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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

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Profile America -- Thursday, May 30th. The first recorded automobile accident involving two vehicles occurred on this date in 1896 in New York City. Henry Wells of Springfield, Massachusetts, was driving a new Duryea Motor Wagon, the first automobile to be made and sold in the U.S. Unfortunately, he collided with Evelyn Thomas of New York, riding a bicycle. Thomas went to the hospital with a broken leg, and Wells spent the night in jail. Now, there are close to 11 million motor vehicle accidents a year, nearly 36,000 of them with fatal injuries. California, with over 3,000, has the greatest number of annual highway deaths, followed closely by Texas, then Florida, North Carolina and Georgia. 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
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1103, 1104
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation.html

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Profile America -- Wednesday, May 29th. The nation's first daily newspaper, the Pennsylvania Evening Post, began publication this week in 1783, printed by Benjamin Towne in Philadelphia. Americans' hunger for news was such that by 1850, there were some 250 dailies. The number of newspapers peaked a hundred years ago, when there were 2,600 dailies published across the nation, with a circulation of over 24 million. Today, with increasing competition from the Internet, television, and radio, the number of daily newspapers in the U.S. has dropped to just under 1,400. In year 2000, there were almost 56 million daily subscribers. Within a decade, that number dropped by 10 million. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 810
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1135
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/information_communications.html

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Profile America -- Tuesday, May 28th. May kicks off the busiest moving season of the year. It's a time when moving vans and rental trucks show up in driveways and parking lots all across the country. Each year, 1-in-8 of us changes our address -- a rate that is up slightly as of last year. Nearly two thirds of all moves are within the same county, and slightly less than 5 percent to another state. Men and women in their 20s are more apt to move, searching for a better place to live, and in response to marriage, childbirth, and changing jobs. Renters are more likely to move than homeowners, and the rate of moving is lowest for those 65 and older. 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: Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 30, 31
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/population.html
U.S. Census Bureau, News Release, CB12-240
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/mobility_of_the_population/cb12-240.html

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Profile America -- Monday, May 27th. Today is Memorial Day, looked on as the start of the summer season, and a time for family gatherings and sporting events. But the true meaning of the day is underlined by the continuing sacrifices made by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and other tense areas. The first official observance of Memorial Day was on this date in 1868, ordered by General John Logan, when flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. From the Civil War through Vietnam, some 566,000 U.S. service personnel died in combat, more than half of them in World War II. Across the U.S., there are just under 22 million veterans of the armed forces. 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, CB12-FF.21
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff21.html
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2004-2005, t. 506
http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/04statab/defense.pdf

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Profile America -- Sunday, May 26th. This Memorial Day weekend will have seen many backyard parties among friends and neighbors. In addition to grilled chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs, there will be baked beans and potato chips, often joined by a salad. Most grocery stores now carry a wide variety of greens, where some years ago, the standard all across America was iceberg lettuce. In fact, this is National Salad Month. It's also National Vinegar Month, a key ingredient in many salad dressings. Americans eat an average of 17 pounds of lettuce, six pounds of celery, and 2½ pounds of mushrooms each year. To flavor the salads, nearly 15,000 Americans work in the mayonnaise, dressing and prepared sauce industry. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: 2007 Economic Census, NAICS 31194
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i31194.htm
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 218
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/health_nutrition.html

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Profile America -- Saturday, May 25th. Two famous landmarks at opposite ends of the country are having anniversaries around this time. Both are landmarks of the cities they serve, and both were considered engineering marvels when they were built. San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, hailed as a technological marvel then as now. And, the Brooklyn Bridge, spanning New York's East River, opened in 1883 to link Manhattan and Brooklyn. It now daily carries thousands of automobiles, instead of the 1880s horse-drawn vehicles. More than 604,000 other bridges form a vital part of the nation's highway system. Of these, nearly a quarter are considered deficient and obsolete to cope with modern traffic. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 285, 290
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1090
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation.html

