Facts for Features: Thanksgiving

From the US Census Bureau:

Thanksgiving Day: Nov. 28, 2013
150th Anniversary of Lincoln Proclamation

In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims, early settlers of Plymouth Colony, held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. The Wampanoag, the Indians in attendance, also played a lead role. Historians have recorded ceremonies of thanks among other groups of European settlers in North America, including British colonists in Virginia in 1619. The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived the centuries, as the event became a national holiday 150 years ago (Oct. 3, 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.

Where to Feast

115 million
Number of occupied housing units across the nation in second quarter 2013
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership, Table 8 http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html

4.4 million
Number of multigenerational households in the U.S. in 2012. These households, consisting of three or more generations, no doubt will have to purchase large quantities of food to accommodate all the family members sitting around the table for the holiday feast ─ even if there are no guests!
Source: 2012 American Community Survey, Table B11017

4
Number of places in the United States named after the holiday’s traditional main course. Turkey Creek, La., was the most populous in 2012, with 440 residents, followed by Turkey, Texas (415), Turkey, N.C. (295) and Turkey Creek, Ariz. (294). There are also two townships in Pennsylvania with “Turkey” in the name: Upper Turkeyfoot and Lower Turkeyfoot. (Please note that the Turkey Creek, Ariz., population total pertains to the 2010 Census).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates and American FactFinder, Table DP-1, 2010 Census Summary File 1
http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US0477415

7
Number of places and townships in the United States that are named Cranberry or some spelling variation of the acidic red 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 2012, with 28,832 residents. Cranberry township (Venango County), Pa., was next (6,608). (Please note that population totals for the two places on the list that are census designated places ─ Cranbury, N.J., with a population of 2,181, and Cranberry Lake, N.Y., with a population of 200 ─ pertain to 2010.)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates and 2010 Census Summary File 1 http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/index.html http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?fpt=table

32
Number of counties, places and townships in the United States named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the first Pilgrims***. The two counties, both named Plymouth, are in Massachusetts (2012 population of 499,759) and Iowa (24,907 in 2012).

***KJ Note: There is actually no historic documentation that this ever happened. The first written record that describes Plymouth rock is 121 years after the Pilgrims arrived in MA.

Plymouth, Minn., is the most populous place, with 72,928 residents in 2012; Plymouth, Mass., had 57,463 that year.

There are two places in the United States named Pilgrim: One, a township in Dade County, Mo., had a 2012 population of 127; the other, a census designated place in Michigan, had a 2010 population of 11. And then there is Mayflower, Ark., whose population was 2,312 in 2012, and Mayflower Village, Calif., whose population was 5,515 in 2010.

Note: Townships have been included in these counts from 12 states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin) where the primary governmental or administrative divisions of a county serve as general-purpose local governments that can perform the same governmental functions as incorporated places. These county subdivisons are known as minor civil divisions, and the Census Bureau presents data for these in all data products for which place data are provided.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Summary File 1 http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?fpt=table
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?fpt=table
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?fpt=table

2012 Population Estimates
Counties: http://www.census.gov/popest/data/counties/totals/2012/CO-EST2012-01.html
Cities and Towns: http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/index.html

Participants in the First Feast

25.3 million
Number of U.S. residents of English ancestry as of 2012. Some could very well be descendants of the Plymouth colonists who participated in the autumn feast that is widely believed to be one of the first Thanksgivings ─ especially the 684,000 living in Massachusetts.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey, Table B04003.

6,500
Number of members of the Wampanoag American Indian tribal grouping, as of 2010, roughly half of whom reside in Massachusetts. The Wampanoag, the American Indians in attendance, played a lead role in this historic encounter, and they had been essential to the survival of the colonists during the newcomers’ first year. The Wampanoag are a people who have occupied the region for thousands of years. They have their own government, their own religious and philosophical beliefs, their own knowledge system, and their own culture. They are also a people for whom giving thanks was a part of daily life. ***

*** KJ Note:  In addition to the Wampanoag, Massachusetts is home to dozens of other Native American groups who were directly impacted by English settlement. Many Native American groups in Massachusetts and elsewhere in New England are not federally recognized, but may be recognized at the state level. The fourth Thursday of November every year also is known as the National Day of Mourning by many Native American groups in New England who protest Thanksgiving. This day serves as a reminder of the thousands of people who were already living in New England when the Pilgrims arrived, and the loss of life that occurred as a direct result of English colonization of the area.

