 2008, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
- In 2008, there were about 16.3 million children age 17 and under with at least one immigrant parent. They accounted for 23.2 percent of the 70 million children age 17 and under in the United States.
This article is available on the Migration Information Source, an online journal of the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C. that studies immigration issues, trends, and policies in the United States and around the world. The MPI Data Hub provides instant access to the latest immigration statistics, maps, and numbers for the United States and other countries. For US state-level immigration data, see the ACS and Census Data Tool.
Also, if this is a subject area of interest to you, be sure to sign up for the free twice-monthly Migration Information Source email newsletter, which offers interesting, smartly packaged articles and data on immigration-related developments in the United States and around the world.
Posted in Fast Facts, Reference Tools, Resource of the Week, Source File, Statistics | No Comments »
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Saving Time, Saving Energy
Spring forward…Fall back….
It’s ingrained in our consciousness almost as much as the A-B-Cs or our spelling reminder of “i before e….” And it’s a regular event, though perhaps a bit less regular than the swallows coming back to Capistrano.
Yet in those four words is a whole collection of trivia, facts and common sense about Daylight Saving Time.
In 2005 and 2006, Daylight Saving Time begins for most of the United States at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April. Time reverts to standard time at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October.
Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time is extended one month and begins for most of the United States at:
2 a.m. on the Second Sunday in March
to
2 a.m. on the First Sunday of November.
The new start and stop dates were set in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Everything you ever wanted to know about daylight savings time.
Source: NationalAtlas.gov
Posted in Calendars and Special Events, Fast Facts, Government Documents and Political Information, Reference Tools, Source File | No Comments »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
Another in the always useful and interesting “Fact for Features” series from the U.S. Census. This time around a look at statistics related to Halloween. Here’s just a taste of what you’ll find along with direct link to the sources where the statistic came from.
+ 36 million
The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2008 — children 5 to 13 — across the United States. This number is up about 65,000 from a year earlier. Of course, many other children — older than 13, and younger than 5 — also go trick-or-treating
+ 1.1 billion pounds
Total production of pumpkins by major pumpkin-producing states in 2008. Illinois led the country by producing 496 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. Pumpkin patches in California, Pennsylvania 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 $141 million.
+ 23.8 pounds
Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2008.
+ and Much More
Source: U.S. Census
Posted in Fast Facts, Government Documents and Political Information, Resources, Statistics | No Comments »
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
What Is a City? What Is Urbanization?
In 2008, the United Nations announced that 50 percent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, a milestone in demographic history. News reports on the subject frequently rephrased this development slightly to say that half of the global population now lives in “cities” and illustrated articles with photos of Mumbai, Shanghai, or New York. These cities are what the UN terms “mega-cities,” urban areas of 10 million people or more. The distinct impression was created that a majority of people lived in very large cities. However, only about 5 percent of world population lives in the largest cities or, more properly, metropolitan areas. The fact that over half of the world’s population live in places termed urban is a notable development, to be sure. But, at the same time, it is useful and important to know just how the term “urban” is defined.
In most countries, a large part the urban population actually lives in relatively small towns and villages. The urban population may also be thought of more as nonagricultural than urban in the way those in industrialized countries would naturally tend to perceive it. In its most recent urbanization estimates and projections, the UN Population Division recognized that when urbanization is discussed, “the focus is often on large cities, cities whose populations are larger than many countries.” The table below gives examples of how countries themselves define urban. The great variation in the urban definition and the size of places deemed urban is readily apparent (see table).
Source: Population Reference Bureau
Posted in Fast Facts, Source File | No Comments »
Monday, October 19th, 2009
What Did the Nobel Laureates Read When They were Young?
In their autobiographies, Nobel Laureates reveal their reading habits: how they got started, who spurred them to read on, and where they spent their time losing themselves between the pages of a book. Find out and compare with your own experience, or simply get inspired!
Source: Nobelprize.org
Posted in Bibliographies, Webliographies, Fast Facts, Search News | No Comments »
Monday, October 19th, 2009
Updated Demographic Profiles of U.S. Hispanics by Country of Origin
The Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, today released five additional demographic profiles of Hispanic populations in the United States by country of origin: Guatemalan, Colombian, Honduran, Ecuadorian and Peruvian.These five follow the release earlier this year of demographic profiles for the five largest Hispanic populations: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran, and Dominican.
More than six-in-ten Hispanics in the U.S. self-identify as being of Mexican origin. Nine of the other 10 largest Hispanic origin groups — Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran, Dominican, Guatemalan, Colombian, Honduran, Ecuadorian and Peruvian — account for about a third of the U.S. Hispanic population. There are differences across these 10 population groups in the share of each that is foreign born, citizen (by birth or naturalization), and proficient in English. They are also of varying age, tend to live in different areas within the U.S, and have varying levels of education, homeownership rates, and poverty rates.
