Profile America: New Year’s Day in History

As 2017 drew to a close, the folks at Profile America decided to reflect on the passage of time. How history will judge 2017 can’t yet be known, but last year’s anniversaries are woven into the fabric of today. 

Two hundred years ago, the New York Stock Exchange was founded, and work began on the Erie Canal. One hundred years ago, American citizenship was extended to Puerto Rico, and the United States entered the First World War. Fifty years ago, the first Super Bowl was played, and the Boeing 737 airliner debuted. A century ago, the average life expectancy was 54.3 years for a baby girl and 49.6 years for a boy. Now, those figures are over 81 years for girls and 76.3 for boys.
You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online here.

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