When was the last time you sat down with a five volume reference set and had trouble tearing yourself away? That’s exactly what will happen if you open even one volume of the new Historical Statistics of the United States. Browsing is a joy and the index is excellent. As Newsweek states “Many ordinary students and scavengers of facts, not just academics, should be able to tap this treasure of figures.” Kirkus calls it “a numerical atlas of the American past.”
Here is a sampling of the fascinating wealth of data:
37% of nonfarm homes were owner-occupied in 1890 but fewer than 1/3 of them were mortgaged. By 1990, 65% were owner-occupied and 2/3 were financed by mortgages.
Voter turnout in the presidential election of 1876 was 82.9%. In 1996 it was 52.1%.
The number of people under 18 who have asthma almost doubled between 1982 and 1995.
The average annual temperature in Central Park in 1895 was 53.1; in 1998 it was 57.2. But annual precipitation in 1895 was 35.37 inches and in 1998 it was 48.69 inches.
It is estimated that between the time of Native Americans’ first contact with Europeans and 1900, their numbers were reduced by 2/3 and over 100 distinct tribes disappeared entirely. All 969 hostile engagement with Indians from 1866-1891 are detailed including casualty figures for both sides. How these statistics were gathered is explained in fascinating detail in the essay which precedes the tables.
Shameful as these statistics are, they are matched by the section on slavery which also has an incredibly interesting introductory essay. Just prior to the Southern secession before the Civil War, the price for a “prime field hand” had reached an all time high of $1500. In 1820 there were 16,824 African Americans living in New Jersey. 12,422 of them were slaves. In 1860, Virginia had the most slaves at 490,865, followed closely by Georgia at 462,198.
The dates, places and names of every battle campaign in every war ever fought by the army, navy, air force and army air force from 1775-1995 are listed.
So, come on up to the second floor, grab a volume or two, sink into one of our easy chairs, and lose yourself in the numbers of America’s past.
(Submitted by Jane Brown, Manager, Reference and Adult Services)