Sources: 2010 Census American Indian and Alaska Native Summary File, Table DP-1 www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb12-241.html; and
American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving, National Museum of the American Indian http://nmai.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/thanksgiving_poster.pdf.

Preparing the Feast … Enjoying the Day … and the Aftermath
98.6%
Percentage of households in 2011 with a gas or electric stove ─ essential for cooking their Thanksgiving feast. Another 96.8 percent had a microwave, also helpful in preparing the meal.
Source: Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States: 2011, Table 3 www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf

98.3%
Percentage of households with a television in 2011. No doubt, many guests either before, after, or perhaps even during the feast will settle in front of their TVs to watch some football.
Source: Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States: 2011, Table 3 www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf

35.8%
Percentage of households with a stand-alone food freezer in 2011, which they may want to use to preserve their Thanksgiving leftovers. Far more (99.2 percent) have a refrigerator. Once all the guests leave, it will be time to clean up. Fortunately, 69.3 percent have a dishwasher to make the task easier.
Source: Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States: 2011, Table 3 www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf

Culinary Delights
64,366
The number of supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores in the United States in 2011. These establishments are expected to be extremely busy around Thanksgiving, as people prepare for their delightful meals.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS Code 44511
http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/

3,889
The number of baked goods stores in the United States in 2011 – a potential place to visit to purchase refreshing desserts.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS Code 445291
http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/

2,918
The number of fruit and vegetable markets in the United States in 2011 – a great place to find holiday side dishes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS Code 445230
http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/

254 million
The number of turkeys raised in the United States in 2012. That is up 2 percent from the number raised during 2011.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/TurkRaisSu/TurkRaisSu-09-28-2012.pdf

46 million
The estimate of turkeys Minnesota raised in 2012. The Gopher State was tops in turkey production, followed by North Carolina (36 million), Arkansas (29 million), Missouri (18 million), Virginia (17 million), Indiana (17 million) and California (16 million). These seven states together accounted for about 70 percent of U.S. turkeys produced in 2012.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service,
http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/TurkRaisSu/TurkRaisSu-09-28-2012.pdf

$23.1 million
The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys for 2012, with 99.8 percent of them coming from Canada. When it comes to sweet potatoes, the Dominican Republic was the source of 51.1 percent ($4.6 million) of total imports ($9.1 million). The United States ran a $17.6 million trade deficit in live turkeys during the period but had a surplus of $71.2 million in sweet potatoes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/

768 million pounds
The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2012. Wisconsin was estimated to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 450 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (estimated at 210 million).

New Jersey, Oregon and Washington were also estimated to have substantial production, ranging from 14 to 54 million pounds.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service,
http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/Cran/Cran-08-14-2012.pdf

2.6 billion pounds
The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular Thanksgiving side dish — produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2012. North Carolina (1.2 billion pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state, followed by California, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu-01-11-2013.pdf

Connecticut GIS Day – Wed Nov 20th

Wednesday November 20th is Connecticut GIS Day! 

9am – 3pm with CT GIS User Meeting from 3:00 to 3:30

Connecticut Leglisative Office Building, Hartford, CT (see map)

More info can be found at the CT GIS User to User network site (http://ctgis.uconn.edu)

Schedule:
9:00 Map Gallery Viewing
9:20 Opening Remarks
9:30 GIS in Connecticut – Tyler Kleykamp
9:45 GIS in Rhode Island – Shane White
10:00 The UConn GIS Project – Christopher Renshaw and Tom Hine, UConn Fire Department
10:30 FDNY GIS Response to Hurricane Sandy – Steven Pollackov, NYFD
11:00 Keynote: WEAVE – Dr. Georges Grinstein
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Priceline GIS – Dave Taylor and Robert Higgins
1:30 ArcGIS for Water Utilities – Al Frauenfelder
2:00 Lightning Talks: New England Geosystems, Applied Geographics, Tighe & Bond
2:30 Certificate Award to the 2013 CT Geography Bee Winner
2:45 Closing Remarks
2:50 CT GIS User to User Meeting
3:30 After Conference Session at Local Restaurant

Facts for Features: Veterans Day

From the US Census Bureau:

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 honors 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.