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Profile America -- Friday, May 24th. This holiday weekend will see the great seasonal migration begin to decks, balconies and backyards to fire up our gas or charcoal grills. May is not only National Barbecue Month but also National Hamburger Month. While cooking food outside has occurred throughout history -- and prehistory -- grilling became a popular recreation in the U.S. in the 1920s. The first charcoal briquettes sold for the purpose were produced by Henry Ford, using scrap wood left over from making Model Ts. More than a third of U.S. adults enjoy grilling out, and some 12.5 million do so at least twice a week. That may help account for the 58 pounds of beef and 56 pounds of chicken that Americans eat on average each year. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 244
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1240
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/arts_recreation_travel.html
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 -- Thursday, May 23rd. There are few bonds in nature to rival that between pets and their owners. Most pets are rewarded for their loyalty and devotion with shelter, food, and welcome attention. Though less welcome, they are also rewarded with medical care. Pets commonly make several visits a year to the veterinarian for annual shots and a checkup. Of course, they also go to the vet if they get sick or hurt. The first veterinary school in the U.S. opened on this date in 1879 at Iowa State College -- now university -- in Ames, Iowa. Today, there are nearly 44,000 veterinarians offices located around the U.S. They take care of the nation's 72 million dogs, 82 million cats, 11 million birds and more than 7 million horses. 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
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 54194
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i54194.htm
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1241
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/arts_recreation_travel.html

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Profile America -- Wednesday, May 22nd. Many things we take for granted in current society actually had their beginnings in colonial America. And many beginnings in colonial America took place in Philadelphia. The first known life insurance company was called the Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of Presbyterian Ministers chartered this month in 1759. Given the time and location, it should not be surprising that Benjamin Franklin was involved in setting up the business. Now, there are 946 life insurance companies in the U.S., with nearly 300 million policies in force. Finance and insurance is a $3.7 trillion a year sector of the economy. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Presbyterian Heritage Center
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 524210
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i524210.htm
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1220, 1221
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/banking_finance_insurance.html

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Profile America -- Tuesday, May 21st. One of the most versatile and gifted people in American history announced the invention of bifocal eyeglasses this month in 1785. Benjamin Franklin had been using one pair of glasses to read with and another for distant vision. Tired of switching between pairs, he had the two pairs of lenses cut in half and mounted in the same frame. The idea of these split lenses, or bifocals, was slow to be adopted because of cost. Among Franklin's many other inventions were watertight bulkheads for ships, the lightning rod, and the wood stove. Today, Americans spend over $8.2 billion a year at the nation's nearly 16,000 optical stores for frames and lenses, including bifocals. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 5072
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 446130
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i446130.htm

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Profile America -- Monday, May 20th. Gas prices are a frequent cause for consumer complaint --but at least purchases aren't restricted, as they were beginning this month in 1942. That's when 17 states began rationing gasoline to help the war effort. By December, rationing was nationwide and remained in effect until the end of World War II, along with a national speed limit of 35 miles an hour. Now, there are more than 118,000 gas stations across the country. Each year, they sell $360 billion worth of gasoline and diesel fuel. The average car gets almost 24 miles to the gallon, while SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks get 17½ miles per gallon. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.history.com/this-day-in-history
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1102
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation.html
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 4471
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i4471.htm

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Profile America -- Sunday, May 19th. The first criminal case in the U.S. in which fingerprint evidence was admitted into court occurred on this date in New York City in 1911. Burglary suspect Caesar Cella was convicted by prints identified by detective Sergeant Joseph Faurot. The first known crime case solved by fingerprint matching occurred in 1880 in Tokyo, but the unique pattern of each person's fingerprints had been known since ancient Rome. Today, the use of DNA samples from crime scenes is the fastest-growing area of forensic evidence. Advanced crime solving methods have contributed to a drop in total reported crimes -- from 14.5 million in 1990 to 10.6 million as of four years ago. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.on-this-day.com
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 306
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/law_enforcement_courts_prisons.html

