Black History Month


historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on Feb. 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lin- coln. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicen- tennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. Each year, U.S. presidents proclaim February as National African- American History Month. The population figures shown here are


T


based on various sources but not on the 2010 Census. We expect to release 2010 figures for the black population and other races by April 1, 2011.


Population


41.8 million As of July 1, 2009, the estimated popu-


lation of black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. They made up 13.6 percent of the to- tal U.S. population. This figure represents an increase of more than a half-million residents from one year earlier.


65.7 million The projected black population of the


United States (including those of more than one race) for July 1, 2050. On that date, according to the projection, blacks would constitute 15 percent of the nation’s total population.


18 Number of states with an estimated


black population on July 1, 2009, of at least 1 million. New York, with 3.5 mil- lion, led the way. The other 17 states on the list were Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Car- olina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. 60


o commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American


38% Percentage of Mississippi’s population


that was black in 2009. Although New York had the largest number of blacks of any state, Mississippi had the largest share of blacks in its total population. Blacks also made up more than a quarter of the population in Louisiana (33 percent), Georgia (31 percent), Maryland (31 per- cent), South Carolina (29 percent) and Alabama (27 percent). They comprised 55 percent of the population in the District of Columbia.


72,100 The increase in Texas’ black popula-


tion between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009, which led all states.


23 Number of states in which blacks were


the largest minority group in 2009. These included Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Lou- isiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Min- nesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Blacks were also the largest minority group in the District of Columbia. (Note: Minorities are part of a group other than single-race non-His- panic white.)


1.4 million The number of blacks in Cook County,


Ill., as of July 1, 2009, which led the na- tion’s counties in the number of people of this racial category. Harris County, Texas, had the largest numerical increase in the black population between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009 (15,700). Among counties with total populations


of at least 10,000, Claiborne County, Miss., had the largest percent of popula- tion that was black (85 percent). Claiborne led 77 majority-black counties or equiva- lents.


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30% The proportion of the black population


younger than 18 as of July 1, 2009. At the other end of the spectrum, 8 percent of the black population was 65 and older. Note: Unless otherwise noted, the esti-


mates in this section refer to the popula- tion that was either single-race black or black in combination with one or more other races.


Serving Our Nation


2.3 million Number of single-race black military


veterans in the United States in 2009. Education


84% Among blacks 25 and older, the pro-


portion who had at least a high school di- ploma in 2009. Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2009


19% Percentage of blacks 25 and older who


had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2009.


1.5 million Among blacks 25 and older, the num-


ber who had an advanced degree in 2009 (e.g., master’s, doctorate, medical or law). A decade earlier, in 1999, about 900,000 blacks had this level of education.


2.5 million Number of black college students in


fall 2008. This was roughly double the corresponding number from 25 years earlier.


The Black E.O.E. Journal


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