Farmer, or some person familiar with the farm. And use your instruction manual. Narrator hello, im george stone. The big count of the population in these United States is made every 10 years. This is a time when Census Bureau enumerators visit every household with a list of basic questions, where were you born, how many people in this house, had a to work last week, and so on. This is not the whole story. Between the censuses, the bureau conducts other counts of agriculture, business, housing and many others as well. At the results of all this questioning appeared as statistical tables in this fivefoot shelf of books. I dont suppose many of you reach for a volume of senses reports when you feel the urge to curl up with a good book. But these columns of figures have a great deal to tell us about who we are, what we do and how we live, about the american drama and the American Dream. And my authority for that statement is dr. Philip hauser, professor of sociology and director of Population Research and Training Center at the university of chicago. Tables onnslate these population into a picture of how americans live . To a considerable extent, we the because they present figures along with results of sample surveys we got through the senses and other through the census andhrough the other federal agencies. They tell us what kind of housing we have, what kind of facilities and gadgets we have usthe housing, they give some indication of nonmaterial living as measured by education, which opens new vistas to the educated person. And they tell us a good deal about the way in which the American Family spends its income. Certainly that is pretty important. And over the years, with the ansus and other data, we get picture of how the american lives, how living changes, and how the American Dream evolves. Lets start with hard facts, those things we can learn directly from census tables. Foundvery census, we have the Center Population in the United States moving westward. That is quite correct. When the first census was taken in 1790, the center of population in the United States, hard to believe, was 23 miles east of baltimore. 23 miles east of baltimore . That is out in the ocean. Byyou might think so, but 1950, the population shifted about eight miles northwest of albany in illinois. This is getting closer to the thatographic Geographical Center of the United States. Not quite. With the addition of a white, we expect the populatio d the Population Center to shift further north. Narrator beyond the ability to establish the socalled Center Population, what can the senses tell us . Where we live is also how we live. The census tells us our population is distributed are aally, even though we single nation, by differences in client, geography, tradition. Life in the south is different than life in the north. We know from the senses the southland we know from the census that the south and north were about the same size and grew it about the same right in with the rapid industrialization of the north, then north added population and in a short time outdistanced the south. The mosthas been rapidly growing part of the United States. On the west coast, we are witnessing the completion of the continent. Where we live geographically has less to do with how we live. By that i mean, the differences between living in iowa and california arent likely as significant as they once were. This is increasingly the case. Reasons are mass media, magazines, communication, books, radio tv. They help give us a more uniform pattern of living. Similarly, differences between living on a farm and city are tending to become diminished, because the urban way of living is diffusing throughout the United States, including rural United States. On the other hand, there still are important differences in local ways of living. Narrator what do you mean . Even in the city, if you can consider detroit, los angeles, philadelphia, families and those cities live in singlefamily dwellings primarily, about 70 li bin singlefamily homes. In contrast, in new york, this is only 30 , in chicago 40 . So there are local variations in patterns that do make a considerable difference. Narrator i should say they do. What about the typical American Home . Is the dream of a rosecovered cottage still coming through, or replaced by Something Else . It has not been replaced when we see the fact. See that as of 1950, as recorded in the census of 1950, two thirds of American Families still lived in a singlefamily home. Narrator i guess the rosecovered cottage is still there. Still there. Only a fourth of our people lived in apartments. In large apartments house of 10 units or more. Narrator this is for the country as a whole. How about the boom of highrise apartment construction . Do the figures for urban areas support this idea . Those of us who live in cities may get that impression, without the with all the highrise construction. But actually, the facts are to the contrary. There were permits for 9 million dwelling units. 