State Fairs

August 13, 2009

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Profile America — Thursday, August 13th. This is the time in many parts of the country for a very American celebration — the annual state fair. During the month, a total of 18 fairs will be held. Each will draw tens of thousands of people to experience the special mix of food, entertainment and entrepreneurship that make up a state fair. These events go back to the early 19th century and were held to celebrate the annual harvest. In 1920, there were about 6.2 million farms in the U.S., feeding a population of just over a hundred million people. Today, advances in agriculture are such that less than one-third as many farms provide food for a population nearly three times that of 1920. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureauonline at <www>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 403
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 457
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1, 793
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009edition.html