# Presentation: 148392

- 26.4 million

- Veterans: 2000

**Notes:**
Census 2000 counted more than 208 million civilians 18 and older in the United States. Within this population approximately 26 and a half million or 12.7 percent were veterans.
This presentation contains data on the veteran status of the civilian population 18 and older. It highlights the size of the veteran population, the changes between 1990 and 2000, the distribution of the population by periods of service, and the distribution of the population in regions, states, counties, and places with populations of 100,000 or more.
Census 2000 questions about period and length of military service provided information necessary to estimate the number of veterans who were eligible to receive specific benefits, to measure the needs of veterans and to evaluate the impact of veteran benefits programs dealing with health care, education and employment, and disability and retirement.

SPEAKER NOTES: This presentation is based on the Census 2000 Brief, Veterans: 2000, issued May 2003, and was developed by A. Emmy Warwick of the Census Bureau’s Marketing Services Office <amparo.emmy.warwick@census.gov>
1-29-04

## A question on veterans was first asked in the 1840 census.

**Notes:**
A question on veterans was first asked in the 1840 census.
Census data define a civilian veteran as someone 18 and older who is not currently on active duty, but who once served in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or who served in the Merchant Marine during World War II. This definition includes people who served for even a short time.

## Census 2000 Questions on Veterans Status 

**Notes:**
The questions on veterans status were asked of a sample of the population. Question 20, the veterans item on this form, asked respondents about any active-duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces, military Reserves, or National Guard; about periods of service; and about the number of years of active-duty military service.
The 1990 census and Census 2000 questions asked about different periods of service. The most recent period on the Census 2000 questionnaire was April 1995 or later, while in 1990 it was September 1980 or later. The 1990 census provided a separate category for World War I service; Census 2000 asked people with such service to mark the “Some other time” category. In both 1990 and 2000, respondents could indicate that they served during more than one period.

SPEAKER NOTES: The estimates in this presentation are based on responses from a sample of the population. As with all surveys, estimates may vary from the actual values because of sampling variation or other factors. All statements made in this report have undergone statistical testing and are significant at the 90-percent confidence level unless otherwise noted.

## Vietnam era veterans accounted for the largest veteran population in 2000.

**Notes:**
Census 2000 showed that the Vietnam era veterans accounted for the largest veteran population.

**Notes:**
Vietnam era veterans constituted the largest group of veterans in Census 2000. They accounted for 8.4 million people or 31.7 percent of the total veteran population. 
World War II veterans made up the next largest group, 5.7 million people or 21.7 percent of all veterans, followed by veterans who served from February 1955 to July 1964 (4.4 million or 16.5 percent) and those who served during the Koran War (4.0 million or 15.3 percent). Veterans who served from September 1980 to July 1990 accounted for 3.8 million or 14.4 percent of the veteran population. 
Finally, those who served from May 1975 to August 1980 (2.8 million or 10.5 percent) and those who served in August 1990 or later (3.0 million or 11.5 percent) made up the smallest percentages of the total veteran population, respectively. This last group includes Gulf War veterans.

SPEAKER NOTES: Individuals may be included in more than one period of service. 

## In 2000, the median age of all veterans living in the United States was 57.4.

**Notes:**
In 2000, the median age of all veterans living in the United States was 57.4.

## Number, Percentage and Median Age of Civilian Veterans by Period of Service: 2000 

**Notes:**
Both age and period of service are time-dependent and closely related to each other. The median age ranged from 33.3 years for those serving since August 1990 to 76.7 years for World War II veterans. In total, 16.7 million veterans were under the age of 65 and 9.7 million were 65 and over.

## The number of female veterans has been increasing.

**Notes:**
While the total number of civilian veterans in the United States overall has been decreasing, the number of female veterans has been increasing. Women accounted for six percent of the veteran population.

## Percentage of  Women Veterans: 2000 

**Notes:**
There were 1.6 million women veterans in the United States. Nearly 10.0 percent of veterans who served from May 1975 to August 1980 and 13.0 percent of those who served from September 1980 to July 1990 were women. 
In the most recent period of service, August 1990 or later, 15.7 percent were women. These numbers at least partially reflect the growing involvement of women in the military. Women made up 4.2 percent of the World War II veteran population and 2.2 percent of the Korean War veteran population.