8 million were for singlefamily homes. Were for 700,000 apartment structures with five or more dwelling units. And if we look at the impact of changes in housing over time, wetrasting urban and rural, can see that as of 1950, just peoplean half of all the in our cities lived in singlefamily homes. An additional third lived in small apartments of just one unit to four units, and 10 of our people lived in large structures having 10 units or more. Areas, 96 ofarm everybody still lives in a singlefamily dwelling. Narrator that is a predictable figure. I remember a time not long ago when a famous president remarked that a third of this nation was ill clothed, ill housed, and ale fed. What progress are we making toward lowering that figure . Housedher anyone is ill depends on the standard that is applied. Housing,s. Standard of a good part of the housing and most of the world is substandard. What we call substandard housing in the United States, as i visualize what i have seen in asia or latin america, i can assure you would be most welcome there and constitute considerable improvement in housing in those countries. Partt is true that a good of our people, by our standards, the been substandard housing. Certainly not a third. And those standards change. Consider the housing of your grandfather. A large family system, probably three generations at one point living a relatively small house, no electricity, no Running Water, and if you can imagine such a horrible situation, no tv. Narrator goodness. [laughter] how many of us today have these modern accessories to living . Well, lets look at the facts, bearing in mind that material gadgets that make up our living are identified with homeownership. Almost two thirds of the American People live in singlefamily homes. But this is by most standards and astonishing thing, 55 of American Families own the homes in which they live. Narrator i get the impression from this over here that nowadays, we live in our homes, but the Mortgage Company owns them. The reason for that, 44 of the people who own their homes have a mortgage. But what is the other side . 56 percent of American People live in homes that are mortgage free. This is a 1950 census figure. This has improved over time. Even if you look at the 44 , look at it this way. Even though that 44 have not yet acquired sufficient wealth, some are young couples just starting out, they have not acquired sufficient wealth to completely pay for their homes. But because of income and steady jobs, they are able to live in their homes, meanwhile they are paying for them. Narrator lets get back to housing standards. Were you going to Say Something about remaining figures . In terms of other facilities, 96 of American Families had radios in 1950. Couple that with the standpoint of how we live with considerations of this kind. Electricity, 80 had refrigeration, 71 have a private bath and 85 have Running Water. Narrator wait a minute. That means 15 dont have Running Water in this country . Interesting you raise this question, because you are reflecting the american way of living. You think it is bad 50 of our people live without running 15 of our people live without Running Water, but in other parts of the world, certainly parts of the world that contain most of the worlds people, very few percent of the people have Running Water. At standards connected with tv, 15 950 the census reported of American Families with tv sets. 1958, that increased to over 80 , and that rapid change showed how quickly the american way of life can change, as innovation makes this possible. And the 1960 census will not have a question on television. This time, it will be how Many Television sets do you have . Narrator lets get back to housing standards. In we making progress upgrading our housing since that one third of the nation statement was made . Undoubtedly so. For one thing, incomes have been going up. We have considerable improvements and the ability of the American People to pay for housing. Thatonsider such a fact 50 of all dwelling units in the u. S. Have been built since 1920. With these continued improvements, there is no doubt total housing has much approved. But we are getting more concerned, the census is, with the mobility of the American People and the fact that many houses are now on wheels. Narrator trailers. So the American Dream of the rosecovered cottage may be changing to rosecovered cottage headed west on route 66. Its not quite as bad as that. But the 1960 question will ask questions about trailers and mobility. It is not generally recognized how mobile the American People are. Of all people when year of age 20 change their place of living every year. And 13 are local moves. , thather 6 are migrant is, they move across a county line. Hold prettytions well for the members of each sex, men and women move around at the same rate in the same proportion are migrants. Narrator for every man on the move, a woman in hot pursuit . Census doesnt make that interpretation, but it tells you a lot about mobility. There are important differences. For example, those who are employed move a great deal less than those who are unemployed. This is to be expected because the unemployed are apt to move and improve their economic situation. Employed persons in the labor force move about 20 , about average. The unemployed move at a rate of about 30 . Notice that the proportion of migrants is twice as great for the unemployed as for the 6 . Oyed, a ratio of 12 to if we consider the employed, we find considerable differences in mobility by occupation. Stable of occupations is the farmer. Something like 8 of farmers move and less than 3 move across a county line and become migrants. Populationbile groups farm labor, 20 27 move and about half of them cross a county line and are migrants. We can go down the occupational groupings. Professional people move more than clerical workers, operators move more than professional people, and down the line. Narrator how about age as a factor in migration . Is the retired couples dream of a chicken farm in the country being treated in on a sports car . We kind of get that impression, but the facts are to the contrary. On the chart now, we can see those under 14 years of age move primarily with their families and are moving about the average rate of one in five. However, youngsters 2024 years thege, young women entering economy and finding a role in our social order, these are most mobile by age. Over 42 move in the course of a year, and 17 are migrants. In contrast are Senior Citizens. Those 65 years of age and older tend to stay put. Only 10 move in the course of a year and less than 3 are migrants. Narrator less than 3 . This would indicate the rosy picture of