Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-12-04
AMERICAS BIG DIVORCE RECORD
Census Bureau Shows Nearly
Million in Twenty Years,

ScAooS 1uAS"4 wall
Million in Twenty Years.
Divorce and marriage statistics for
twenty years, from 1887 to 1906 inclu-
sive. are embodied in a compilation
completed by the United States census
bureau.
The total numbcr OF marriages re-
corded during the twenty years from
S s to 1906 incl nsive was 12,S32, GA.
The number annually reported increas-
ed from ASSOC in the year 1887 to
Sa3,2O in the year 1906. The marriage
rate in the United States in the year
1900 was 90 per 10000 population. The
total number Of divorces reported for
the twenty years. 1887 to 1906, inclus-
i've, was 945,G20. For the earlier in
veStigation. covering the twenty years,
1867 TO 1856, inclusive, the humble rs-
ported was 2 ZIG, or hardly more than
one-third OF the lumber recorded in the
second twenty years. AT the beginning
OF the forty-year period, covered by the
two Investigations, divorces occurred at
the rate of 10000 a year; at the end
of that period the annual number was
about $1,000. This increase, however,
must be considered in connection with
increase In population.
An increase of 80 per cent in popula-
tiop between the years 1870 to 1880 was
accompanied by an increase Of 70 per
rent in the number Of divorces granted.
in inc next decade, 1886 ~ 1896, the
population increased rs per cent and
divorces 70 per cent, and in the follow
ing decade. 1890 to 1905, an increase Of
Fl per cent in population was accom-
panied BY an increase Of 66 per cent
in the number OF divorces. In the six
years from 1900 to 1906, population, as
estimated, increased 1O.5 per cent and
divorces Co. per cent.
1t thus appears that at the end of tho
forty yea period divorces were incrcns-
ing about three times rs fast as popu-
lation, while in the first decade (1S7O
to 1SSo} they Increased only about W
and two-thirds as fast.
The divorce rate per 10000 popula-
ton increased from twenty-nine in 1870
to eiEhty-two in 1906. In the former
year there was one divorce for every
3,441 persons and in the latter year one
for every 1,21S. Since it is only mar
ried people who can become divoced, a
more significant divorce rate is hat
which is based not upon total popula-
ton. but upon the, total married popu-
lation. The rate per 100000 married
population was eighty-one in the year
1870 and 2OO in the year 1900. This
comparison indicates that divorce is Mt
present two and one-half times as COM
mon, compared with married popula-
ton, as it was forty years ago. A
divorce rate OF 200 per 100000 married
population is equivalent to two per
1000 married population. Assuming
that 1000 married people represent 800
married couples, it follows that in each
year four married couples out of every
1000 secure a divorce.
This does not mean that only four
marriages out of 1000 are terminated
by divorce. The rate, it will be noted,
is an annual rate. continuously opera
tive, and comes far short OF measuring
the probability Of ultimate divorce. Tho
available data indicate, however, that
not less than one marriage in twelve is
ultimately terminated by divorce.
Divorce rates appear to be much
higher in the United States than in any
Of the foreign countries for which sta
tistics relating to this subject have been
obtained. "
Two-thirds of the total number of d.
vorces granted in the twenty-year pc
Yiod covered by this investigation were
granted to the wife. ...... .,