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Profile America -- Saturday, May 18th. For Americans who couldn't observe yesterday's National Bike to Work Day by pedaling to their jobs, there is still time to catch up. All of May is National Bike Month, noting that across the U.S., more than 38 million people enjoy riding their bikes. From coast-to-coast, people are expected to take part in a wide range of activities sponsored by environmental and civic groups, health organizations, and police departments. Even in the face of rising gas prices, the vast majority of us -- more than three-quarters -- drive to work alone. Slightly over 5 percent use public transportation, and just under that percentage use bikes and other means to get to their jobs. You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.bikeleague.org
U.S. Census Bureau, News Release, CB13-41
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/cb13-41.html

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Profile America -- Friday, May 17th. The New York Stock Exchange, by signaling business prospects through share prices, has long been a bellwether of the nation's economic health. The exchange started on this date in 1792, as some two dozen merchants and brokers established an organized approach to their buying and selling. In good weather, they operated under a Buttonwood tree on Wall Street. Otherwise, they moved to the shelter of a nearby coffeehouse to continue their trading. This makeshift setup eventually evolved into an economic powerhouse, watched closely each trading day to see how the bulls or bears are assessing the overall U.S. economy. Eighteen percent of U.S. households directly own shares of stock and about 44 percent invest in mutual funds. 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. 1170, 1212
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/banking_finance_insurance.html

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Profile America -- Thursday, May 16th. Flying became more comfortable -- this week in 1930 -- when United Airlines made the first flight with an airline stewardess, Ellen Church. She tended passengers on a May 15th flight from Oakland, California to Chicago. The criteria for the job was that she could be no older than 25, no taller than 5 feet, 4 inches, and weigh no more than 115 pounds and be a registered nurse. The idea caught on, and being a stewardess became one of the most sought after jobs for young women. Today the proper term is "flight attendant," and they are a vital part of the U.S. airline industry. In 1930, there were just under 500 airliners in service. Today, that number is more than 7,800. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 769
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1069
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation.html

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Profile America -- Wednesday, May 15th. This week, we honor those civil servants to whom we owe much, including the peace and safety of our neighborhoods. It's National Police Week, signed into law in 1962 by President John Kennedy, designating this day as Peace Officers Memorial Day. Nationwide, hundreds of police departments will have held observances during the week leading up to today, when a memorial service is held on the west front of the U.S. Capitol. Each year in the U.S., there are about 1.3 million violent crimes committed, and more than 9 million property crimes. At the same time, about 100 of the nation's three-quarter million state and local police officers are killed in the line of duty, while more than 57,000 are assaulted. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: www.policeweek.org
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 307, 344
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/law_enforcement_courts_prisons.html

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Profile America -- Tuesday, May 14th. This week is the 94th annual Children's Book Week --encouraging the joy of reading for young people. The idea began in 1913 with a drive by the librarian of the Boy Scouts, Franklin Matthiews, to promote higher standards in children's books. He got two other key people to join him -- the editor of Publisher's Weekly and the head of children's works at the New York Public Library. Children's Book Week began in 1919, and over the years, its efforts have helped to find and promote high quality children's books. In today's world, there are many alternatives vying for children's attention -- computers, electronic books, DVDs and video games. But sales of printed books for youngsters still top $2.5 billion worth each year. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: www.bookweekonline.com
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1134
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/information_communications.html

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Profile America -- Monday, May 13th. As Americans live longer, the problems of financing their retirement and paying their medical bills continue to make headlines. But the growing number of healthy seniors also means opportunities. Both the problems and opportunities are in the spotlight in May -- it's Older Americans Month. There are just over 41 million people aged 65 and older in the U.S., over 13 percent of the population. By the year 2060, the number of elderly is projected to be 92 million. About one-in-six seniors is still in the labor force, and just under one-in-four is a military veteran. More than eight-out-of-10 older Americans own their homes. You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB13-FF.07
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff07.html

