1905 Life in America

Here are some statistics for 1905 in the United States of America

  1. The average life expectancy was 47 years.
  2. Only 14% of homes had a bathtub.
  3. Only 8% of homes had a telephone.
  4. A three minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
  5. There were only 8000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
  6. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 miles per hour.
  7. California was 21st most populated state with 1.4 million people.
  8. The Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world.
  9. The average wage was 22 cents per hour.
  10. The average worker made between 200 and 400 dollars per year.
  11. More than 95% of births took place at home.
  12. Sugar cost four cents per pound.
  13. Eggs were fourteen cents per dozen.
  14. Coffee was fifteen cents per pound.
  15. Most women washed their hair only once a month, using borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
  16. The five leading causes of death were: 1) pneumonia and influenza, 2) tuberculosis,
    3) diarrhea, 4) heart disease, and 5) stroke.
  17. The flag had only 45 stars (no Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii).
  18. The population of Las Vegas was only 30.
  19. Crossword puzzles and iced tea had not yet been invented.
  20. There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
  21. Two of every ten adults could not read or write.
  22. Only 6% of Americans had graduated from high school.
  23. Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the counter at local corner drugstores.
  24. About 18% of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.
  25. There were only 230 reported murders in the entire country.