300 Million

Everyone is making a big deal of the fact the 300 millionth American was born or snuck over the border this morning. It's worth mentioning that the country has crossed that population barrier, but trying to find the baby and calling him or her #300 million is ridiculous. The estimates are based on averages, which cannot be extrapolated to pinpoint a moment or person. Regardless, there are some interesting population related stats:

-According to the Census Bureau, there is one birth in the United States every seven seconds and one death every 13 seconds.

-In 1915, immigrant citizens came mostly from Germany; in 1967 from Italy; and in 2006 mostly from Mexico

-Average US family had 4.5 people in 1915, 3.3 in 1967 and 2.6 in 2006.

-Some 45.9% of Americans were property owners in 1915. That grew to 63.6% in 1967 and reached 68.9% in 2006

-There were 4.5 million people aged 65 and older in 1915, or 4.5%; 19.1 million in 1967 (9.5%) and 36.8 million in 2006 (12.4%)

-Life expectancy was 54.5 years in 1915, 70.5 years in 1967 and 77.8 years in 2006

-About 23% of women were in the work force in 1915, compared to 41% in 1967 and 58% in 2006

-There were 2.5 million cars in 1915, 98.9 million in 1967 and 237.2 million in 2006

-John and Mary topped the list of most popular names in 1915; Michael and Lisa were favourites in 1967; and Jacob and Emily were preferred in 2006.

-The population grows by one international immigrant every 31 seconds.

-Population grows by one person every 11 seconds.

-Density 84 people per square mile in the United States

-U.S. population is expected to top 400 million in 2043.

-When the U.S. population officially hit 200 million in 1967, President Johnson held a news conference at the Commerce Department to hail America’s past and to talk about the challenges ahead.