retiring to a sunny place on the beach doesnt come up as often as we would think. Not at all. Apparently, our Senior Citizens care to stay put. Narrator i think we agree housing is an important ingredient in the story of how we live. That it is only part of the picture paid lets take schooling. A nationscation of standard of living is found in literacy. How are we doing . Is of some interest to realize the census stopped asking the literacy question in 1940. By that date, virtually everybody in the United States was literate. There was no point in recording. So beginning in 1940, the census asked how many years of schooling at a person actually completed, and education attainment tells more about a person and his way of life. In 1940, the first census which contained information, a proportion of the population that had a great School Population was about one third. By 1957, 17 years later, that had decreased to a little more than a fifth of the population with an Elementary School education. Narrator a substantial improvement and a short line. And the other end of the scale, those with a High School Education or more in 1940, that was about a fourth of the population. 57 1957, those with a heisel population or more were better than 2 5 of the population those with a high those with a High School Education or more were better than 2 5 of our population. Our population 25 years of age or older were graduates. Education is a good indication of the nonmaterial form of living. People who are educated understand the physical and social world in which they live and have a world of culture, music, art and the rest opened up to them. Narrator that certainly would be true. This increase in education could provide a reflection of our own economy, couldnt it . Enoughs that with a high economy, it would allow the youngsters in the unit to go on to a higher level of education. That is the case. The increasing education of the American People is in large measure a reflection of the general level of High Economic living and productivity. Lets look at a major factor in this increase in per capita production and our standard of living. Of Energy Sources used for production of goods and services. 50 of all sources of energy were animal. 13 were human beings. Only one third of energy used for goods and services was mechanical in 1850. By 1950,tury later, almost 99 of our energy use was , and human and animal had virtually disappeared. Great explains the difference in the level of living between the average person in asia and the average person in the united date. Think of it this past United States. Person in the United States. The ratio was better than 35 to one. That is what makes the american way of life. Narrator pretty startling comparison, 10,000 to 300. And our income continues to rise. Since 1929, income has increased 160 . Allowing for inflation, 57 . In 1929, average Family Income was 4000 a year. 1957, over 6,000 a year. Narrator in as much as we have more money, and the figures indicate we do, we could find out a lot about ourselves by determining exactly how we spend it. Yes. Such information is available from the census, and special sampling surveys conducted by agencies, in this case the bureau of labor statistics. Some of the materials have been analyzed over time by the 20th century foundation. Looking at the pattern of Consumer Expenditures in 1909, about one third of the Family Budget went to food, liquor, and tobacco. 24 went to housing and utilities. 15 to clothing and personal care. Went into household equipment and operations, 5 to transport, and the remainder recreational, medical, educational expenditures. Almost three 1909, fourths of family expenditures went to the essentials of food, shelter and clothing. Narrator with the increase in education, there should me more of the budget going into schooling today. Not is much more as you might think at first blush. 1. 4 ofle, in 1909, the Family Budget went to education. It increased to only 1. 6 . Narrator that isnt much. Not at all. It doesnt reflect the change of education. The explanation is to be found here. In the american way of life, the education is a public service, provided by the government. What we obtain through the payment of taxes as Public Services does not show up in the pattern of expenditures for the family. That is your explanation. Notice one of the startling 1952, between 1909 and the great increase in the proportion of expenditures for things other than food, shelter and clothing. Narrator i get the impression carticians promising a in every garage has expanded to two cars. That is nearly literally true. Of the Family Budget went into transport for consumers, including the automobile. 11 ,52, that increased to more than double. There is your two cars for one over that time. Narrator this picture of our way of life shows a great increase in our standard of living, but dont we deserve for demerits, lets say, the fact that there is a decrease in certain expenditures, not only for education . Theelfare expenditures for Family Budget actually decreased by two thirds between 19091952. It was about 1. 8 of the Family Budget and went down to something like. 5 . The answer here again is a significant shift that many of these services are now provided by the public. The Social Security system, for example, health and Welfare Services in local governments. Sometor we have collected surprises and valuable information about how we live could you give us. Could you give us a thumbnail sketch of the American Dream today . The trends we described may expected to continue. Increasingly, that certainly sounds good to me. And the information we have been talking about, information on how we live has come from the census daigle and special surveys by other governmental agencies. When properly interpreted can provide us with an idea of how we live