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Profile America -- Sunday, May 12th. It seems like a simple device, really -- that a row of numbers on the speedometer that measures how far your car has traveled since it was new, or how many miles you've covered on a trip. Called an odometer, it was used for the first time on this date in 1847 by a Mormon pioneer named William Clayton, who was crossing the plains in a covered wagon. Up until his invention, elapsed miles were calculated by tediously counting the revolutions of a rag tied to the spoke of one of the wagon's wheels. Today, most of us regularly drive a lot of miles. Smaller cars, light trucks, vans and SUVs average nearly 10,500 miles annually. Larger vehicles cover more than 15,000 miles a year. Trucks drive about 26,000 miles on average each year. You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1101
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation.html

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Profile America -- Saturday, May 11th. Tomorrow is Mother's Day -- one of the nation's most revered national observances, with meaning beyond flowers, cards and brunches. The idea started in 1908 with Anna Jarvis of West Virginia, to honor her deceased mother -- who had hoped that there would come a day to commemorate all mothers. By 1911, every state observed Mother's Day, and in 1914, Congress made it a national event. There are an estimated 85.4 million mothers across the U.S. In recent years about 4 million babies are delivered of women between ages 15 and 50. The average age of women giving birth for the first time is just over 25. You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB13-FF.11
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff11.html

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Profile America -- Friday, May 10th. This is the anniversary of an event in 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah that symbolized the linking of America's east and west. In the ceremony, a golden spike was driven to join tracks of the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific railways. Celebrated as completing the transcontinental railroad, the event actually joined rail lines from Omaha to Sacramento. But the occasion did usher in the golden age of the nation's railroads, which enjoyed a nearly century-long monopoly on moving freight and passengers linking thousands of cities and towns in the country. Today, even with competition from cars, trucks, airlines and pipelines, U.S. railroads carry over 27 million passengers a year and move more than 1.5 trillion tons of freight. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: www.nps.gov/gosp/index.htm
Statistical Abstract of the United States, t. 1122
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation.html

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Profile America -- Thursday, May 9th. This is a time to recognize those nonhuman friends who add a special dimension to our lives -- it's Be Kind to Animals Week and National Pet Week. While most pets are a source of companionship, many dogs provide protection and act as eyes for the blind, as well as helping other disabled owners. And it's said that while dogs have owners, cats have staff. Dogs are found in well over one-third of U.S. homes, cats in slightly less than one-third. Those favoring cats usually have more of them. Our dogs number 72 million, and cats, 82 million. Dog and cat food manufacturing is a $14.5 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: 2007 Economic Census, NAICS 311111
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i311111.htm
Statistical Abstract of the United States, t. 1241
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/arts_recreation_travel.html

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Profile America -- Wednesday, May 8th. The first disc-type phonograph record was demonstrated publicly this month in 1888. The invention of Emile Berliner of Washington, D.C. was called a gramophone, and used a flat disc of a spiraling groove to reproduce sound. Rather than the cylinders of the day. These proved easier to duplicate for the mass market. A few years later, Berliner founded the Victor Talking Machine Company. The era of the disc phonograph record lasted about a century, until replaced by compact discs in the 1980s. Now, CD sales have fallen from more than $13 billion in 2000 to just over $3 billion, as consumers turn to downloaded digital music. You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Library of Congress, American Memory
Kane's Famous First Facts, 7006
Statistical Abstract of the United States, t. 1140
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/information_communications.html

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Profile America -- Tuesday, May 7th. Before the school year draws to a close and summer vacation takes over, it's time to say thanks to America's teachers. Today is National Teacher Day, part of PTA-Teacher Appreciation Week. The goal is to honor the dedication and valuable contributions teachers make to the rest of their students' lives. The idea goes back to 1944, when Mattye Woodridge of Arkansas began lobbying for a day to honor teachers. With the help of Eleanor Roosevelt, the first National Teacher Day was held in 1953. Now, there are more than 58 million students enrolled in kindergarten and nursery schools up through high schools across the country, guided by more than 3.3 million teachers. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Census Bureau, School Enrollment, All Races
http://www.census.gov/hhes/school/data/cps/2010/tables.html

