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Profile America -- Sunday, June 30th. In the past, hot summer days meant that some enterprising youngsters in the neighborhood would set up a lemonade stand or the family would share a pitcher of iced tea on the front porch to cool off. In recent times, we usually resort to something in a bottle or can to slake our year-round thirsts. Today, the drink of choice is often a soft drink, usually carbonated. As a result, soft drink manufacturing is a more than $41 billion a year business. Bottled water has surged in popularity in recent years. The 319 water bottling establishments ship over $4.5 billion worth of product annually. You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: 2007 Economic Census, NAICS 312111
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i312111.htm
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 312112
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i312112.htm

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Profile America -- Saturday, June 29th. On this date in 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill establishing the Interstate Highway System, originally of 41,000 miles. Today, that system is America's main street -- linking all 48 continental states along it's nearly 47,000 miles, and making it the largest highway system in the world. The original cost of the interstate system was more than $25 billion. From rural dirt roads to the interstate highways, there are 4 million miles of roads in the U.S. Building new roads and bridges involves almost 11,000 businesses in work worth more than $105 billion a year. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/faq.htm
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 237310
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i237310.htm

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Profile America -- Friday, June 28th. One of the joys of summer -- a trip to the ice cream store for several dips of your favorite flavor -- goes back to this month in 1786, when Hall's Ice Cream Store opened on Chatham Street in New York City. But the supply was limited. In 1851, Baltimore milk dealer Jacob Fussell decided to make ice cream commercially. He built larger versions of the hand-cranked machines still popular today for backyard picnics. However, ice cream didn't become a widespread favorite until the advances in electrical power and refrigeration in the early 20th century. In 1910, each American consumed a little less than two pounds of ice cream a year. Today, counting all frozen dairy products, that figure is over 24 pounds. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: www.readwritethink.org/resources/resource-print.html?id=20510
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 331
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 217
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/health_nutrition/food_consumption_and_nutrition.html

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Profile America -- Thursday, June 27th. One of the perennial pests of summer is mosquitoes. While most people think of them as inconvenient, there is a deadly side to these flying insects, in the form of West Nile Virus and malaria. That's why this is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, to honor those working to eradicate the menace. Worldwide, malaria has been historically one of the deadliest killers. Recent figures show 219 million cases and 655,000 deaths globally in a year. In the U.S., there are close to 1,500 new cases reported annually, usually among people who contracted the disease outside the U.S. You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.mosquito.org
World Health Organization
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 184
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/health_nutrition/health_conditions_diseases.html

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Profile America -- Wednesday, June 26th. The person's name is not known, but whoever bought a pack of chewing gum at the Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio on this day 39 years ago was making history. It was the first purchase of an item to be scanned into a cash register by using the Universal Product Code -- much better known as the bar code. Realizing the significance of the event, the buyer returned the item -- a 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit -- which is now on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Today, the bar code is part of everyday life for all of those who shop and work in America's more than 1.1 million retail stores. You can find current data on the country's economy by downloading the new "America's Economy" mobile application at <www.census.gov/mobile>.

Sources: www.wrigley.com/global/brands/juicy-fruit.aspx
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1042
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/wholesale_retail_trade/establishments_sales_payroll_and_employees.html

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Profile America -- Tuesday, June 25th Today is the anniversary of the first color television broadcast. In 1951, CBS transmitted the appropriately named program "Premiere" from New York City, and through stations in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. The program was seen in color only at a few select facilities, because color sets for the home weren't available until 1954. By the end of 1957, while nearly 39 million U.S. households had TV sets, only 150,000 were color units. Sales of color sets caught up with those of black and white sets around 1970. Today, some $19 billion worth of LCD and plasma screen TVs are sold annually. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.earlytelevision.org
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 796
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1033
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/manufactures.html

