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Black
(African-American) History Month:
February 2010
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
41.1 million
As
of July 1, 2008, 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 a
half-million residents from one year earlier.
Source: Population
estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013733.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, 2008, of at least 1 million. New York,
with 3.5 million, led the way. The other 17 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/013734.html>
38%
Percentage of
Mississippi’s population that was black in 2008, highest of any state. Blacks
also made up more than a quarter of the population in Louisiana in 2008 (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/013734.html>
67,000
The increase in Georgia’s
black population between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, which led all states.
Texas (64,000), North Carolina (45,000) and Florida (41,000) also recorded
large increases. Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
24
Number of states or
equivalents in which blacks were the largest minority group in 2008. These
included 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/013734.html>
1.4 million
The number of blacks in
Cook County, Ill., as of July 1, 2008, 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, 2007, and July 1,
2008 (16,400).
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
Among counties with total populations of at
least 10,000, Claiborne County, Miss., had the largest percent of population
that was black (84.4 percent). Claiborne led 77 majority-black counties or
equivalents, all of which were in the South. Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013734.html>
30%
The proportion of the
black population younger than 18 as of July 1, 2008. 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/013733.html>
Note: Unless otherwise noted, the estimates
in this section refer to the population that was either single-race black or
black in combination with one or more other races.
Serving
Our Nation
2.3 million
Number of single-race
black military veterans in the United States in 2008. More military veterans
are black than any other minority group.
Source: 2008 American Community
Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Education
83%
Among blacks 25 and
older, the proportion who had at least a high school diploma in 2008.
Source:
Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>
20%
Percentage of blacks 25
and older who had 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>
1.4 million
Among blacks 25 and
older, the number who had an advanced degree in 2008 (e.g., master’s,
doctorate, medical or law). In 1998, 857,000 blacks had this level of
education. Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/013618.html>
2.5 million
Number of black college
students in fall 2008. This was roughly double the corresponding number from 15
years earlier.
Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics
of Students: October 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/014354.html>
Voting
About 2.1 million
The
increase in the number of black voters between the 2004 and 2008 presidential
elections, to 16.1 million. The total number of voters rose by 5.4 million, to
131.1 million. Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/013995.html>
55%
Turnout rate in the 2008
presidential election for the 18- to 24-year-old citizen black population, an 8
percent increase from 2004. Blacks had the highest turnout rate in this age
group. Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/013995.html>
65%
Turnout rate among black
citizens in the 2008 presidential election, up about 5 percentage points from
2004. Looking at voter turnout by race and Hispanic origin, non-Hispanic whites
and blacks had the highest turnout levels. Source: Voting and Registration in
the Election of 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/013995.html>
Income,
Poverty and Health Insurance
$34,218
The annual median income
of single-race black households in 2008, a decline of 2.8 percent (in 2008
constant dollars) from 2007. Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance
Coverage in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/014227.html>
24.7%
Poverty rate in 2008 for
single-race blacks, statistically unchanged from 2007.
Source: Income, Poverty,
and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/014227.html>
19.1%
The percentage of
single-race blacks lacking health insurance in 2008, not statistically
different from 2007. Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in
the United States: 2008
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/014227.html>
Families
and Children
63%
Among households with a
single-race black householder, the percentage that contained a family. There
were 8.5 million black family households.
Source: 2008 American Community
Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
44%
Among families with
single-race black householders, the percentage that were married couples.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
1.2 million
Number of single-race
black grandparents who lived with their own grandchildren younger than 18. Of
this number, 50 percent were also responsible for their care.
Source: 2008
American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Homeownership
– the American Dream
46%
Nationally, the
percentage of households with a householder who was single-race black who lived
in owner-occupied homes.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Jobs
27%
The percentage of
single-race blacks 16 and older who worked in management, professional and
related occupations.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
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>
[PDF]
Note: The 2007 Preliminary Estimates of
Business Ownership by Gender, Ethnicity, and Race will be available in July
2010 and the more detailed 2007 Black-Owned Businesses report will be published
in February 2011.
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series
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>.
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