How Things Have Changed in a Century

It is hard for us to imagine how greatly things have changed in the US over the past few years. Yet, change is not slowing but increasing and the overload of information and change is pretty overwhelming sometimes. One of the reasons we are launching a new ministry thrust to Seasoned Believers is to develop Seasoned Communities of Practice where we can design ways to buffer ourselves against the destructive affects of change while utilizing the positive aspects of things made new.

Here are some of the U.S. Statistics for the Year 1907

The average life expectancy in the U.S. Was 47 years old.

There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S. for the 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. (See the old car above and the roads today)

Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. Had a bathtub and 8 percent had a telephone. A three-minute call from Denver to New York City Cost eleven dollars.


Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California . With a mere 1.4 million people, California was the 21st most populous state in the Union .

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

The average wage in the U.S. Was 22 Cents per hour. The average U.S worker made between $200 and $400 per year . ! A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500, a veterinarian $1,500, a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. Took place at home . Ninety percent of all U. S Doctors had no college education. They attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee was fifteen cents a pound. Most women only washed their hair once a month , and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from Entering into their country for any reason.

Five leading causes of death in the U.S. Were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet. The population of Las Vegas , Nevada , was 30.

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet. There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 U.S. Adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school. Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Pharmacists said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."

There were about 230 reported Murders in the entire U.S.A.

Before moving quickly on to a new and different blog or magazine article, think a minute about the changes that have occurred in your own life time and how they affect you and your family.

Then, imagine what massive changes will occur over the next two or three decades. How are you planning your life to make sure you are able to live a free and joyful life in the midst of the changes?