U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features: Veterans Day 2007: Nov. 11 |
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Veterans Day originated
as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of
World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance,
and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight
D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day
as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day has
evolved into also honoring living military veterans with parades and
speeches across the nation. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of
the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
23.7 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2006.
(Source: Table 505 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United
States: 2008.)
Female Veterans
1.7 million
The number of female veterans in 2006.
(Source: Table 505 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United
States: 2008.)
16%
Percentage of Gulf War veterans in 2006 who were women.
(Source: Table 506 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United
States: 2008.)
Race and Hispanic Origin
2.4 million
The number of black veterans in 2006. Additionally, 1.1 million
veterans are Hispanic; 292,000 are Asian; 169,000 are American Indian or
Alaska Native; and 28,000 are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
(The numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and
Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders cover only those reporting a
single race.) (Source: 2006 American Community Survey.)
When They Served
9.2 million
The number of veterans 65 and older in 2006. At the other end of the
age spectrum, 1.9 million were younger than 35.
(Source: Table 506 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United
States: 2008.)
8 million
Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2006. Thirty-three percent of all
living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition, 4.6
million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990,
to present); 3.2 million in World War II (1941-1945); 3.1 million in the
Korean War (1950-1953); and 6.1 million in peacetime. (Source: Table 506 of
the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008.)
430,000
In 2006, number of living veterans who served during both the Vietnam
era and the Gulf War.
Other living veterans in 2006 who served in two or more wars:
-- 350,000 served during both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
-- 78,000 served during three periods: World War II, the
Korean War and the Vietnam War.
-- 294,000 served in World War II and the Korean War.
(Source: 2006 American Community Survey.)
3The documented number of living World War I veterans who served with
U.S. forces as of Oct. 2, 2007. (Source: Department of Veterans
Affairs)Where They Live
6
Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2006. These states
are California (2.2 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas (1.7 million),
New York (1.1 million), Pennsylvania (1.1 million) and Ohio (1 million).
(Source: Table 505 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United
States: 2008.)
Education25%
Percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelor's degree in
2006. (Source: 2006 American Community Survey.)
90%Percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma or
higher in 2006. (Source: 2006 American Community Survey.) Income and
Poverty$34,437Annual median income of veterans, in 2006 inflation-adjusted
dollars. (Source: 2006 American Community Survey.) 5.9%Percentage of
veterans living in poverty, as of 2006. The corresponding rate for
nonveterans was 12.3 percent. (Source: 2006 American Community Survey.) On
the Job11.1 millionNumber of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2006.
(Source: 2005 American Community Survey.) Disabilities6.1 million
Number of veterans with a disability. More than half this number (3.5
million) were 65 and older. (Source: 2006 American Community Survey.)
Voting17.4 millionNumber of veterans who voted in the 2004 presidential
election. Seventy-four percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 63
percent of nonveterans. (Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of
November 2004, at
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/006562.htm
l )Business Owners14.5% Percentage of owners of firms that responded to the
2002 Survey of Business Owners who were veterans. Respondent veteran
business owners totaled 3 million. (Source: Characteristics of
Veteran-Owned Businesses: 2002 at
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownershi
p/010337.html)68%Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were
55 and older. This compares with 31 percent of all owners of respondent
firms. Similarly, in 2002, 55 percent of veteran-owned respondent firms
with employees reported that their businesses were established, purchased,
or acquired before 1990, compared with 36 percent of all employer
respondent firms. (Source: Characteristics of Veteran-Owned Businesses:
2002 and Characteristics of Veteran Business Owners: 2002, at
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownershi
p/010337.html)7%Percentage of all respondent veteran owners who were
disabled as the result of injury incurred or aggravated during active
military service. (Source: Characteristics of Veteran-Owned Businesses:
2002 and Characteristics of Veteran Business Owners: 2002, at
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownershi
p/010337.html)Benefits2.7 millionNumber of veterans who received
compensation for service-connected disabilities as of 2006. Their
compensation totaled $26.6 billion.
(Source: Tables 508 and 509 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the
United States: 2008.)
Jan. 21, 2007
The date of death of the last World War I veteran receiving
compensation or pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Source:
Department of Veterans Affairs)
$72.4 billion Total amount of federal government spending for veterans
benefits programs in fiscal year 2006. Of this total, $34.5 billion went to
compensation and pensions and $31.3 billion for medical programs. (Source:
Table 508 of the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008.)
Following is a list of observances covered by the Census Bureau's Facts
for Features series in 2007:African-American History Month (February) Super
Bowl XLI (Feb. 4) Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) Women's History Month (March)
Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ St. Patrick's Day (March 17)
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) Older Americans Month (May)
Cinco de Mayo (May 5) Mother's Day (May 13) Hurricane Season Begins (June
1) Father's Day (June 17) The Fourth of July (July 4) Anniversary of
Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)Back to School (August)Labor Day
(Sept. 3)Grandparents Day (Sept. 9)Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct.
15)Halloween (Oct. 31) Unmarried and Single Americans Week (Sept. 16-22)
Sputnik Launch 50th Anniversary (Oct. 4) American Indian/Alaska Native
Heritage Month (November) Veterans Day (Nov. 11) Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22)
The Holiday Season (December)
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:
.
SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau
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