CB12-FF.01 

Jan. 4, 2012
 

Black (African-American) History Month: 

February 2012
 

To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African 

descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first 

celebration occurred on Feb. 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set 

aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass 

and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into 

Black History Month. Each year, U.S. presidents proclaim February as National AfricanAmerican History Month. 

Note: The reference to the black population in this publication is to single-race blacks ("black alone") except in the 

first section on "Population." There the reference is to black alone or in combination with other races; in other 

words, a reference to respondents who said they were one race (black) or more than one race (black plus other 

races). 

Population 

42 million 

The number of people who identified as black, either alone or in combination with one or more 

other races, in the 2010 Census. They made up 13.6 percent of the total U.S. population. The 

black alone-or-in-combination population grew by 15.4 percent from 2000 to 2010. 

Source: The Black Population: 2010 <www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-06.pdf> 

65.7 million 

The projected black population of the United States (including those of more than one race) for 

July 1, 2050. On that date, according to the projection, blacks would constitute 15 percent of the 

nation’s total population. 

Source: Population projections 

<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb08-123.html> 

3.3 million 

The black population in New York, which led all states in 2010. The other nine states in the top 

10 were Florida, Texas, Georgia, California, North Carolina, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia and 

Ohio. 

Source: The Black Population: <2010 www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-06.pdf> 

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38% 

Percent of Mississippi’s total population that was black in 2010. Mississippi led the nation in this 

category followed by Louisiana (33 percent), Georgia (32 percent), Maryland (31 percent), South 

Carolina (29 percent) and Alabama (27 percent).
 

Source: The Black Population: 2010 <www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-06.pdf> 

52% 

Percent of the total population in the District of Columbia that was black in 2010. 

Source: The Black Population: 2010 <www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-06.pdf> 

2.2 million 

People who identified as black in New York City, which led all places with populations of 

100,000 or more. It was followed by Chicago; Philadelphia; Detroit; Houston; Memphis, Tenn.; 

Baltimore; Los Angeles; Washington; and Dallas. 

Source: The Black Population: 2010 <www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-06.pdf> 

84.3% 

Percent of the total population in Detroit, who identified as black, which is the highest 

percentage nationally among places with populations of 100,000 or more. It was followed by 

Jackson, Miss. (80.1 percent), Miami Gardens, Fla. (77.9 percent), Birmingham, Ala. (74.0 

percent), Baltimore, (65.1 percent), Memphis, Tenn. (64.1 percent), New Orleans (61.2 percent), 

Flint, Mich. (59.5), Montgomery Ala. (57.4 percent) and Savannah, Ga. (56.7 percent). 

Source: The Black Population: 2010 <www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-06.pdf> 

Serving Our Nation 

2.4 million 

Number of black military veterans in the United States in 2010. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey <http://factfinder2.census.gov>. 

Education 

82% 

Among blacks 25 and older, the percentage with a high school diploma or higher in 2010. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

18% 

Percentage of blacks 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2010. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

1.5 million 

Among blacks 25 and older, the number who had an advanced degree in 2010. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 
 

2.9 million 

Number of blacks enrolled in college in 2010, a 1.7 million increase since 1990. 

Source: 2010 Current Population Survey 

<http://www.census.gov/hhes/school/data/cps/historical/index.html> 

Voting 

11.1 million 

The number of blacks (of one race) who voted in the 2010 congressional election, an increase 

from 11 percent of the total electorate in 2006 to 12 percent in 2010. 

Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of 2010 

<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/voting/cb11-164.html> 

55% 

Turnout rate in the 2008 presidential election for the 18- to 24-year-old citizen black population, 

an 8 percentage point increase from 2004. Blacks had the highest turnout rate in this age group. 

Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of 2008 

<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/voting/cb09-110.html> 

65% 

Turnout rate among black citizens regardless of age in the 2008 presidential election, up about 5 

percentage points from 2004. Looking at voter turnout by race and Hispanic origin, non-Hispanic 

whites and blacks had the highest turnout levels. 

Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of 2008 

<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/voting/cb09-110.html> 

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance 

$32,068 

The annual median income of black households in 2010, a decline of 3.2 percent from 2009. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United 

States <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb11-157.html> 

27.4% 

Poverty rate in 2010 for blacks. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United 

States: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60-239.pdf?>
 

79.2% 

Percentage of blacks that were covered by health insurance during all or part of 2010. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United 

States <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstables/032011/health/h01_006.htm>
 
 

 

Families and Children 

62.5% 

Among households with a black householder, the percentage that contained a family. There were 

9.4 million black family households. 

Source: 2011 Current Population Survey, Families and Living Arrangements, Table F1 and 

Table HH-2 

44.4% 

Among families with black householders, the percentage that were married couples. 

Source: 2011 Families and Living Arrangements, Table F1 

1.3 million 

Number of black grandparents who lived with their own grandchildren younger than 18. Of this 

number, 47.6 percent were also responsible for their care. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

Homeownership 

44.2% 

Nationally, the percentage of households with a householder who was black who lived in owneroccupied homes. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

Jobs 

28.4% 

The percentage of blacks 16 and older who worked in management, business, science and arts 

occupations. 

Source: 2010 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov> 

Businesses 

$135.7 billion 

Receipts for black-owned businesses in 2007, up 53.1 percent from 2002. The number of blackowned businesses totaled 1.9 million in 2007, up 60.5 percent. 

Source: 2007 Survey of Business Owners <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37.7% 

Percentage of black-owned businesses in 2007 in health care and social assistance, repair and 

maintenance and personal and laundry services. 

Source: 2007 Survey of Business Owners <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

10.6% 

Percentage of businesses in New York in 2007 that were black-owned, which led all states or 

state-equivalents. Georgia and Florida followed, at 9.6 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively. 

Source: 2007 Survey of Business Owners <http://factfinder2.census.gov> 

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series: 

Black History Month (February) 

Super Bowl 

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) 

Women’s History Month (March) 

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ 

 St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) 

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) 

Older Americans Month (May) 

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) 

Mother’s Day 

Hurricane Season Begins (June 1) 

Father’s Day 

The Fourth of July (July 4) 

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26) 

Back to School (August) 

 Labor Day 

Grandparents Day 

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) 

Unmarried and Single Americans Week 

Halloween (Oct. 31)

American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month 

 (November) 

Veterans Day (Nov. 11) 

Thanksgiving Day 

The Holiday Season (December) 

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling 

variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an 

observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to 

the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: 

<pio@census.gov>.