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Features for Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens Much More Likely to Fly the U.S.
Flag on July 4: Made in China?
Pew Research looks at patriotism, Census Bureau has
July 4 Facts
 July
2, 2007 – It is probably no surprise that more senior citizens will
probably fly the U.S. flag on July 4 than Americans of any other age
group. Overall, 62% of U.S. adults say they display the flag at home, in
the office, or on their car, according to the political values survey
conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press (Dec.
12, 2006-Jan. 9, 2007). However, this number has fallen since August
2002; at that time, less than a year after the 9/11 attacks, 75% said
they displayed the flag.
The question was not specifically about July 4, but
about everyday display of Old Glory, so, it can be assumed that the
percentages of those flying the flag on July 4 will be somewhat higher,
since it is the traditional day for Americans to celebrate their
patriotism.
“America is a patriotic country,” writes Carroll
Doherty, Associate Director, Editorial.
“Pew's political values surveys over the past 20
years have found overwhelming agreement with the statement ‘I am very
patriotic.’ In this year's survey, 90% concurred, which is consistent
with measures dating back to 1987.
For many Americans, demonstrating patriotism means
showing the flag. The U.S. Census Bureau finds the U.S. imported $5.3
million in U.S. flags last year, almost all from China. (See more Census
Bureau Facts on July 4 below.)
But, flying the flag is a much more common practice
among some groups in the population than among others.
 “Older
Americans – especially those ages 65 and older – are far more likely to
say they display the flag than are those under age 30,” she adds.
Among senior citizens, 71% say they regularly fly
the flag, which was a much higher percentage than any other age group.
The baby boomers came in second at 65%. See chart at left.
Racial and political differences in flag flying
also are substantial:
● Fully 67% of whites say they display the flag,
compared with just 41% of African Americans.
● 73% of Republicans say they display the flag at home, work, or on
their car; this compares with 63% of independents and 55% of Democrats.
● Significantly more Northeasterners and
Midwesterners fly the flag than do residents of the South or the West.
Roughly seven-in-ten residents of the Northeast (69%) say they fly the
flag, compared with 67% in the Midwest, 58% in the South, and 57% in the
West.
● Displaying the flag is a somewhat more
infrequent practice among people with less education and lower annual
incomes than among those who are better educated (and better off). For
example, 60% or more of college graduates, those who attended college
but did not receive a degree, and high school graduates say they fly the
flag, compared with a somewhat smaller majority of those who did not
complete high school agree (54%).
Patriotism Wanes
While patriotic sentiment has remained at a very
high level for a very long time, strong expressions of patriotism have
fluctuated in frequency somewhat. The percentage completely agreeing
with the statement "I am patriotic" fell from 56% in August 2003 – which
was close to an all-time high – to 49% this year. In November 1991, 58%
said they completely agreed with the statement.
>>
Read the complete report at the Pew Research Center
The
Fourth of July 2007 – U.S. Census Bureau Facts
On this day in 1776,
the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental
Congress, triggering the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a
sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be
marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.
2.5 million
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly
independent nation.
(1776 population from Historical
Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970.)
302 million
The nation’s population on this July Fourth.
Flags
$5.3 million
In
2006, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags; the vast
majority of this amount ($5 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
$1.7 million
Dollar
value of U.S. flags exported in 2006. Trinidad and Tobago was the
leading customer, purchasing $661,498 worth. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
$349.2 million
Annual
dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar
emblems by the nation’s manufacturers, according to the latest published
Economic Census (2002) data. <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i314999t.pdf>
Fourth of July Cookouts
More than 1 in 4
The
chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth
originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State had a total of 15.5 million market
hogs and pigs on March 1. This represents more than one-fourth of the
nation’s total. North Carolina (8.4 million) and Minnesota (6.2 million)
were the runners-up. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>
6.8 billion pounds
Total
production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2006. Chances are good that
the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from
the Lone Star State, which accounted for about one-sixth of the nation’s
total production. And if they did not come from Texas, they very well
may have come from Nebraska (4.8 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.1 billion
pounds). <http://www.nass.usda.gov>
6
Number
of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or
greater between December 2005 and November 2006. There is a good chance
that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina,
Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>
About 50-50
The
odds that the beans in your side dish of baked beans came from Michigan
or North Dakota, which produced 49 percent of the nation’s dry, edible
beans in 2006. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the
cob. Florida, California, Georgia and New York together accounted for 60
percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2006. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>
Please Pass the
Potato Salad
Potato
salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July
barbecues. Nearly half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or
Washington in 2006. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>
More than 70 percent
Amount
of the nation’s head lettuce production in 2006 that came from
California. This lettuce may end up in your salad or on your hamburger.
<http://www.nass.usda.gov>
About 2 in 3
The
chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from Florida or
California, which combined accounted for 68 percent of U.S. tomato
production last year. The ketchup on your hamburger or hot dog probably
came from California, which accounted for 95 percent of processed tomato
production in 2006. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>
Florida
The
state that led the nation in watermelon production last year (835
million pounds). Other leading producers of this popular Fourth of July
dessert include California, Georgia and Texas, each with more than 600
million pounds. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>
More than 74 million
Number
of Americans who said they have taken part in a barbecue during the
previous year. It’s probably safe to assume a lot of these events took
place on Independence Day.
See Table 1225, 2007 edition: <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html>
Fireworks
$206.3 million
The
value of fireworks imported from China in 2006, representing the bulk of
all U.S. fireworks imported ($216 million). U.S. exports of fireworks,
by comparison, came to just $22.6 million in 2006, with Japan purchasing
more than any other country ($8 million). <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
$17.3 million
The
value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks in 2002. <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i325998t.pdf>
Patriotic-Sounding Names
30
Number
of places nationwide with “liberty” in its name. The most populous one
is Liberty, Mo. (29,042). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than
any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West
Liberty.
● Thirty-two
places are named “eagle” — after the majestic bird that serves as our
national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages and
census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle Pass,
Texas, with 25,571 residents. There is also Eagle County, Colo., with a
population of 49,085.
● Eleven places
have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is
Independence, Mo., with 110,208 residents.
● Five places
adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has
the largest population among these.
● There is one
place named “patriot” — Patriot, Ind., with a population of 195.
● And what could
be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called
“America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most
populous being American Fork, Utah, population 21,372. (Sources: <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007001.html>,
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/009756.html>,
and American FactFinder)
The British are Coming!
$99 billion
Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the United
Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading
trading partner today. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
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