A side issue of the Civil War came to a head on this day in 1861 — resulting in the formation of the state of West Virginia. When Virginia voted to secede from the Union, delegates from pro-union counties in the western part of the state marched out of the convention and held their own gathering. Ultimately, 50 counties voted to form a separate state. The split had been brewing for decades around the issues of slavery, restriction of voting to large landowners, and unequal taxation. West Virginia formally became the 35th state in June 1863. At the time, some 400,000 people lived in the new state. Now, West Virginia is home to just over 1.8 million. Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Sunday, November 25th. The ups and downs of the nation’s general economic situation have had a great impact on state and local government revenues. In the year between 2009 and 2010, state and local governments brought in nearly $3.2 trillion in revenue — that’s an annual increase of 51.4 percent. In five states, spending on education comprised more than a third of total spending — Arkansas, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. And New Hampshire led the nation in state and local property tax revenue as a percentage of general revenue at just over one-third. Two other states, Connecticut and New Jersey, had percentages of more than 25 percent. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.
Saturday, November 24th. Many pioneering men and women are being honored as National American Indian Heritage Month continues. One of them is Susan La Flesche, an Omaha Indian from Nebraska, who set her sights on becoming a doctor. Her dedication resulted in her attending the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Not only did she graduate in 1889, but did so at the head of her class, becoming the first female American Indian physician. La Flesche returned home to Nebraska, where she married, raised a family, and built the first Indian hospital in the state. Among adult American Indians and Alaska Natives, 77 percent have a high school diploma. And 13 percent have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in college. Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Friday, November 23rd. It’s the time of year when ads show up frequently for escaping the increasingly colder weather by booking a trip on a cruise ship. Newer ships are very large and feature lush accommodations, food, and entertainment. Ninety years ago this week, the British ship Laconia left New York City with 440 passengers for the first ’round-the-world trip by a cruise ship. It arrived back in New York on March 30, 1923, 130 days later. Today, most cruises are in warm climates and last one or two weeks. Each year, passengers pay $12.6 billion for their cruise tickets, which provide employment for over 18,000 crewmen. You can find more facts about America’s people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.