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Profile America -- Monday, June 24th. One of nature's displays of power brings out an almost universal fear -- lightning. As it flashes across the sky or strikes the ground, accompanied with crackling booms, it makes most people feel vulnerable. While not much can be done to lessen the unease, there are some common sense steps we can take to lessen the potential danger. That's why this is Lightning Safety Awareness Week, sponsored by the National Weather Service. The goal is to educate Americans about the danger of lightning and to reduce the number of deaths caused by strikes each year. Such deaths have declined in the first decade of this century: from 51 down to 29 in 2010. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 388
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/geography_environment/weather_events_and_climate.html

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Profile America -- Sunday, June 23rd. The keyboard on your computer is descended from the invention of Christopher Sholes of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On this date in 1868, he patented the first practical typewriter, with the now familiar placement of keys. Its acceptance was slow, and for several decades, many people considered it slightly insulting to receive a typewritten letter. But as machines improved, the advantages of the typewriter became clear. The need for skilled typists allowed many women to first enter the world of business. Decades ago, about a quarter of all high school students were enrolled in typing classes. Today, more than 81 percent of Americans over the age of 3 have at least one computer -- with some form of keyboard in their households. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 2385
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 377
U.S. Census Bureau, Computer and Internet Use, Table 2B
http://www.census.gov/hhes/computer/publications/2010.html

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Profile America -- Saturday, June 22nd. Among the assorted observances in June is one that will be welcomed by most of the U.S. population -- especially youngsters. It's National Candy Month. From fancy bon-bons to licorice and candy bars, it's time to enjoy a treat. In the world of candy, chocolate is the clear winner. There are nearly 1,200 firms in the U.S. making chocolate products worth $13.5 billion a year. Another 409 locations make nonchocolate confections with an annual value of nearly $6 billion. And, there are more than 3,300 candy stores across the nation selling all forms of confections. Americans consume an average of almost 25 pounds of candy annually. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB13-FF.06
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff06.html

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Profile America -- Friday, June 21st. Summer arrived in the dark of the overnight hours, specifically at 1:04 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. While welcomed by most, summer is a season with mixed blessings. On the one hand, there are vacation getaways, boating, cookouts, and wearing lighter clothing. On the other, it's also a time for insects, higher electric usage and gas prices -- and higher temperatures. The highest thermometer reading ever recorded in the U.S. was 134 degrees Fahrenheit at Greenland Ranch, California on July 10, 100 years ago. Next highest was 128 degrees 18 years ago at Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Among larger cities, Phoenix, Arizona holds the record at 122 degrees. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 391, 393
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/geography_environment.html

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Profile America -- Thursday, June 20th. With summer arriving before sun-up tomorrow, we will likely engage in more physical activity during the longer daylight hours. That's why this is National Safety Month. The theme for this year is "Safety Starts With Me" -- and focuses on such matters as accident prevention, emergency preparedness, and ergonomics. Emergency rooms around the country report more than 86,000 people are hurt each year by their lawnmowers, along with 144,000 on skateboards. However, the most accidents occur on bicycles -- over 544,000 a year. The biggest dangers, with a combined 2.5 million, are from stairs, steps and floor accidents. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: National Safety Council
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 201
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/health_nutrition.html

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Profile America -- Wednesday, June 19th. As radio broadcasting matured, the Federal Communications Commission was established on this date in 1934 to regulate use of the airwaves in the public interest. The agency's job has grown much larger and more complex in the years since, and includes all non-federal government use of the frequency spectrum. Current issues include obscenity on the air, and the blurring of distinctions between telephone companies and cable television. Among the firms the FCC monitors are almost 1,800 television stations, about 6,200 cable television systems, some 14,400 radio stations, and the cell phone service industry which serves over 300 million subscribers. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: The Museum of Broadcast Communications
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1132, 1149
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/information_communications.html

