Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-08-17
1882 DECREASES u. S.
WEDDINGS, DIVORCES
Census Officials Cite Job
Scarcity as Reason.

divorce has suffered even more.
The bureau of the census has dis
closed that the third year of the de-
preston, 1882, saw a sharp decrease
both in marriages and divorces.
The bureau gave no reasons. but Of
fcials express their belief that unem-
ployment, reduced earning power, and
lack of confidence In the immediate
future were responsible.
Marriages in 1882 totaled 9S1, 759,
the bureau reported, compared with
1,O6O,791 in 1881, a decrease of rs per
cent. The decline began in 1880 with
a drop of SO per cent.
Divorces were 16O,329 in 1882, COM
pared with 183,664 in the previous
year; the decrease was 1877 per cent,
while the 1930-'31 decline was Al per
cent.
There were in 1882, the bureau
stated, 10 marriages for every 1000
persons In the country's total popu-
lation Of 124,822, 900, as compared with
S.5 in 1881 when the population was
124,O70,OO0. At the same time, there
were 1928 divorces for every 1000 Of
population in 1882, as against LAB
in 1881.
Viewing Figures by States.
In arriving at the national percent
age decrease in the number Of we'd
dings, the bureau found the declines
in various states ranging from a drop
Of 1875 per cent in Iowa to only OS
per cent in Texas.
In ten states the bureau found in
creases in the number of marriages.
These gains were attributed infer
entially by the statistical census Of
hcials to eluding stringent marriage
laws by skipping across a state to
the nearest parson In a more liberal
neighboring state
can ten states" the bureau said,
"adjoin those in which recent changes
made in the marriage laws require
from three to five days to elapse be-
tween the application for marriage
license and the issuance Of the same"
The ten states with the rate Of
their increased wedding activity were
Missouri, 3.5 per cent; South Dakota,
81 per cent; Nebraska, 66 per cent;
West Virginia, IL per cent; Missis-
sippi, 81 per cent; Arkansas, So per
cent; Oklahoma, less than one-tenth
Of 1 per cent; New Mexico, 9 per
cent; Arizona, / per cent, and Utah
One-half Of per cent.
For every divorce In this country
during 1882, the bureau disclosed,
there were 81 marriages. This repre-
sented distinct gain for the mar
riages. Last year there were So wed
dings for every divorce.
Nevada Leads List.
Nevada, with its Reno, continued to
lead the list OF states in the ratio
Of divorces to marriages. Nevada re-
ported nearly as many endings as be-
ginnings Of married life. There were
only is weddings for every divorce
in the state. New York and the Dis
trict of Columbia, on the other hand,
reported ola and 1853 weddings for
every divorce during the year.
In Illinois during the year, the ma
tional slump in both marriages and
divorces was reflected, although the
decline in divorces was by far the
heavier. Weddings I'm the state num-
bered 65,0S8, the bureau revealed, for
decrease Of 81 per cent. Divorces
totaled 11,745, declining by 1915 per
cent from the preceding year. There
were SIS marriages for every divorce,
and S.4 weddings for every 1000 Of
population in the state, as compared
with Isl divorces.
Wisconsin reported 14,035 marriages
during the year, for a decrease OF 81
per cent from 1881. Divorces totaied
1858 In the state, declining by 100
per cent. There were 6 marriages for
every divorce and AZ weddings and
o79 divorces for every 1000 o. popu-
lation.
In Indiana, marriages numbered &c.
lO5, dropping by SO per cent, while
divorces totaled 1922 for a decrease Of
III per cent. For every divorce
tnere were 81 weddings, while for
every 1000 inhabitants Of the state
mere were IL marriage and LOB
divorces.