## Veterans who served most recently were most likely to be employed.

**Notes:**
Veterans who served most recently were most likely to be employed.

## Percentage of Civilian Veterans Aged 18 Years and Over by Period of Service and Employment Status: 2000

**Notes:**
Looking at age and period of service, and age and employment, veterans who served most recently were most likely to be employed in 2000. Among veterans serving in August 1990 or later, 81.4 percent were employed, while 82.7 percent of those who served from September 1980 to July 1990 were employed. They were closely followed by veterans who served from May 1975 to August 1980 (78.0 percent). More than three quarters (75.4 percent) of veterans of the Vietnam era were employed in 2000, and more than half (51.4 percent) of those who served from February 1955 to July 1964 were employed.
The percentage employed was low for Korean War veterans (24.6 percent) and World War II veterans (11.6 percent), many of whom were likely to be retired.

## Poverty rates were low among veterans for every period of service.

**Notes:**
Poverty rates were low among veterans for every period of service.

## Percentage of Civilian Veterans Aged 18 Years and Over by Period of Service and Poverty Status in 1999

**Notes:**
Overall, 5.6 percent of veterans lived in poverty in 1999, compared with 10.9 percent of the U.S. adult population in general. The youngest veterans, those who served in August 1990 or later, were among the most likely to be poor, with a poverty rate of 6.2 percent. The poverty rate for the Vietnam era veterans was 5.1 percent, and Korean War and World War II veterans had among the lowest poverty rates for veterans, 4.5 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

## The oldest veterans had the highest disability rates in 2000.

**Notes:**
The oldest veterans had the highest disability rates in 2000.

## Percentage of Civilian Veterans Aged 18 and Over by Disability Status: 2000 

**Notes:**
The disability rates for all veterans 18 years and over showed that almost 3 out of every 10 veterans or 29.1 percent were disabled. Korean War veterans disability rates were 1 in 3 or 33.6 percent, and almost 1 in 2 of the World War II veterans or 45.2 percent were disabled. Disabled veterans of the Vietnam era numbered 1 in 4 (24.8 percent).
The disability rates for those who served most recently, from September 1980 to July 1990 or in August 1990 or later, were the lowest, at 18.2 percent and 16.3 percent, respectively.

SPEAKER NOTES: Veterans responding to Census 2000 were considered to have a disability if they answered “yes” to having a sensory, physical, mental, or self-care disability; or they answered “yes” to having a disability affecting their ability to go outside the home; or “yes” to having an employment disability.

## In 2000, the largest veteran populations lived in the South and the Midwest.

**Notes:**
In 2000, the largest veteran populations lived in the South and the Midwest.

## Veteran Population (18 and Older) for the Four Regions: 2000

**Notes:**
The veteran population was largest in the South (9.9 million), and the Midwest (6.1 million), the two most populous regions of the country. The West and Northeast had veteran populations of 5.7 million and 4.6 million, respectively. 
The percentage of civilians 18 and older who were veterans varied only slightly among the regions, ranging from 11.5 percent in the Northeast to 13.4 percent in the South.
Between 1990 and 2000, the number of veterans decreased in every region except the South, where it increased from 9.3 million to 9.9 million (a 6.7 percent increase). 

## Between 1990 and 2000, veterans declined as a percentage of the civilian population in all regions.

**Notes:**
Between 1990 and 2000, veterans declined as a percentage of the civilian population in all regions.

## Slide 19

**Notes:**
The percentage of veterans in the West fell 2.3 percentage points, while it dropped 2.2 percentage points in the Northeast. The Midwest and the South experienced smaller declines, 1.7 percentage points and 0.9 percentage points, respectively.

## The most populous state, California, had the greatest number of veterans.

**Notes:**
The most populous state, California, had the greatest number of veterans.

## States With Veteran Populations of One Million or More: 2000

**CA**
**2.6 mil**

**FL**
**1.8 mil**

**TX**
**1.8 mil**

**NY**
**1.4 mil**

**PA**
**1.2 mil**

**OH**
**1****.****1 mil**

**IL**
**1 mil**

**Notes:**
California was home to more than 2.6 million veterans in 2000. Additionally, six other states had veteran populations of one million or more: Florida, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. Together, these seven states, which contained 44.6 percent of the total U.S. population 18 and older, accounted for 11.0 million veterans or 41.6 percent of the U.S. total.

## Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Alaska had the highest percentage of veterans, 17.1 percent.

**Notes:**
Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Alaska had the highest percentage of veterans, 17.1 percent.

## Slide 23

**Notes:**
Following Alaska’s high of 17.1 percent, Montana’s veterans accounted for about 16.2 percent of the adult population, followed by Nevada (16.1 percent), Wyoming (16.0 percent), and Maine (15.9 percent). 

SPEAKER NOTES: The percentage of veterans in the population was not statistically different in Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Maine.