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Profile America -- Tuesday, June 18th. Most little boys at the age of 6 are content to play with toy trucks without thinking about how they could be improved. This was not the case for Robert Patch. He designed a truck that could be assembled and disassembled easily by a youngster -- and changed into different types of truck each time, such as a dump truck or a closed van. Patch submitted his application and drawings in 1962, and in June a year later, he was granted a patent -- surely one of the youngest Americans ever to hold a patent. In 2010, nearly a quarter-million patents were granted -- just under 17,000 of them to individuals. Most are awarded to domestic and foreign corporations. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 778
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/business_enterprise/patents_trademarks_copyrights.html

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Profile America -- Monday, June 17th. Many of us as children loved sleeping on our front porch or balcony, pretending to be camping out in some remote wilderness. In many families, camping out is a cherished form of recreation and family bonding around the campfire. The urge to nestle in nature is widely shared, and with the weather now at its best, this is National Camping Month. Camping equipment today is far better in quality and lighter in weight than that of years ago, and allows us to sustain ourselves in a wider variety of natural settings. Over 50 million people enjoy camping out overnight or as a vacation. They spend over $1.5 billion a year on camping equipment. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1249, 1250
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/arts_recreation_travel/recreation_and_leisure_activities.html

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Profile America -- Sunday, June 16th. This is one of the nation's favorite days -- Father's Day. However you celebrate the occasion -- with a funny card, a welcome gift or dinner at his favorite restaurant, it's a day to say thanks to the dads, stepfathers, grandfathers, and other father figures for all they've done for each of us. The observance goes back to 1910, when Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington wanted to honor her father, who raised six children by himself after his wife died. The idea caught on and spread across the country but didn't become official until 1966. Across the country, there are just over 70 million men who are fathers. Just under 25 million of them are part of married couple families with children younger than 18. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB13-FF.13
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff13.html

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Profile America -- Saturday, June 15th. This date 62 years ago was a Friday, and the first full, official day on the number-crunching job for UNIVAC I, after a dedication ceremony the day before. Delivered to the Census Bureau in late march, UNIVAC I was the first commercial electronic computer, and launched today's digital revolution by processing data from the 1950 Census of population. Now, over three-quarters of America's approximately 120 million households have computers, and 44 percent have Internet access either at home or outside such as at schools or libraries. You can find current data on the country's economy by downloading the new "America's Economy" mobile application at <www.census.gov/mobile>.

Sources: www.census.gov/history/www/innovations/technology/univac_i.html
U.S. Census Bureau, Computer and Internet Use, Table 1A, 1C
http://www.census.gov/hhes/computer/publications/2010.html

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Profile America -- Friday, June 14th. This is Flag Day -- marking the date in 1777 when John Adams proposed the stars and stripes as the official flag of the United States. By the War of 1812, the national flag had accumulated 15 stars and 15 red and white stripes. It was the sight of that flag still flying -- o'er the ramparts of Fort McHenry in Baltimore -- after an overnight bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem, which became the words of the national anthem. That flag is back on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Making flags, banners, and pennants, among other miscellaneous textile products, is a nearly $5 billion annual business in the U.S. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.smithsonianmag.com, History and Archaeology
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 314999
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i314999.htm

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Profile America -- Thursday, June 13th. With summer almost here, children will be urging their parents to take them to the nearest amusement park. The highlight of these parks are ever more thrilling roller coasters, which trace their roots back to 15th century ice slides in Russia. In the U.S., the first roller coaster opened 129 years ago this month at Coney Island, New York. It was built by LaMarcus Thompson, and was called the "Gravity Pleasure Switchback Railway." The ride lasted a minute at a breakneck six miles per hour, and cost a nickel. Now, there are 524 theme and amusement parks across the nation, and along with arcades, they sell $13.5 billion worth of tickets annually. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 3621
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1229, 1231
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/arts_recreation_travel.html

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Profile America -- Wednesday, June 12th. It used to be that cars were fairly simple to repair, but they often broke down. Modern automobiles have become very reliable. They've also gotten extremely complicated -- with ABS brakes, traction control, navigation systems, and even self-parking systems. That means there are more things to go wrong and more knowledge needed to repair problems. That's why this is National Automotive Service Professionals Week. The goal is to recognize mechanics across the country for their role in keeping America's millions of cars, trucks, and buses on the road. There are more than 470,000 automotive service facilities in the U.S. Each year, they generate over $100 billion in business. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: www.ase.com
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 811111
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i811111.htm

