U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for May 14

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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TUESDAY, MAY 14: YOUNG READERS

Profile America — Tuesday, May 14th.  This week is the 94th annual Children's Book Week —encouraging the joy of reading for young people.  The idea began in 1913 with a drive by the librarian of the Boy Scouts, Franklin Matthiews, to promote higher standards in children's books.  He got two other key people to join him –- the editor of Publisher's Weekly and the head of children's works at the New York Public Library.  Children's Book Week began in 1919, and over the years, its efforts have helped to find and promote high quality children's books.  In today's world, there are many alternatives vying for children's attention — computers, electronic books, DVDs and video games.  But sales of printed books for youngsters still top $2.5 billion worth each year.  Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  www.bookweekonline.com
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1134

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for May 12

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SUNDAY MAY 12: WHAT GOES AROUND

Profile America — Sunday, May 12th.  It seems like a simple device, really — that a row of numbers on the speedometer that measures how far your car has traveled since it was new, or how many miles you've covered on a trip.  Called an odometer, it was used for the first time on this date in 1847 by a Mormon pioneer named William Clayton, who was crossing the plains in a covered wagon.  Up until his invention, elapsed miles were calculated by tediously counting the revolutions of a rag tied to the spoke of one of the wagon's wheels.  Today, most of us regularly drive a lot of miles.  Smaller cars, light trucks, vans and SUVs average nearly 10,500 miles annually.  Larger vehicles cover more than 15,000 miles a year.  Trucks drive about 26,000 miles on average each year.  You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1101

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for May 11

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SATURDAY, MAY 11: MOTHER'S DAY

Profile America — Saturday, May 11th.  Tomorrow is Mother's Day — one of the nation's most revered national observances, with meaning beyond flowers, cards and brunches.  The idea started in 1908 with Anna Jarvis of West Virginia, to honor her deceased mother — who had hoped that there would come a day to commemorate all mothers.  By 1911, every state observed Mother's Day, and in 1914, Congress made it a national event.  There are an estimated 85.4 million mothers across the U.S.  In recent years about 4 million babies are delivered of women between ages 15 and 50.  The average age of women giving birth for the first time is just over 25.  You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at www.census.gov.

Sources:  U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB13-FF.11

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for May 6

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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MONDAY, MAY 6: CAREGIVING

Profile America — Monday, May 6th.  This is National Nurses Day — kicking off a week honoring the outstanding efforts of nurses in helping to keep Americans healthy.  The observance ends next Saturday, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who established the world's first nursing school in England in the 19th century.  In the U.S., there were some 12,000 registered nurses by 1900.  Today, that figure is over 2.6 million.  As their numbers have grown, so have nurses' responsibilities, keeping up with increasingly complex medical technology.  They not only work in the nation's nearly 6,500 hospitals but are on duty in more than 76,000 nursing homes and residential care facilities across the country.  You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Bureau of Labor Statistics 
               Historical Statistics of the United States:  Colonial Times to 1970, p. 140 
               2007 Economic Census, NAICS 622110 
               2007 Economic Census, NAICS 623

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for May 5

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SUNDAY, MAY 5: CINCO DE MAYO

Profile America — Sunday, May 5th.  In Spanish, today's date is Cinco de Mayo, and celebrations will be held in many cities across the U.S., as well as Mexico.  These events mark the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when outnumbered Mexican troops defeated the invading French forces of Napoleon III.  Over the years, the celebration has evolved from one of military victory to a colorful and vibrant event, celebrating Mexican culture.  Appropriately, this is also National Salsa Month.  There are almost 34 million people of Mexican descent in the U.S., some 10 percent of the total population. Some 20.6 million of these live in either California or Texas.  You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB13-FF.12

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for April 28

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SUNDAY, APRIL 28: BALTIMORE WOES