Veterans

21.2 million
Number of military veterans in the United States in 2012.
Source: 2010-2012 American Community Survey http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/DP02/0100000US

1.6 million
Number of female veterans in the United States in 2012.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21001/0100000US

11.3%
Percent of black veterans in 2012. Additionally, 5.7 percent were Hispanic; 1.3 percent were Asian; 0.8 percent were American Indian or Alaska Native; 0.2 percent were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and 79.6 percent 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: 2012 American Community Survey http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S2101

9.6 million
Number of veterans 65 and older in 2012. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.8 million were younger than 35.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21001/0100000US

When They Served

7.4 million
Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2012. Moreover, there were 5.4 million who served during the Gulf Wars (representing service from August 1990 to present); 1.6 million who served in World War II (1941-1945); 2.3 million who served in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 5.3 million who served in peacetime only.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21002

54,117
Number of living veterans in 2012 who served during the Vietnam era and both Gulf War eras and no other period. Other living veterans in 2012 who served during three wars: The number who served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam era, 50,004, was not statistically different than the number who served during the Vietnam era and both Gulf War eras.

Living veterans in 2012 who served during two wars and no other period:

933,315 served during both Gulf War eras.
307,376 served during both Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001) and Vietnam era.
209,183 served during both the Korean War and the Vietnam era.
113,269 served during both World War II and the Korean War.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21002

Where They Live

3
Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2012. These states were California
(1.9 million), Texas (1.6 million) and Florida (1.6 million).
Source: 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/S2101/0100000US.04000

13.6%
Percent of people 18 years and older in Alaska who were veterans in 2012; this is the highest percentage of veterans of any state. Montana followed with 12.7 percent.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/R2101.US01PRF

Education

26.7%
Percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree in 2012. In comparison,
29.1 percent of the total population had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21003

29.2%
Percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma in 2012, compared with the 28.0 percent of the population as a whole.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21003

Income

$36,264
Annual median income of veterans in 2012, compared with $26,278 for the population as a whole.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/05_EST/B21004

On the Job

8.7 million
Number of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2012.
Source: 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/C21005

Service Connected Disabilities

3.6 million
Number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating in 2012. Of this number, 881,981 had a rating of 70 percent or higher. A “service-connected” disability is one that was a result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Severity of one’s disability is scaled from 0 to 100 percent, and eligibility for compensation depends on one’s rating.

Voting

14.7 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2012 presidential election. Seventy percent of veterans cast a ballot in the presidential election.
Source: Table 13. Reported Voting and Registration, by Sex, Veteran Status, and Age: November 2012
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/publications/p20/2012/tables.html

12.4 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2010 congressional election. Fifty-seven percent of veterans voted in the 2010 congressional election.
Source: Table 13. Reported Voting and Registration, by Sex, Veteran Status, and Age: November 2010
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/publications/p20/2010/tables.html

Webinars from the US Census Bureau

The US Census Bureau has provided information about upcoming free webinars. Users can

CensusBureauview more details about each webinar, including passcodes and links to the webinars, at this website: http://www.census.gov/mso/www/training/

Nov 07    Foreign Trade Regulations Town Hall Webinar

Description: These in-depth webinars provide the information necessary to understand the changes to the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR). Come learn about what has changed and how that change will affect you. Best of all, the webinars are free. These webinars will focus on changes in reporting requirements, new fields added to the Automated Export System (License Value and Ultimate Consignee Type), changes in definitions, such as port of export and household goods and much more.

Format: Webinar
Time: 2pm – 3pm ET

Nov 13    How to Navigate American FactFinder

Description: Gain experience in using the American FactFinder data access tool. Learn how to use the search and navigation features to access some of the Census Bureau’s programs, datasets and topics.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm – 3pm ET

Nov 19    Accessing Employment Statistics Using “OnTheMap”

Description: Uncover a wealth of information available on U.S. workers in an overview of this online mapping and reporting application. See where they are employed and where they live with companion reports on worker characteristics and optional filtering by age, earnings, or industry groups.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1pm -3pm ET

Dec 10    Accessing Block Group Data with the American Community Survey Summary File

Description: The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing survey that generates estimates on social, economic, housing, and demographic topics. Data users can access these estimates down to the block group level of geography through the ACS Summary File. This presentation will cover background information about the ACS, an explanation of the ACS Summary File, and a demonstration of accessing block group data using the ACS Summary File.

Format: Webinar
Time: 1:00-2:30pm ET

Dec 12    Foreign Trade Regulations Town Hall Webinar

Description: These in-depth webinars provide the information necessary to understand the changes to the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR). Come learn about what has changed and how that change will affect you. Best of all, the webinars are free. These webinars will focus on changes in reporting requirements, new fields added to the Automated Export System (License Value and Ultimate Consignee Type), changes in definitions, such as port of export and household goods and much more.

Format: Webinar
Time: 2pm – 3pm ET