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- 🎁 The Holiday Season
- 4️⃣ Facts
- 📜 Remembering Our History
- 🎂 Happy Birthday to Nine States
- 📆 Year In Review

# **December 2022:****By the Numbers**

Join us this month as we celebrate **the Holiday Season**, remember **our history**, and more. Explore statistics about **nine states** and take a look back at **the year in Census Bureau data**.

## 🎧 Listen to By the Numbers

Play this YouTube video to listen to our featured observances, anniversaries, and historical events for the month ahead. 

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Get Audio Files and Scripts

## 🎁 The Holiday Season

This festive holiday season is a time for gathering and celebrating with family and friends. A time for gift giving, reflection, and giving thanks. To commemorate this time of year, the Census Bureau presents the following holiday-related facts and figures from its vast collection of statistics.

### **🔎 Did You Know?**

🎄 The value of imports of Christmas tree lights was **$550.3 million**in **2021**. Cambodia led the way with **61.9%** of the total.

🌟 The value of imports of Christmas decorations from China was **$2.9 billion** in **2021** – that’s **91.3%** of total U.S. imports of Christmas decorations.

⛄ There are many holiday-sounding places in the United States. Here are some highlights:
                  - Dasher, GA
                  - Garland, TX
                  - Holiday, FL
                  - Holiday Shores, IL
                  - Holly, CO
                  - Holly Springs, GA
                  - Noel, MO
                  - North Pole, AK
                  - Rudolph, WI
                  - Santa Claus, IN
                  - Snowflake, AZ

Visit the Facts for Features page on census.gov to see the latest holiday facts and figures.

Facts for Features

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#### **Infographics and More**

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This month, we have a collection of holiday-themed teaching materials to get students excited about the season. 

December Resources

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Get into the holiday spirit with this Kahoot! game that ties U.S. Census Bureau statistics to holidays celebrated across the United States.

Play Game

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This new Kahoot! game showcases festive Census Bureau data on imports of holiday decorations, population estimates for places like Santa Claus, Indiana, and Rudolph, Wisconsin, and more holiday-related stats and facts to help get you in the spirit!

Play Game

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## 4️⃣ **Facts for the Holiday Season**

#### **1.**There were **$17.1 billion******in estimated retail sales for the nation’s department stores in **December 2021**. That's an increase of **17.8%** from **$14.5 billion** in **December 2020**.

#### **2.**There were **$113.9 billion** in estimated retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in **December 2021**. That was the highest estimated total for any month last year.

#### **3.** There were **nearly 4.7 million** U.S. workers aged 16 and over employed full-time, year-round as either retail salespersons, cashiers, or first-line supervisors of retail sales workers in **2021**.

#### **4.**In the U.S. in **2020**, there were approximately:

#### 🧁 **3,000** baked goods stores

#### 🍫 **3,000** candy and nut stores

#### 🏬 **4,000** department stores

#### 🧸 **8,000** hobby, toy, and game stores

#### 💎 **20,000** jewelry stores

### 💻 **Learn More About Census Bureau Data**

Retail business owners, economists, and researchers will love discovering the retail data the Census Bureau has to offer. In this Data Gem, we demonstrate the Monthly State Retail Sales Tool, which easily allows you to compare year-over-year retail data by sector for national and state-level geographies.

💎 Data Gem

**These facts are available thanks to the public’s participation in Census Bureau surveys. We appreciate the information shared by each respondent as we continuously count and measure America’s people, places, and economy.**

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## 📜 Remembering Our **History**

Every year on **December 15****th**, we celebrate Bill of Rights Day. The Bill of Rights is important not only in the freedoms it protects but in its demonstration of America's enduring commitment to self-improvement and striving to continuously form a more perfect union. **Three-fourths** of the existing state legislatures ratified the first **10** Amendments of the Constitution on **December 15, 1791**. Since then, **17** additional Amendments have been ratified for a total of **27** Amendments to the Constitution.

Learn More

**🔎 Did You Know?** The Constitution might never have been ratified if the framers had not promised to add a Bill of Rights, according to the National Archives. The first **10** amendments to the Constitution gave citizens more confidence in the new government and contain many of today's Americans most valued freedoms. 

Visit the Stats for Stories page on census.gov to learn more about Bill of Rights Day and the First Amendment.

