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Preface

The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published since 1878, is the standard summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. It is designed to serve as a convenient volume for statistical reference and as a guide to other statistical publications and sources. The latter function is served by the introductory text to each section, the source note appearing below each table, and Appendix IV, which comprises the Guide to Sources of Statistics and the Guide to State Statistical Abstracts.

This volume includes a selection of data from many statistical publications, both governmental and private. Publications cited as sources usually contain additional statistical detail and more comprehensive discussions of definitions and concepts than can be presented here. Data not available in publications issued by the contributing agency but obtained from unpublished records are identified in the source notes as "unpublished data." More information on the subjects covered in tables so noted may generally be obtained from the source.

Except as indicated, figures are for the United States as presently constituted. Although emphasis in the Statistical Abstract is given primarily to national data, many tables present data for regions and individual States and a smaller number for metropolitan areas and cities. Appendix II, Metropolitan Area Concepts and Components, presents explanatory text, a complete current listing and population data for metropolitan statistical areas (MSA's), the primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSA's), and the consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSA's). Table 22 in section 1 presents selected population characteristics for MSA's with population of 250,000 or more. Statistics for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and for outlying areas of the United States are included in many State tables and are supplemented by information in section 32. Additional information for States, cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and other small units, as well as more historical data, are available in various supplements to the Abstract (see inside back cover).

USA Statistics in Brief, 1985, the pocket-size loose insert in front of the book, is available separately. Price information can be obtained from, and orders sent to, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Customer Services Branch—DUSD, Washington, DC 20233. A 25 percent discount will be allowed on orders of 100 copies or more sent to the same address.

Changes In this edition.—A new appendix, Appendix V, presents selected State rankings for 50 data items presented in various tables throughout this edition. The number of each table from which these data were excerpted or derived is given to guide the user to more information on the subject. In some cases, statistics in rankings reflect more recent or revised data which were not available when the reference table was prepared.

Featured in several sections (for example. Manufactures and Domestic Trade and Services), are the results of the 1982 Economic Censuses. Many tables present preliminary industry data and a special effort has been made to present State data from the censuses of retail and wholesale trade and the service industries in section 30. Final results from the 1982 Census of Agriculture are highlighted in section 24.

Statistics in this edition are generally for the most recent year or period available by October 1984. Each year almost 1,600 tables and charts are reviewed and evaluated; new tables and charts of current interest are added, continuing series are updated, and less timely data are condensed or eliminated. Text notes and appendixes are revised as appropriate.

In all, there are 112 new tables, distributed among 29 of the 33 sections. In addition, graphic charts have been revised or updated and many sections have undergone tabular rearrangement and format changes designed to improve the organization of subject matter. Of the tables included in the 1984 edition, 137 were omitted from this issue. The omissions represent primarily tables for which comparable details appear in other tables or for which no recent data are available, or tables for which the subject matter shown was considered relatively less important in the light of the space required for presentation.

Among the new tables relating to people and their concerns are:

Living arrangement of persons 15 years old

and over, p. 44 Trends in church attendance, p. 52 Women who have had a child in the last year,

p. 61 Contraceptive use by married women, p. 66 Refugee arrivals, by country of citizenship,

p. 88 Health Maintenance Organizations, p. 101 Alcohol consumption patterns, p. 119 Use of microcomputers in elementary/secondary schools, p. 145 Selected characteristics of lawyers, p. 177 Land cover and use of nonfederal lands,

p. 194 Participation in outdoor recreation, p. 228

Hispanic State legislators and mayors, p. 250

Individual Retirement Accounts, Keogh accounts and pension plans, p. 368

Volunteers, p. 384

Membership in AFL-CIO affiliated unions, p. 423

After-tax mean money income of households, p. 445

Consumer expenditures, p. 481

Summary of cable and pay TV, with projections, p. 545

Fatal motor vehicle accidents, including alcohol involvement, p. 600

Individual and family farms, p. 636

Households owning selected appliances, by country, p. 848

Government and economic activities are reflected in new tables on:

Federal grants-in-aid to governments for pollution abatement and control, p. 204

The 500 largest banks in the world, p. 496

Beneficiaries of corporate philanthropy, p. 536

Aerospace industry sales, p. 619

Number of farms receiving Commodity Credit
Corporation loans and their value, p. 648

New privately-owned housing units started,

p. 727
Robotics, p. 773

Franchised new car dealerships, p. 789
Computer and data processing services,

p. 793

Historical statistics.—Specific headnote references in this Abstract link many tables to earlier data shown in Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970. (See Appendix I, pp. 869-871.)

Statistical reliability and responsibility.—The contents of this volume were taken from many sources. All data from either censuses and surveys or from administrative records are subject to error arising from a number of factors: Sampling variability (for statistics based on samples), reporting errors in the data for individual units, incomplete coverage, nonresponse, imputations, and processing error. (See also Appendix III, pp. 883-901.) The Bureau of the Census cannot accept the responsibility for the accuracy or limitations of the data presented here, other than for those which it collects. The responsibility for selection of the material and for proper presentation, however, rests with the Bureau.

For additional Information on data presented.—Please consult the source publications available in local libraries or write to the agencies indicated in the source notes. Write to the Bureau of the Census only if it is cited as the source.

Suggestions and comments.—Users of the Statistical Abstract and its supplements (see inside back cover) are urged to make their data needs known for consideration in planning future editions. Suggestions and comments for improving coverage and presentation of data should be sent to the Director, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233.

Contents

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Immigrant admissions 85

Refugees 88

Aliens, foreign laborers 90

Nonimmigrants..

Naturalization....

91

92

Sec. 4. HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Figs. 4.1, 4.2. National health expenditures; Indexes of medical care prices.

94

94

Health expenditures 96

Private health insurance 100

Physicians, dentists, nurses 102

Hospitals, nursing homes 105

Mental health facilities 111

Determinants and measures of health 113

Drug, alcohol, cigarette use 118

Average heights and weights 120

Food consumption, nutrition 121

Federal food programs 123

Sec. 5. EDUCATION 125

Figs. 5.1, 5.2. Educational attainment; School enrollment. 127

Public and private schools 128

School expenditures 129

School enrollment 131

School years completed 134

Minority groups 139

Teachers, employment, salaries 141

Public school finances 142

Special education; media centers 144

Computers in use 145

Private school affiliation 146

College entrance test scores 147

School dropouts and graduates 148

Higher education: Enrollment 149

Higher education: Finances 154

Degrees conferred 157

Vocational training 160

Work/training acts; adult education 161

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rates

Labor unions

Occupational injury rates

423

425

427

428

430

431

Household income.

Family income

Lifetime earnings....

Per capita income..

Poverty status

Personal wealth

442

446

453

454

455

461

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