100 Years of Change
What life was like, then and now.
Let’s explore some of the ways American life has changed in 100 years.
Working World
Average individual income:
1913 $800
2013 $26,364
Unemployment
1913 6.6%
2013 7.6%
Home Life
People per household
1913 4.52
2013 2.59
Median age at first marriage
1913 23.35
2013 27.05
Most Popular Baby Names
1913
Boys Girls
John Mary
William Helen
James Dorothy
Robert Margaret
Joseph Ruth
2013
Boys Girls
Aiden Sophia
Jackson Emma
Ethan Olivia
Liam Isabella
Mason Ava
Population
Overall population
1913 97,225,000
2013 311,591,917
By ethnicity (percentage of overall population)
Year White Black Other races
1913 88.8% 10.7% 0.5%
2013 63.4% 13.1% 23.5%
Life expectancy
1913 52.65
2013 78.2
Education
School-aged Children Enrolled in School
1913 59.2%
2013 96.5%
High School Graduates*
1913 12.8%
2013 85.4%
* Early figures measured 17-year-olds; modern calculation includes up to age 25
Bachelor’s Degrees*
1913 2.3%
2013 28.2%
* Early figures measured 23-year-olds; modern calculations start at age 25
Everyday Life
Entertainment
1913
“Traffic in Soles” is the top-grossing film, bringing in $413,000 ($9.4 million in today’s dollars)
Top Songs
- When Irish Eyes Are Smiling by Chauncy Olcott
- Peg o’ My Heart by Charles Harrison
- The Spaniard Who Blighted My Life by Al Jolson
- When I Lost You by Henry Burr
- Row! Row! Row! by Ada Jones
2013
“Iron Man 3” takes in more than $340 million
Top Songs
- Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
- Just Give Me a Reason by P!nk
- Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
- When I was Your Man by Bruno Mars
- Stay by Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko
Technology
1913
All-purpose zipper patented and stainless steel invented
Henry Ford introduces the moving assembly line
The first published crossword puzzle comes out
2013
Windows 8 brings more touchscreen capability to computers
The Internet of Everything holds promise for connecting all Internet-enabled devices; 80% of American households have Internet access
60 million people download Words With Friends app
In the News
1913
Women march for voting rights in Washington DC and London
16th (income tax) and 17th Amendments (popular election of senators) adopted
2013
Bombers strike Boston Marathon, killing three
Jorge Mario Bergoglio becomes the first pope from the Americas
Sports
College Football
1913: Harvard (9-0) and Chicago (7-0) both claim the national championship
2013: Alabama (12-1) defeats Notre Dame (12-1) for the title
Kentucky Derby
1913: Donerail becomes longest odds winner in the history of the Derby with odds of 91-1
2013: Favored horse Orb wins the race
Shopping
Popular Stores
1913
Woolworth’s
Montgomery Ward
J.C. Penney
2013
McDonald’s
Wal-Mart
Starbucks
Most Powerful Companies
1913
General Electric
Westinghouse
Hudson Motor Company
Dutch Boy Paint
Campbell’s Soup
2013
Wal-Mart Stores
ExxonMobil
Apple
Berkshire Hathaway
General Electric
Sources:
IRS, Huffington Post, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infoplease.com, demographia.com, University of California-Berkeley, Google Public Data, U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics, CNN Money, 247wallst.com, Billboard.com, IMBD
