Community Corner

Dad by the Numbers: Facts and Figures He'll Love for Father's Day

Use these nuggets of information to impress Dear Old Dad!

My grandparents often tell me that my dad just couldn’t stop smiling on the day I was born.

I was my parents’ much-desired first child. Labor and delivery was rough, and I know that when I finally, FINALLY, arrived (all 10 pounds of me) I looked a little less than perfect.

That didn’t stop my dad from proclaiming to everyone within the hospital waiting room, that I was going to be a supermodel …. Or possibly a movie star.

Find out what's happening in Pine-Richlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you’re reading this, you know I didn’t grow up to be a supermodel (or a movie star). I’m the editor for this site. But really, is there a dad out there who doesn’t think his little girl is most beautiful in the world?

Dads are special people.

Find out what's happening in Pine-Richlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So, in honor of Father’s Day, here are some dad-centric facts and figures sure to impress the big guy in your life. Feel free to add your own special Father’s Day experiences in the comment section below.

Enjoy!

When did Father’s Day Begin?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Father’s Day actually sprung from a Mother’s Day sermon. In 1909, Sonora Dodd, of Spokane, Wash., was listening to the radio sermon and thought there should be a special day to honor her dad. An injured Civil War veteran, William Smart raised six kids on his own after becoming a widow.

The next year, Spokane’s mayor proclaimed that Father’s Day would be celebrated in June, the month of Smart’s birth.

A few decades later, President Lyndon Johnson in 1966 designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. The day has been celebrated annually since 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed a public law that made the Father’s Day date permanent.

How Many Fathers? (All figures below are from the U.S. Census Bureau)

  • 70.1 million - Estimated number of fathers across the nation.
  • 24.4 million - Number of fathers who were part of married-couple families with children younger than 18 in 2012.
  • 1.96 million -Number of single fathers in 2012; 16 percent of single parents were men.

Places Dad LIKES to shop

  • 7,368 - The number of men’s clothing stores around the country as of 2010.
  • 15,542 - The number of hardware stores (as of 2010) where you can buy hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers and other items high on the list of Father’s Day gifts. Additionally, there were 6,764 home centers across the country in
  • 2010.
  • 21,418 - Number of sporting goods stores as of 2010 where you can purchase those fishing rods and golf clubs that dad so enjoys.
  • 79.1 million - The number of Americans who participated in a barbecue in the last year—probably with Dad at the grill on Father’s Day.

Mr. Mom

  • 189,000—Estimated number of stay-at-home dads in 2012.

Dad and Me

  • 0 – The cost of telling your dad you love him.

Have a special dad? Wish him a Happy Father's Day in the comment section below! 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Pine-Richland