Thursday, July 4, 2013

The Fourth of July 2013


On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.                   

2.5 million 

In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.

Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970


316.2 million

The nation’s estimated population on this July Fourth.

Source: U.S. and World Population Clock


The Signers


56

Numbers of signers to the Declaration of Independence.

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston comprised the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration. Jefferson, regarded as the strongest and most eloquent writer, wrote most of the document.

It’s also worth noting that:

 --  John Hancock, President of the Second Continental Congress, was the first signer. This merchant by trade did so in an entirely blank space making it the largest and most famous signature – hence the term John Hancock, which is still used today as a synonym for signature. There are 7,354,043 businesses with paid employees in the U.S., according to the 2011 County Business Patterns. 

--  Benjamin Franklin (age 70), who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest of the signers.

--  Franklin County, Pa., had an estimated population of 151,275 as of July 1, 2012. Edward Rutledge (age 26), of South Carolina, was the youngest. 

--  Two future presidents signed, John Adams (second President) and Thomas Jefferson (third President). Both died on the 50th anniversary of signing the Declaration (July 4, 1826). There are 12 counties nationwide named Adams and 26 named Jefferson.

--  Robert Livingston, who represented New York, was on the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence but was recalled by his state before he could sign it. Livingston County, N.Y., was home to an estimated 64,810 people as of July 1, 2012.

--  Representing Georgia in 1776 were Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall and George Walton. Gwinnett County, Ga. (842,046), Hall County, Ga. (185,416) and Walton County, Ga. (84,575) were named for these signers.

--  Charles Carroll, who represented Maryland, was the last surviving member of the signers of the Declaration. He died in 1832 at the age of 95. Carroll County, Md., named for him, had an estimated population of 167,217 as of July 1, 2012.

--  Roger Sherman, who worked as a land surveyor and lawyer, represented Connecticut. Today, there are an estimated 30,445 surveyors, cartographers and photogrammetrists employed full time, year-round, and 840,813 lawyers employed full time, year-round nationwide, according to the 2011 American Community Survey.

--  Nelson County, Va. (14,827) and Wythe County, Va. (29,251) were named for two of the six signers who represented the state of Virginia – Thomas Nelson Jr. and George Wythe.


Fireworks


$218.2 million 

The value of fireworks imported from China in 2012, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($227.3 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $11.7 million in 2012, with Israel purchasing more than any other country ($2.5 million). 

$231.8 million

The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007.

Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 325998J108

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Do you want to be a Math Statistician for the Government?

Math Statistician

Job Summary and Qualifications

Would you be interested in:

  • Being on the forefront of developing new statistical methodologies and performing cutting edge research to solve statistical problems
  • Developing and conducting statistical computing research involving record linkage, time series-modeling, seasonal adjustment, and demographic forecasting
  • Designing the surveys that provide the official measurements of income and poverty, unemployment, manufacturing and foreign trade
  • Being a part of the statistics sought by the president's council of economic advisors, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Congress

What you need to know:

Their background includes 24 semester / 35 quarter hours of mathematics and statistics in courses such as:
  • Introduction to Numerical Analysis
  • Elementary Mathematical Models
  • Vectors and Matrices
  • Introduction to Number Theory
  • Differential Equations
  • Differential Calculus
  • Integral Calculus
  • Theory of Equations
  • Regression Analysis
  • Mathematical Statistics
  • Probability
  • Integral Vector Calculus
  • Qualitative Theory of Differential Equations
  • Linear Algebra
  • Mathematical Methods of Operational Research
  • Time Series Analysis
  • Sampling Theory
  • Stochastic Process
  • Questionnaire Design
  • Data Collection Methods in Survey Research
  • Survey Methodologies

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Do you want to be Cartographer for the Government?

Cartographer

Job Summary and Qualifications

Would you be interested in:

  • Enhancing your expertise in mapping and map design to create maps that guide over 500,000 field enumerators in collecting Census information
  • Developing sophisticated high volume automated map production systems
  • Preparing a wide variety of specialized maps and cartographic files displaying geographic and statistical data for public dissemination
  • Contributing to improving the practice of cartography through participation in the work of professional organizations

What you need to know:

Their background includes 24 semester / 35 quarter hours in geography or related fields. Cartographers usually possess majors in cartography that include 30 semester hours/45 quarter hours in cartography and related sciences such as those listed below of which at least 6, but no more than 15 hours were in mathematics.
  • Principles of Cartography
  • Principles of Map Design
  • Maps and Map Use
  • Problems in Cartography
  • Computer Mapping
  • Computer Science
  • Geography
  • Economic Geography
  • Cultural Geography
  • Photogrammetry
  • Land Surveying
  • Statistics
  • Urban Studies and Urban Planning
  • Physical Geography
  • Remote Sensing
  • Geology
  • Meteorology
  • Anthropology
  • Quantitative Methods in Geography
  • Transportation Networks
  • Urban Climates
  • Applied Climatology
  • Astronomy
  • Physical and Geological Oceanography
  • Geophysics
  • Climatology

Monday, July 1, 2013

Want to be a Geographer for the Government?

Geographer

Job Summary and Qualifications

Would you be interested in:

Developing expertise in mapping and map design used to guide over 200,000 enumerators in collecting Census information
  • Preparing the highly specialized maps and files of geographic data for the Census
  • Analyzing data to provide critical, up-to-date information for geographic publications
  • Working on our nationwide cartographic and geographic data bases called TIGER
  • Planning and monitoring field operations that involve recording and mapping millions of addresses across rural America, as well as updating maps and delivering questionnaires to millions of houses
  • Planning and monitoring field operations that involve updating maps and lists of addresses for thousands of jurisdictions across urban America
  • Writing instructions and training packages used by thousands of field supervisors and hundreds of thousands of field staff nationwide.

What you need to know:

Their background includes 24 semester / 35 quarter hours in geography or related fields similar to those listed below. Cartographers usually possess majors in cartography that include 30 semester hours/45 quarter hours in cartography and related sciences such as those listed below of which at least 6, but no more than 15 hours were in mathematics.
  • Cartography
  • Astronomy
  • Photogrammetry
  • Physical and Geological Oceanography
  • Computer Science
  • Land Surveying
  • Geophysics
  • Physical Geography
  • Remote Sensing
  • Geology
  • Meteorology
  • Statistics
  • Anthropology
  • Urban Studies and Urban Planning
  • Geography
  • Maps and Map Use
  • Economic Geography
  • Quantitative Methods in Geography
  • Climatology
  • Principles of Cartography
  • Computer Mapping
  • Cultural Geography
  • Transportation Networks
  • Urban Climates
  • Applied Climatology
  • Problems in Cartography
  • Advance Remote Sensing
  • Principles of Map Design
For additional information on becoming a Geographer with the Government, follow this link.