U.S. Statistics in the Year 1905

Many of these stats blew my mind, but the last one is downright scary to imagine.

The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.

Only 14% of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.

Only 8% of the homes had a telephone.

A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost 11 Dollars.

There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.

With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!

The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.

The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year; A dentist $2,500 per year; a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year; and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95% of all births in the U.S. took place at home.

90% of all U.S. doctors had no college education.

Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost four cents a pound; Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen; Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were: (1). Pneumonia and influenza; (2). Tuberculosis; (3). Diarrhea; (4). Heart disease; (5). Stroke.

The American flag had 45 stars.

Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write.

Only 6% of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacist said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking!).

18% of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.

The majority believed in God and they sincerely tried to follow the scriptures.

I found that list to be rather humbling and awe inspiring, all at once. Look how far we've come and how fast. People in another hundred years will probably look at us as if we are primatives. Considering the Bush 43 presidency, I couldn't really argue with that assessment.

Thanks to Pastor Paul Ciniraj.