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Profile America -- Tuesday, June 11th. It's time for gowns, carnations, diplomas, and lots of pictures. This is the season for graduations -- with ceremonies being held all over the country for students from kindergarten to graduate school. In the U.S., there are over 79 million students at all levels of schooling -- some 42 million from nursery through elementary school, about 16.5 million in high school, and over 20 million in college. High school graduation rates have grown steadily through the years, so that now, nearly 9-out-of-10 young adults have a diploma. The rate for college graduates has also grown. In 1980, 16 percent of Americans had a college degree -- today, that figure is nearly 30 percent. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, School Enrollment, t. 1
http://www.census.gov/hhes/school/data/cps/2011/tables.html

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Profile America -- Monday, June 10th. A patent was granted on this date in 1902 for something that most of us would rather not see -- an envelope with a transparent window in it, usually meaning a bill or solicitation. The inventor, Americus Callahan of Chicago, called his idea the "outlook" envelope. The idea caught on quickly, as businesses discovered that it spared them the bother of addressing each envelope -- since the address on the enclosed letter was visible through the window. The year Callahan's invention was introduced there were nearly 76,000 post offices around the U.S., while the amount of mail has grown enormously since then. There are now just over 27,000 offices. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: 440 International Calendar of Events, Those Were the Days
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 804
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1127
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation/us_postal_service.html

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Profile America -- Sunday, June 9th. This is National Rose Month, celebrating America's favorite flower, grown in all 50 states. One of the world's biggest floral celebrations is going on now and will pack in its greatest activity this weekend -- the Portland, Oregon Rose Festival, founded in 1907. Portland is called the City of Roses, and its Portland party 2013 began last month, incorporating the Rose Festival, which runs still another week. Among the numerous events today will be drag races, best rose awards, and a grand floral float showcase. Roses for all sorts of events -- weddings, Valentines Day, graduations, anniversaries, and birthdays -- are sold by some 16,000 florists nationwide. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: www.rosefestival.org
U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB13-FF.06
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff06.html

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Profile America -- Saturday, June 8th. In the first week of June 1981, the Centers for Disease Control described a new illness -- which a year later was officially named acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS. The virus that causes the disease was identified in 1983 and named HIV, human immunodeficiency virus. Since the beginning of the epidemic in 1981, more than 60 million people around the world have contracted HIV, and nearly 30 million have died as a result. In the U.S., about 37,000 new cases are reported each year. An estimated 491,000 Americans are currently living with the disease. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.cdc.gov
www.amfar.org
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 185, 187
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/health_nutrition/health_conditions_diseases.html

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Profile America -- Friday, June 7th. A home entertainment revolution began on this date in 1975, when the videocassette recorder was introduced. It was Sony's Betamax format recorder, which in a very few years was superseded by the rival VHS format. At its peak, some 9-out-of-10 households across the country had a VCR. Then, the DVD was introduced in 1997, and quickly eclipsed videocassettes. Now, the rising format is the Blu-ray system, allowing video quality to match high-definition television sets. Renting out discs and what's left of videocassettes is a nearly $9.5 billion a year business in the U.S. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.wired.com
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 532230
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i532230.htm

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Profile America -- Thursday, June 6th. A major pop culture phenomenon began on this date in 1933. With the automobile increasingly reshaping Americans' habits, Richard Hollingshead opened the nation's first drive-in movie theater in Camden, New Jersey. Soon, drive-in movies became a fixture across the country and a popular place for teenage dating. Drive-ins reached their peak in the 1950s. There were nearly 21,000 movie theaters then and more than 4,000 of them were drive-ins. Now, there are nearly 4,900 movie theaters around the country -- most of them with multiple screens -- while there are fewer than 270 drive-ins remaining in operation. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.driveintheater.com/history
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 855
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1128
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/information_communications.html

