Thanksgiving Day Interesting Facts

In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims — early settlers of Plymouth Colony — held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Many regard this event as the nation’s first Thanksgiving.

The Wampanoag Indians in attendance played a key role. Historians have recorded ceremonies of thanks among other groups of European settlers in North America. These include the British colonists in Virginia as early as 1619.

The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived the centuries, as the event became a national holiday 153 years ago (Oct. 3, 1863) when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving.

Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving Day should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.

Where to Feast

118.3 million: The number of occupied housing units across the nation in the second quarter of 2016 — potential stops for Thanksgiving dinner. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership, www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html.

4.6 million: The number of multi-generational households in the United States in 2015. It is possible these households, consisting of three or more generations, will have to purchase large quantities of food to accommodate all the family members sitting around the table for the holiday feast, even if there are no guests. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/B11017.

4: The number of places in the United States named after the holiday’s traditional main course. Turkey Creek village, La., had 444 residents in 2015, followed by Turkey city, Texas (396); Turkey Creek census designated place (CDP), Ariz. (351); and Turkey town, N.C. (296). There are also 11 townships in the United States with “Turkey” in the name. (Please note that the Turkey Creek CDP, Ariz., population total pertains to the 2010-2014 American Community Survey and is not statistically different from the population estimates of the other three places.) Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates, www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer2015.html.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 American Community Survey, http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_5YR/B01003/1600000US0477415.

7: The number of places and townships in the United States named Cranberry, a popular side dish at Thanksgiving. Cranberry township (Butler County), Pa., was the most populous of these places in 2015, with 30,458 residents. Cranberry township (Venango County), Pa., was next with 6,513 residents. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates and 2010 Census Summary, www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/index.html,             www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer2015.html.

33: The number of counties, places and townships in the United States named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the first Pilgrims. The two counties named Plymouth, are in Massachusetts (510,393 residents) and Iowa (24,800 residents).

Plymouth city, Minn., is the most populous place, with 75,907 residents in 2015.

There is one township and one census designated place in the United States named Pilgrim: (1) a township in Dade County, Mo., had a population of 128 and (2) a census designated place in Michigan, had a population of 41. There are also Mayflower city, Ark., whose population was 2,431, and Mayflower Village, Calif., whose population was 5,779.

Note: Townships have been included in these counts from 12 states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin) where the primary governmental or administrative divisions of a county serve as general-purpose local governments that can perform the same governmental functions as incorporated places. These county subdivisions are known as minor civil divisions, and the Census Bureau presents data for these in all products for which place data are provided.

(Please note that population totals for the two places on the list that are census designated places — Pilgrim, Mich., and Mayflower Village, Calif. — pertain to the 2010-2014 American Community Survey.) Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2015 Population Estimates

www.census.gov/popest/data/counties/asrh/2015/index.html,                                           www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/index.html,                                               www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer.html.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 American Community Survey,

http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_5YR/B01003/1600000US0646436,

http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_5YR/B01003/1600000US2664100.

Participants in the First Feast

24.0 million: The number of U.S. residents of English ancestry as of 2015. Some could very well be descendants of the Plymouth colonists who participated in the autumn feast that is widely believed to be one of the first Thanksgivings, especially the 650,000 living in Massachusetts. Source: 2015 American Community Survey, http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/B04006,                 http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/B04006/0400000US25.

6,500: The number of members of the Wampanoag American Indian tribal grouping as of 2010, roughly half of whom resided in Massachusetts. The Wampanoag were in attendance at the first Thanksgiving, playing a lead role in the historic event, and were essential to the survival of the colonists during the newcomers’ first year. Sources: 2010 Census American Indian and Alaska Native Summary, www.census.gov/population/www/cen2010/cph-t/t-6tables/TABLE%20(1).pdf.

American Indian Perspectives on Thanksgiving, National Museum of the American Indian, http://nmai.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/thanksgiving_poster.pdf.

Preparing the Feast … Enjoying the Day … and the Aftermath

98.6%: The percentage of households in 2011 with a gas or electric stove — essential for cooking their Thanksgiving feast. Another 96.8 percent had a microwave, also helpful in preparing the meal. Source: Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States: 2011, www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf.

98.3%: The percentage of households with a television in 2011. No doubt, many guests either before, after or perhaps even during the feast will settle in front of their TVs to watch some football. Source: Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States: 2011, www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf.

35.8%: The percentage of households with a stand-alone food freezer in 2011, which they may want to use to preserve their Thanksgiving leftovers. Far more (99.2 percent) have a refrigerator. Once all the guests leave, it will be time to clean up. Fortunately, 69.3 percent have a dishwasher to make the task easier. Source: Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States: 2011, www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf.

Culinary Delights

65,975: The number of supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores in the United States in 2014. These establishments are expected to be extremely busy around Thanksgiving as people prepare for their delightful meals. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 County Business Patterns, http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2014/00A1//naics~44511.

3,109: The number of baked goods stores in the United States in 2014 — a potential place to visit to purchase tasty desserts. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 County Business Patterns, http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2014/00A1//naics~445291.

2,798: The number of fruit and vegetable markets in the United States in 2014 — a great place to find holiday side dishes. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 County Business Patterns, http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2014/00A1//naics~445230.

243.0 million: The forecasted number of turkeys raised in the United States in 2016. That is up 4 percent from the number raised during 2015. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/tuky0916.pdf.

44.0 million: The forecasted number of turkeys raised in Minnesota in 2016. Minnesota topped in turkey production, followed by North Carolina (33.0 million), Arkansas (26.0 million), Indiana (20.0 million), Missouri (19.7 million) and Virginia (17.0 million). Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/tuky0916.pdf.

$19.3 million: The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys in 2015, with 99.9 percent of them coming from Canada and the remaining from the United Kingdom. When it comes to sweet potatoes, the Dominican Republic was the source of 37.9 percent ($5.5 million) of total imports ($14.5 million). The United States ran a $10.6 million trade deficit in live turkeys during the period but had a surplus of $126.2 million in sweet potatoes. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division, https://usatrade.census.gov/.

859.0 million pounds: The forecasted weight of cranberries produced in the United States in 2016. Wisconsin was estimated to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 521.0 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (estimated at 207.0 million pounds). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington were also estimated to have substantial production, ranging from 19.4 to 58.8 million pounds. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Cranberries.pdf.

3.1 billion pounds: The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular Thanksgiving side dish — produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2015. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/results.