Friday, November 12, 2010
WV Statistics From Federal Census Bureau
WEST VIRGINIA...
Every year since 1878, the federal Census Bureau has published the "Statistical Abstract of the United States." Today, it is a 1,000-page volume packed with information about people in the United States and throughout the world.
West Virginia's statistics are particularly interesting, because the state appears near the top or bottom of many lists.
Information ranges from the ages and races of people to their religious preferences, their education, their health and their wealth. It also offers detailed data about farms, rivers, forests and oceans.
In 2008, West Virginia had 1,814,000 residents, making it the 37th-largest state in the nation.
The Mountain State's population dropped by 8 percent during the 1980s, then grew, just a little, by 0.8 percent in the 1990s. During the current decade, our population has increased by 0.3 percent.
Only three states had a lower percentage of population increase than West Virginia between 2000 and 2008.
Two states actually lost people. Louisiana's population dropped by 0.3 percent after people moved away in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and North Dakota's population declined by 0.1 percent. Rhode Island's population grew by just 0.2 percent.
Statisticians estimate, however, that West Virginia's population will drop to 1.72 million by 2030.
Between 2000 and 2008, West Virginia was the only state whose population declined -- if you subtract births from deaths of people already living in the state -- but West Virginia's net loss of 515 people turned into a slight gain in population by including the immigration of 15,428 people into the state during those years. Florida and West Virginia had the highest percentages of people age 65 and older in 2008, 17.4 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively.
Nationally, 12.8 percent of the population is 65 or older. Pennsylvania, Maine, Hawaii and Iowa are other states with high percentages of older residents.
West Virginia ranked first in death rates in 2007: 11.6 deaths per 1,000 residents. The national rate was 8 deaths per 1,000 people. Alaska, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma had a little more than 10 deaths for every 1,000 residents. States with the lowest death rates, ranging between 5.1 and 6.7 for every 1,000 residents, were Alaska, Utah, Colorado, California and Texas. A growing number of all births across the country are to unmarried women. In 2007, 39.7 percent of all births in the United States were to unmarried mothers. West Virginia was slightly above the average, with 40.4 percent.
Every year since 1878, the federal Census Bureau has published the "Statistical Abstract of the United States." Today, it is a 1,000-page volume packed with information about people in the United States and throughout the world.
West Virginia's statistics are particularly interesting, because the state appears near the top or bottom of many lists.
Information ranges from the ages and races of people to their religious preferences, their education, their health and their wealth. It also offers detailed data about farms, rivers, forests and oceans.
In 2008, West Virginia had 1,814,000 residents, making it the 37th-largest state in the nation.
The Mountain State's population dropped by 8 percent during the 1980s, then grew, just a little, by 0.8 percent in the 1990s. During the current decade, our population has increased by 0.3 percent.
Only three states had a lower percentage of population increase than West Virginia between 2000 and 2008.
Two states actually lost people. Louisiana's population dropped by 0.3 percent after people moved away in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and North Dakota's population declined by 0.1 percent. Rhode Island's population grew by just 0.2 percent.
Statisticians estimate, however, that West Virginia's population will drop to 1.72 million by 2030.
Between 2000 and 2008, West Virginia was the only state whose population declined -- if you subtract births from deaths of people already living in the state -- but West Virginia's net loss of 515 people turned into a slight gain in population by including the immigration of 15,428 people into the state during those years. Florida and West Virginia had the highest percentages of people age 65 and older in 2008, 17.4 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively.
Nationally, 12.8 percent of the population is 65 or older. Pennsylvania, Maine, Hawaii and Iowa are other states with high percentages of older residents.
West Virginia ranked first in death rates in 2007: 11.6 deaths per 1,000 residents. The national rate was 8 deaths per 1,000 people. Alaska, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma had a little more than 10 deaths for every 1,000 residents. States with the lowest death rates, ranging between 5.1 and 6.7 for every 1,000 residents, were Alaska, Utah, Colorado, California and Texas. A growing number of all births across the country are to unmarried women. In 2007, 39.7 percent of all births in the United States were to unmarried mothers. West Virginia was slightly above the average, with 40.4 percent.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:01 AM 