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Profile America -- Wednesday, June 5th. In 1940, a major problem facing the nation was finding a replacement for rubber. War clouds were gathering, and the supply of natural rubber from Asia was threatened. On this date 73 years ago, the first synthetic rubber tire was displayed in Akron, Ohio. It was made by the B.F. Goodrich Company from readily available ingredients -- soap, gas, petroleum, and air, greatly helping the looming war effort. Now, natural rubber is used once again to make a huge variety of tires, annually replacing millions worn out by motor vehicles, aircraft and other wheeled vehicles. The U.S. makes nearly $17 billion worth of tires annually, and imports an additional $10.7 billion worth. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 5502
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 326211
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i326211.htm
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1308
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/foreign_commerce_aid.html

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Profile America -- Tuesday, June 4th. The Census Bureau has been producing estimates of health insurance coverage at the county level since 2005. These are broken out by sex, age, income, race and Hispanic origin. Known as the Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, these statistics tell us how health insurance coverage varies by county across the country. The information allows providers in the health care field to target outreach activities to increase access to health care services nationwide. The program is partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in support of its national breast and cervical cancer early detection program. The data collected are used to (more effectively) target where early detection services are most needed and how best to allocate limited resources. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Profile America -- Monday, June 3rd. This August, the Census Bureau will release health insurance estimates for each of the nation's 3,143 counties. Known as the Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, these are the only source of single-year estimates of health insurance coverage for every county in the nation. Recently, the Census Bureau began publishing specific estimates of the number of people ages 50-to-64 with health insurance coverage. This new inclusion allows tracking of the insurance status of this older population, which is more likely to consume health care compared with younger age groups. Knowing the number of uninsured ages 50-to-64 allows planners and health care officials to better prepare for the health care needs of the U.S. population as it ages. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Profile America -- Sunday, June 2nd. It's well known that fans of the Green Bay Packers refer to themselves as "Cheeseheads," poking fun at themselves, their devotion to their team, and Wisconsin' s reputation as a maker of cheese. In that vein, the town of Little Chute, just 20 miles south of Green Bay, is hosting the 25th annual Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival, which ends today. Some thousands will have attended to enjoy the fun and the good food. Among the offerings will be a cheese tasting event, a cheese carving demonstration, and a cheesecake contest. Americans eat an average of just over 32 pounds of various cheeses each year, nearly twice the amount each of us ate in 1980. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.littlechutewi.org
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 217
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/health_nutrition.html

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Profile America -- Saturday, June 1st. The first public phone booth was installed on this date in 1880 in New Haven, Connecticut, just four years after the telephone was invented. These first public telephones were supervised by attendants, while those operated by coins came along nine years later. Today, it's rare to see a pay phone beyond transportation terminals, but the latest models have computer-like features, and worldwide, some booths are converting to wireless fidelity hot spots. At the same time, the number of Americans using cell phones has surged from under 40 percent at the beginning of the last decade, to nearly 91 percent most recently. You can find current data on the country's economy by downloading the new "America's Economy" mobile application at <www.census.gov/mobile>.

Sources: www.businesshistory.com
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1392
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/international_statistics/telecommunications_computers.html

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Profile America -- Friday, May 31st. One of the worst disasters to hit the U.S. happened on this date in 1889 -- the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Flood. Torrential rains caused a nearby artificial lake, created for a fishing and hunting resort, to spill over and weaken its earthen dam. When the dam broke, it unleashed 20 million tons of water in a giant wave that roared through Johnstown, killing more than 2,300 men, women and children, and destroying the homes of thousands more. The flood remains one of the nation's most costly, single weather-related disasters. While tornadoes take more lives< flooding is a constant threat. In the years from 2000 to 2010, a total of 694 people died in floods across the U.S. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: www.jaha.org/FloodMuseum/history.html
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 388
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/geography_environment.html