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Profile America -- Monday, May 6th. This is National Nurses Day -- kicking off a week honoring the outstanding efforts of nurses in helping to keep Americans healthy. The observance ends next Saturday, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who established the world's first nursing school in England in the 19th century. In the U.S., there were some 12,000 registered nurses by 1900. Today, that figure is over 2.6 million. As their numbers have grown, so have nurses' responsibilities, keeping up with increasingly complex medical technology. They not only work in the nation's nearly 6,500 hospitals but are on duty in more than 76,000 nursing homes and residential care facilities across the country. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 140
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 622110
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i622110.htm
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 623
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/hierarchy/i623.htm

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Profile America -- Sunday, May 5th. In Spanish, today's date is Cinco de Mayo, and celebrations will be held in many cities across the U.S., as well as Mexico. These events mark the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when outnumbered Mexican troops defeated the invading French forces of Napoleon III. Over the years, the celebration has evolved from one of military victory to a colorful and vibrant event, celebrating Mexican culture. Appropriately, this is also National Salsa Month. There are almost 34 million people of Mexican descent in the U.S., some 10 percent of the total population. Some 20.6 million of these live in either California or Texas. 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.12
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff12.html

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Profile America -- Saturday, May 4th. By presidential proclamation, this month recognizes one of the nation's fastest-growing population groups -- those of Asian and Pacific American heritage. The observance began in 1978 with a joint congressional resolution honoring the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the 1840s and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1870 with the help of Chinese immigrants. Now, 18.2 million people in the U.S. are of Asian heritage, approaching 6 percent of the total population. California has the largest number of this group, at around 5.8 million. Hawaii is the state where Asians make up the highest proportion of the total population at 57 percent. 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.09
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb13-ff09.html

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Profile America -- Friday, May 3rd. One of the key sporting events of each spring is the Kentucky Derby, and tomorrow's running will be the 139th in the race's long history. The first event was held in 1875, won by a horse named Aristides. Patterned after the English Derby, the race was a mile and a half long until shortened to a mile and a quarter in 1896, where it remains. Some of the famous horses to win the Run for the Roses include War Admiral, Whirlaway, and Secretariat. Last year's winner was I'll Have Another. At tracks across the U.S., less famous thoroughbred and harness racing draws more than 6.5 million spectators a year, and race animal training is a $680 million a year business. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: www.kentuckyderby.com
Stistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1240
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/arts_recreation_travel/recreation_and_leisure_activities.html
2007 Economic Census, NAICS 711219
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/products/p711219.htm

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Profile America -- Thursday, May 2nd. One of the most influential motion pictures ever made was released this week 72 years ago --"Citizen Kane," starring and directed by Orson Welles. He was already renowned for his 1938 Halloween radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds," when he was just 23 years old. But his lasting legacy is "Citizen Kane," which did not do well financially, although it was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning for best screen play. Many critics now consider it the best American film of all time. When "Citizen Kane" was first screened, 6-out-of-10 Americans went to the movies every week. Today, Americans on average attend 4.3 movies annually. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Historical Statistics of the Untied States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 10, 400
Stistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1243
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/arts_recreation_travel/recreation_and_leisure_activities.html

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Profile America -- Wednesday, May 1st. Construction began on this date in 1884 in Chicago for a radical new building design -- destined to be America's first skyscraper. It was the Home Insurance Company headquarters, designed by engineer William Jenney. Jenney's building used a metal frame for support, with the exterior walls hung like curtains on the frame. Previously, thick outer walls supported buildings, limiting the height that could be safely reached. Soon, skyscrapers using Jenney's method thrust up across the country and today dominate city skylines around the world. Each year, the building construction industry in the U.S. erects more than $309 billion worth of private nonresidential buildings. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 2098
U.S. Census Bureau, Value of Private Nonresidential Construction
http://www.census.gov/construction/c30/c30index.html