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On **December 7th, 1941**, the Empire of Japan attacked the military installations in and around Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The attack killed **103** civilians and **2,335** military personnel, including **2,008** Navy seamen (**1,177** from the USS Arizona alone), **109** Marines, and **218** Army personnel. Japanese pilots and submariners damaged **19** ships and damaged or destroyed more than **300** aircraft. However, as devastating as the attack first appeared, **only three ships**—the USS Arizona (BB-39), Oklahoma (BB-37), and Utah (AG-16)—were complete losses. 

Learn More

On **December 8th**, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress, calling the attack on Pearl Harbor "a date which will live in infamy." **One hour** later, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan by a vote of **82-0** in the Senate and **388-1** in the House of Representatives. The United States joined the Allies—Great Britain, France, Russia—on land, sea, and in the air to defeat the Axis powers that included Japan, Germany, and Italy.

As we mark National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we honor the patriots who perished, commemorate the valor of all those who defended our nation, and recommit ourselves to carrying forth the ensuing peace and reconciliation that brought a better future for our world.

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## **🎂 Happy Birthday to Illinois, Delaware, Mississippi, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Alabama, New Jersey, Iowa, and Texas!**

This month we celebrate the birthdays of **nine** states beginning with Illinois on December **3rd** and finishing up with Texas on the **29th**.

### **December 3rd, 2022:**

#### Illinois' **204th**Anniversary  

🔎 **Did you know?** Illinois is the **24th** largest state by area and was the **21st** state to join the Union.

🐦 The state bird is the **Northern Cardinal**.

🌾 The state nickname is the **Prairie State**.

🌆 The largest city is **Chicago**.

Illinois' population decreased **0.1%** from **2010** to **2020**.

The results of the 2020 Census show that:
                  - The total population of Illinois was  12,812,508  – a decrease of  0.1%  from  2010 
                  - 2,337,410  or  18.2%  of people in Illinois reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of  15.3%  from  2010

🌐 Check out our America Counts state profile for Illinois

🌐 Explore Census Bureau data for Illinois using data.census.gov

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### **December 7th, 2022:**

#### Delaware's **235th**Anniversary

🔎 **Did you know?** Delaware is the **49th** largest state by area and was the **first** state to join the Union.

🌺 The state flower is the **Peach Blossom**.

🥇 The state nickname is the **First State**.

🌃 The largest city is **Wilmington**.

Delaware’s population was just short of **1 million** in **2020**. 

The results of the 2020 Census show that: 
                  - The total population of Delaware was  989,948  – an increase of  10.2%  from  2010 
                  - 104,290  or  10.5%  of people in Delaware reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of  42.4%  from  2010  

🌐 Check out our America Counts state profile for Delaware

🌐 Explore Census Bureau data for Delaware using data.census.gov

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### **December 10th, 2022:**

#### Mississippi's **205th**Anniversary

🔎 **Did you know?** Mississippi is the **31st** largest state by area and was the **20th** state to join the Union.

🐦 The state bird is the **Mockingbird**.

🌺 The state nickname is the **Magnolia State**.

🌇 The largest city is **Jackson**.

Mississippi’s population declined **0.2%** from **2010** to **2020**.

The results of the 2020 Census show that:
                  - The total population of Mississippi was  2,961,279  – a decrease of  0.2%  from  2010 
                  - 105,220  or  3.6%  of people in Mississippi reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of  29.1%  from  2010

🌐 Check out our America Counts state profile for Mississippi

🌐 Explore Census Bureau data for Mississippi using data.census.gov

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### **December 11th, 2022:**

#### Indiana's **206th**Anniversary

🔎 **Did you know?** Indiana is the **38th** largest state by area and was the **19th** state to join the Union.

🌳 The state tree is the **Tulip Tree**.

🌽 The state nickname is the **Hoosier State**.

🌃 The largest city is **Indianapolis**.

Indiana’s population rose **4.7%** since **2010**.

The results of the 2020 Census show that:
                  - The total population of Indiana was  6,785,528  – an increase of  4.7%  from  2010 
                  - 554,191  or  8.2%  of people in Indiana reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of  42.2%  from  2010

🌐 Check out our America Counts state profile for Indiana

🌐 Explore Census Bureau data for Indiana using data.census.gov

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### **December 12th, 2022:**

#### Pennsylvania's **235th**Anniversary

🔎 **Did you know?** Pennsylvania is the **32nd** largest state by area and was the **2nd** state to join the Union.

