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Agency History
Census Records & Family History
Historical Censuses & Surveys
Galleries & Archives
Facts by Decade
Facts by Decade
Censuses are not conducted in a vacuum. They occur amidst internal and external crisis, shifts in cultural interests, and events that become "defining moments" for each generation. Census data reflect the growth of the population as well as the changing values and interests of the American people.
Fast Facts provides a portrait of the United States both statistically and culturally. In addition to census-related statistics, the innovations, events, and icons of each decade are highlighted. Each page illustrates the thought and culture of the population counted during each decade's census.
ICONS: Social Media, Handheld Computers, Donald Trump
Population
| 308,745,538 |
U.S. Resident Population |
| 87.4 |
Population per square mile of land area |
| 9.7 |
Percent increase of population from 2000 to 2010 |
| 50 |
Number of States |
10 Largest Urban Places
| Rank |
Place |
Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
New York City, NY | 8,175,133 |
| 2 |
Los Angeles, CA | 3,792,621 |
| 3 |
Chicago, IL | 2,695,598 |
| 4 |
Houston, TX | 2,099,451 |
| 5 |
Philadelphia, PA | 1,526,006 |
| 6 |
Phoenix, AZ | 1,445,632 |
| 7 |
San Antonio, TX | 1,327,407 |
| 8 |
San Diego, CA | 1,307,402 |
| 9 |
Dallas, TX | 1,197,816 |
| 10 |
San Jose, CA | 945,942 |
The 2010 Census
| Cost | $12.9 billion |
| Cost per Capita (cents) | 4778 |
| Total Pages in Published Reports | N/A |
| Number of Enumerators | 635,000 (est.) |
| Census Bureau Director | Robert M. Groves |
| Number of Questions on the Questionnaire | 10 |
| Number of Questions on the Long Form | N/A |
Pop Culture
- On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastates Haiti, killed an estimated 230,000 and destroyed the nation's infrastructure.
- On January 27, 2010, Apple Computer unveils the iPad tablet computer.
- In February 2010, a series of winter storms labeled "Snowmageddon" by President Obama blankets the east coast of the United States with up to 40 inches of snow in less than 1 week.
- British Petroleum's "Deepwater Horizon" offshore oil platform explodes on April 20, 2010, killing 11 workers. The ensuing oil leak would not be capped until July 15.
- Time Magazine announces Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is its 2010 Person of the Year.
- On May 2, 2011, U.S. Navy Seals raid a residence in Abbottabad, Pakistan, killing the United State's most wanted terrorist—Osama Bin Laden.
- The launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-134) on May 16, 2011, marks its last mission to space and the second to last shuttle mission before the end of the space shuttle program.
- After 25 seasons and more than 5,000 episodes, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" airs its last original episode on May 25, 2011.
- October 2012's Hurricane Sandy strikes the East Coast of the United States, causing more than $65 billion in damage on the New Jersey coast and New York Boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island.
- The Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) goes into affect on January 1, 2014, marking the largest expansion of the social welfare state in decades and providing healthcare to more than 7 million Americans.
- Businessman Donald J. Trump is elected as the Unitd States 45th president on November 8, 2016, defeating Democratic challenger Hillary Rodham Clinton.
- On November 2, 2016, the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series since 1908, defeating the Cleveland Indians 4 games to 3.
- June 2018 meetings President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un are the first talks between the two nations' leaders. Following President Trump's impromptu Twitter invitation to meet, the Korean leader invites Trump to become the first sitting American president to enter North Korean territory.
Page Last Revised - October 31, 2023
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