## Rural and nonmetropolitan counties had the highest concentrations of veterans.

**Notes:**
Rural and nonmetropolitan counties had the highest concentrations of veterans.

**Notes:**
The highest concentrations of veterans were found in many Florida counties, numerous counties of the upper Great Lakes areas, various western counties with low populations excluding California and Utah, and in scattered counties along the East Coast, all containing or near military bases. 
In general Census 2000 found the highest concentrations of veterans in rural and nonmetropolitan counties. 
Florida was an exception, probably because of retiree migration. 
The lowest concentrations of veterans were found in the counties of the lower Mississippi River valley, many Appalachian counties, and several counties in the Rio Grande valley of southern Texas.

## Hampton, Virginia, had the greatest concentration of veterans of any place of 100,000 or more in the United States.

**Notes:**
Among places of 100,000 or more, Hampton, Virginia, near the country’s largest naval station, had the greatest concentration of veterans in 2000, 27.1 percent.

## Slide 27

**Notes:**
Hampton, Virginia, was followed by Clarksville, Tennessee (24.4 percent), and Fayetteville, North Carolina (23.7 percent). Six of the 10 places with the highest concentrations of veterans were in Virginia. With the exception of Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is the home of the Air Force Academy, all of the places with the highest concentrations were located in the Southern region of the United States.

## In 2000, the concentrations of veterans in places varied depending on their period of service.

**Notes:**
In 2000, the concentrations of veterans in places varied depending on their period of service. 

## Slide 29

**Notes:**
The list of places with the greatest concentrations of Gulf War veterans was similar to the list of places with the greatest concentrations of veterans in general. In both cases, Hampton, Virginia, topped the list. Gulf War veterans made up 13.4 percent of the adult civilian population in Hampton; followed by Clarksville, Tennessee, with 11.4 percent; and Fayetteville, North Carolina, with 9.0 percent.

**Notes:**
Places with the highest concentrations of Vietnam veterans tend to contain or be near military facilities in the South and West

## Slide 31

**Notes:**
The highest concentrations of Korean War veterans tend to be in retirement areas in Florida, Arizona, or California, and other places with warm climates.

## Slide 32

**Notes:**
The ten places of 100,000 or more with the highest percentage of World War II veterans in the civilian population aged 18 and over for 2000 were also in the warm climates or places that are considered retirement areas.

SPEAKER NOTES: Caution must be used in interpreting these data, since the percentages in the numbers are so close that two places may not be statistically different from one another.

## Among places with populations of 100,000 or more, Hialeah, Florida and East Los Angeles, California (Census Designated Place) had the lowest concentrations of veterans.

**Notes:**
Among places with populations of 100,000 or more, Hialeah, Florida, and East Los Angeles, California, (Census Designated Place) had the lowest concentrations of veterans.

**Notes:**
Many of the places with low concentrations of veterans were areas with large populations of foreign-born residents. Some of the places with low concentrations were areas with large student populations, such as Provo, Utah, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

SPEAKER NOTES: Because of sampling error, the estimates in this table may not be significantly different from one another or from other places not listed in this table.

## Slide 35

**Notes:**
Census 2000 showed that 82.9 percent of veterans and 72.3 percent of the total civilian population 18 and older were White (and no other race), not of Hispanic origin. The next largest population of veterans was in the single-race group of Black or African American, representing 9.7 percent of the veteran population. Slightly more than 11.0 percent of the general population was Black or African American.
Hispanics accounted for 4.3 percent of the veteran population and 11.0 percent of the general population, and the single-race Asian population composed 1.1 percent of veterans and 3.7 percent of the general population. The smallest percentages of the veteran population were the single-race groups of American Indian and Alaska Natives, at 0.7 percent, followed by Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, at 0.1 percent. These groups represented 0.8 percent and 0.1 percent of the general population, respectively.
The proportions change somewhat when the population is divided into younger veterans and older veterans. The non-Hispanic White group makes up 78.9 percent of younger veterans, but 89.9 percent of veterans 65 and older. The Black and Hispanic groups are more concentrated among veterans aged 18 to 64 (12.1 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively) than among veterans 65 and older (5.7 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively).

SPEAKER NOTES: Census 2000 allowed respondents to choose more than one race. With the exception of the Two or more races group, all race groups discussed in this presentation refer to people who indicated only one racial identity among the six major categories: White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Some other race. 
For further information on each of the six major race groups and the Two or more races population, see reports from the Census 2000 Brief series (C2KBR/01), available on the Census 2000 Web site at www/census.go/population/www/cen2000/briefs, html.
The data contained in this presentation are based on the sample of households who responded to the Census 2000 long form. Nationally, approximately 1 out of every 6 housing units was included in this sample.

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