🦃 The state bird is the **Ruffed Grouse**.

🍫 The state nickname is the **Keystone State**.

🔔 The largest city is **Philadelphia**.

Pennsylvania's population hit **13 million** in **2020**.

The results of the 2020 Census show that:
                  - The total population of Pennsylvania was  13,002,700  – an increase of  2.4%  from  2010 
                  - 1,049,615  or  8.1%  of people in Pennsylvania reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of  45.8%  from  2010

🌐 Check out our America Counts state profile for Pennsylvania

🌐 Explore Census Bureau data for Pennsylvania using data.census.gov

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### **December 14th, 2022:**

#### Alabama's **203rd**Anniversary

🔎 **Did you know?** Alabama is the **28th** largest state by area and was the **22nd** state to join the Union.

 🌸 The state flower is the **Camellia**.

 💖 The state nickname is the **Heart of Dixie**.

🌇 The largest city is **Huntsville**.

Alabama's population grew **5.1%** since **2010**, surpassing **5 million**.

The results of the 2020 Census show that:
                  - The total population of Alabama was  5,024,279  – an increase of  5.1%  from  2010
                  - 264,047  or  5.3%  of people in Alabama reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of  42.3%  from  2010

🌐 Check out our America Counts state profile for Alabama

🌐 Explore Census Bureau data for Alabama using data.census.gov

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### **December 18th, 2022:**

#### New Jersey's **235th**Anniversary

🔎 **Did you know?** New Jersey is the **46th** largest state by area and was the **3rd** state to join the Union.

🌳 The state tree is the **Red Oak**.

🍅 The state nickname is the **Garden State**.

🌇 The largest city is **Newark**.

New Jersey's population topped **9 million** in the last decade.

The results of the 2020 Census show that:

The total population of New Jersey was **9,288,994** – an increase of **5.7%** from **2010**

**2,002,575** or **21.6%** of people in New Jersey reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of **28.8%** from **2010**

🌐 Check out our America Counts state profile for New Jersey

🌐 Explore Census Bureau data for New Jersey using data.census.gov

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### **December 28th, 2022:**

#### Iowa's **176th**Anniversary

🔎 **Did you know?** Iowa is the **23rd** largest state by area and was the **29th** state to join the Union.

🐦 The state bird is the **Eastern Goldfinch**.

🦅 The state nickname is the **Hawkeye State**.

🌇 The largest city is **Des Moines**.

Iowa’s 2020 population neared **3.2 million** in **2020**.

The results of the 2020 Census show that:
                  - The total population of Iowa was  3,190,369  – an increase of  4.7%  from  2010 
                  - 215,986  or  6.8%  of people in Iowa reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of  42.5%  from  2010

🌐 Check out our America Counts state profile for Iowa

🌐 Explore Census Bureau data for Iowa using data.census.gov

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### **December 29th, 2022:**

#### Texas' **177th**Anniversary

🔎 **Did you know?** Texas is the **2nd** largest state by area and was the **28th** state to join the Union.

💐 The state flower is the **Bluebonnet**.

⭐ The state nickname is the **Lone Star State**.

🌇 The largest city is **Houston**.

Texas added almost **4 million** people in the last decade.

The results of the 2020 Census show that:
                  - The total population of Texas was  29,145,505  – an increase of  15.9%  from  2010
                  - 11,441,717  or  39.3%  of people in Texas reported Hispanic or Latino origin – an increase of  20.9%  from  2010

🌐 Check out our America Counts state profile for Texas

🌐 Explore Census Bureau data for Texas using data.census.gov

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See All State Profiles

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## 📆 Year In Review

Take a look back at the year in Census Bureau data. The list below covers content that we published through **December 1, 2022**.

### **92 America Counts Stories**

### **12 Facts for Features**

### **160 Stats for Stories**

### **149 Economic Indicators**

### **7 By the Numbers**

### **16 Statistics in Schools Fun Facts**

### **15 Statistics in Schools Kahoot! Games**

### **101 Infographics and Visualizations**

### **12 Census Academy Data Gems and Tutorials**

### **87 Census Academy Webinars**

### **3 Census Academy Courses**

### **174 Videos Published on YouTube**

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#### **U.S. Census Bureau Official Social Media Accounts**

#### **Facebook – @uscensusbureau**

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