These profiles of the 10 largest Hispanic populations in the U.S. describe the employment and income characteristics of each group. Characteristics of each group are also contrasted with the characteristics of all Hispanics and with the U.S. population overall. The profiles are based on the Center’s tabulations of the Census Bureau’s 2007 American Community Survey (ACS).
Source: Pew Hispanic Center
Posted in Fast Facts, Source File, Statistics | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
Spread the Word, Not the Flu
Know someone without access to a computer? Share an office with lots of coworkers? Spend time at a library or community center? Or simply want to keep your friends and family members informed? Print this flu information and share it!
New materials on Flu.gov provide information on how you can stay healthy this flu season and help others do the same. With so much information online and in the news about H1N1 and seasonal flu, it’s easy to be confused. These new one-page information sheets are personalized for people with different needs and provide simple tips that everyone needs to know this flu season.
Fact sheets in PDF.
Source: White House Blog
Posted in Fast Facts, Government Documents and Political Information, Source File | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
OMB Issues 2010 Release Date Schedule for Principal Federal Economic Indicators
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued today the Schedule of Release Dates for Principal Federal Economic Indicators for 2010. The schedule is available online.
Principal Federal economic indicators are the major statistical series that describe the current condition of the economy. They are compiled, released, and periodically evaluated in accordance with procedures established in OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 3.
- Each agency that issues these economic indicators has provided OMB with its schedule of releases for the upcoming calendar year.
- If special, unforeseen circumstances make it necessary to change any scheduled release date after this consolidated schedule is issued, the agency must announce and explain the change as soon as it is known.
- Also, each release of a principal economic indicator will include an announcement of the date and time of the next release. The last release in the calendar year will provide a schedule for the next calendar year.
+ Schedule of Release Dates for Principal Federal Economic Indicators for 2010 (PDF; 51 KB)
Source: U.S. Office of Management and Budget
Posted in Business and Economics, Calendars and Special Events, Fast Facts, Government Documents and Political Information, Reference Tools, Source File | No Comments »
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
From the nielsenwire:
The Nielsen Company today reported overall online video usage and top online brands ranked by video streams for August 2009. Year-over-year, unique viewers, total streams, streams per viewer and time per viewer were up, led by a 41 percent growth in total streams.
Top Online Brands ranked by Video Streams for August 2009 (U.S.)
1) YouTube
2) Hulu
3) Yahoo
4) MSN/WindowsLive/Bing
5) Nickelodeon Kids and Family Network
6) Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
7) Fox Interactive Media
Disney Online
9) MTV Networks Music
10) Blinkx
A chart for unique viewers by online brand is also included.
Source: nielsenwire
Posted in Fast Facts, Media, Statistics | No Comments »
Sunday, September 13th, 2009
Another resource from the wonderful “Facts for Features” series from the U.S. Census.
This fact sheet highlights facts about Hispanic population in the United States.
From the Fact Sheet:
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. [Our emphasis] 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.
Here are just a few of the statistics (with sources) found on the page:
+ 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.
+ 27.7 years
Median age of the Hispanic population in 2008. This compared with 36.8 years for the population as a whole
+ 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.
+ 1.6 million
The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002.
(more…)
Posted in Fast Facts, Resources | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
The U.S. Census is out with their “Back to School 2009-2010″ Fact Sheet.
It’s loaded down with interesting statistics (with links to original sources) that might be of interest. Here’s a few stats to serve as examples:
+ $7.6 billion
The amount of money spent at family clothing stores in August 2008. Only in December were sales significantly higher. Similarly, sales at bookstores in August 2008 totaled $2.4 billion, an amount approached in 2008 only by sales in January.
+ 55%
Percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in school in October 2007.
+ 56 million
The projected number of students to be enrolled in the nation’s elementary through high schools (grades K-12) this fall.
+ 19 million
The projected number of students enrolled in the nation’s colleges and universities this fall. This is up from 13.5 million 20 years ago.
+ 98,793
Number of public schools in 2006-07. In 2007-08, there were 28,218 private schools.
Again, much much more on the fact sheet. It’s accessible here.
Source: U.S. Census
Posted in Education, Fast Facts, Source File | No Comments »
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Another in the amazing collection of “facts for features” collection from the U.S. Census.
Like all of these documents, they are loaded down with quick facts (and their sources) about the special day or event. Here’s just a taste of what you’ll find in the Grandparent’s Day document:
+ 6.2 million
The number of grandparents whose grandchildren younger than 18 lived with them in 2007.