Profile America — Sunday, April 28th.  The agony of defeat became particularly acute on this date a quarter century ago, when the American League's Baltimore Orioles lost to the Minnesota Twins, 4-2. The loss was the 21st straight defeat for the Orioles, and set a most unwelcome league record for consecutive losses. Baltimore ended the string the next day by beating the Chicago White Sox, 9-0.  They won only 53 more games that season but the timely win over Chicago helped the franchise avoid the all-time record for consecutive losses.  That streak of 23 belongs to the national league's Philadelphia Phillies in 1961. There are 814 professional sports teams and clubs in the U.S., 272 of them are baseball squads. Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  2007 Economic Census, NAICS 711211

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for April 27

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SATURDAY, APRIL 27:  THE MIGHTY MOUSE

Profile America — Saturday, April 27th.  For many years, the word "mouse" commonly evoked thoughts of Mickey.  But that association began to be eclipsed on this date in 1981, when the Xerox Corporation, then a major developer, introduced the mouse to the commercial computing world. Its 80-10 information system — with the mouse — didn't catch on, mostly because it cost $20,000.  But the mouse itself roared elsewhere in the computer industry, and is still holding its own.  Today, there are 425 domestic computer manufacturers in the country, along with almost 1,300 establishments making peripheral equipment and items.  Together, their products are valued at nearly $110 billion.  You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at www.census.gov.

Sources:  2007 Economic Census, NAICS 334111 
               www.wired.com

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for April 26

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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FRIDAY, APRIL 26: CAR CARE

Profile America — Friday, April 26th.  Everyone knows that a clean car seems to run better —possibly because someone who cares what their car looks like also tends to its mechanical needs.  April is one of two National Car Care months this year, the other is in October.  This month was chosen to make sure the ravages of winter have not compromised the safety of your car — and October is to look your car over so it's ready for next winter.  The goal is to make drivers more aware of keeping their cars in good running order for both safety and better mileage.  Across the U.S., there are over 165,000 auto repair shops, whose 877,000 employees help keep your car or truck on the road.  You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Car Care Council
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 8111

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for April 7

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SUNDAY, APRIL 7: BEER IS BACK

Profile America — Sunday, April 7th.  The years of Prohibition, from 1920 to 1933, were considered a noble experiment that failed, as the subsequent crime associated with bootlegging caused problems worse than the lone problem of drunkenness.  The crumbling of the unpopular Volstead Act accelerated on this date in 1933 when Congress amended the act to permit beer of 3.2 percent alcohol to be brewed and sold.  The beer permitted earlier under Prohibition contained only .05 percent.  Called "near beer," and much disdained, one humorist declared that whoever named it was a poor judge of distance.  Today, there are nearly 44,000 beer, wine and liquor stores in the U.S., with sales of over $38 billion.  Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  www.beerhistory.com
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 445310

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 29

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29: MOM AND POP BUSINESSES

Profile America — Friday, March 29th.  While openings of a major department store or a branch of a big-box chain are often welcomed by shoppers and communities, they are also the cause of some concern.  Small local businesses face greater competition, yet those small businesses are an outsized engine of economic growth.  Additionally, they are important distinguishing features in local communities.  That's why today is Mom and Pop Business Owners Day.  There are about 27.1 million business firms in the U.S., but over 21 million of them are without paid employees.  The census will contact some 1.75 million enterprises starting in a few months as part of the periodic survey of business owners, a large percentage of them in the "mom and pop" category.  Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Business Owners
U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2007 Survey of Business Owners

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 28

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, MARCH 28: THREE MILE ISLAND

Profile America — Thursday, March 28th.  One of the most frightening industrial accidents in the U.S. occurred on this date in 1979 at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant on the Susquehanna River, south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  A cascade of alarms and emergency responses started when someone mistakenly cross connected air and water lines in the plant's number two reactor.  The plant reportedly came close to a hydrogen gas explosion and a meltdown of its uranium core, which would have caused extensive radiation contamination.  The incident sparked a large-scale review of nuclear power safety.  Today, there are 65 such plants operating 104 nuclear reactors across the country, and employing about 38,000 workers.  You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  U.S. Energy Information Administration
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 221113

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

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