+ 732,000
Number of grandparents with a disability who were caring for their grandchildren.
+ 2.6 million
The number of children who lived with both a grandmother and a grandfather in 2008.
Source: U.S. Census
Posted in Fast Facts, Resources | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
Animal Emergency and Disaster Planning Information
Companion Animals
Pets, information for pet owners; Disaster preparedness; Animal safety; Dog and cat CPR; Pet poison prevention; and more.
Farm Animals
Farm animal rescue; Disaster preparedness for livestock including horses; Animal health. Accidents and livestock; Poisonous plants database; Carcass disposal; and more.
Research Animals
Disaster planning for animal facilities; and more.
Zoo, Circus and Marine Animals
Disaster planning; Training modules; Guidelines for police officers responding to animal incidents; Poison and pesticide information; and more.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Laboratory
Posted in Databases, Directories, and Guides, Fast Facts, Source File | No Comments »
Monday, August 31st, 2009
Facts for Features: Halloween
The observance of Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts, devils and hobgoblins. Over the years, Halloween customs and rituals have changed dramatically. Today, many of the young and young at heart take a more light-spirited approach. They don scary disguises or ones that may bring on smiles when they go door to door for treats, or attend or host a Halloween party.
Source: U.S Census Bureau
Posted in Fast Facts, Source File | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
The Top 10 List for 2008 is out. #1 for a girl is Emma. #1 for a boy is Jacob.
The Top 10 for both boy and girls are available.
Also Available: Databases
+ Popular Names by Birth Year
+ Popularity of a Name
See how the popularity of a name has changed over time!
Other Lists:
+ Change in popularity
+ Popular names by State
+ Popular names by decade
+ Popular names of twins
+ Top 5 names over the last 100 years
Source: Social Security Administration
Posted in Databases, Directories, and Guides, Fast Facts, Lists and Rankings | No Comments »
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
Free Press Exposes Astroturf Groups
Today, Free Press launched an online interactive tool to expose phony grassroots groups hired by big phone and cable companies to advance their political agenda. These “astroturf” organizations — many of which also work for the health insurance, energy and tobacco industries — are mobilizing to spread misinformation about Network Neutrality and Internet policies.
Free Press’ new tool — available at www.freepress.net/astroturf and easily posted on any blog or Web site — tracks the huge amounts of money that phone and cable companies spend on lobbyists and campaign contributions; it reveals the contradictory and dishonest claims about Net Neutrality and other issues from top industry executives; and it puts a spotlight on the deceptive activities of groups like FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, NetCompetition and the Heartland Institute.
“The fake grassroots groups are spending major resources to deceive the public and promote agendas of the corporations that sign their paychecks,” said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press. “We need transparency, accountability and honest debate. The crucial policy decisions being made right now about the future of the Internet must be based on independent research, reliable data and facts. The phone and cable companies must stop distorting the issues and hiding behind their astroturf groups, sock puppets and hired shills.”
Source: Free Press
Posted in Fast Facts, Government Documents and Political Information, New Websites and Resources, Source File | No Comments »
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
What the College Rankings Won’t Tell You
How much will it cost? How is it ranked? And how hard is it to get in? Many college guides and rankings answer these questions. But there is one question that none of them even ask: What will students learn?
A new, free website for parents and students, WhatWillTheyLearn.com, does just that.
Launched today by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, WhatWillTheyLearn.com will be featured in a full-page ad in U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 college rankings, which are released tomorrow. The website evaluates colleges and universities based on their general education curricula: the core courses aimed at providing a strong foundation of knowledge.
WhatWillTheyLearn.com assigns each institution a grade from “A” to “F” based on how many of the following seven core subjects it requires: Composition, Mathematics, Science, Economics, Foreign Language, Literature, and American Government or History. Only a handful get A’s.
Note: Includes just 100 colleges and universities.
Source: American Council of Trustees and Alumni
Posted in Databases, Directories, and Guides, Education, Fast Facts, New Websites and Resources, Source File | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
From the Web Page:
The United States government, unlike Canada and many Western European countries, does not have legislation mandating universal health care coverage to its citizens. While the elderly, persons with disabilities, veterans, military service families and the poor are often eligible for government health care assistance, health insurance is often obtained through the work place. In a few instances, states have attempted to pass their own laws to provide health care to cover all residents or all uninsured residents. Four states–Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont–provide examples of differing legislative approaches to providing such broad based care.
Each state in the report from the Law Library of Congress covers background information, coverage, employer contributions, individual contributions, benefits assistance, and possible exemptions.
Source: Law Library of Congress
Posted in Business and Economics, Databases, Directories, and Guides, Fast Facts, Government Documents and Political Information | No Comments »
