The Foreign-Born Population
The United States is a nation founded by immigrants and is often referred to as a "melting pot." The country's rich heritage can be seen today in its diverse population. Regardless of where you study in the United States, you will encounter people from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. For instance, the United States is home to a significant foreign-born population that adds to the eclectic flavor of the country.
In August 2004 the U.S. Census Bureau published findings from its Current Population Survey 2003. The annual report provides a profile of the United States' foreign-born population, or residents who were not U.S. citizens at birth. According to the report, as of March 2003, foreign-born residents made up 11.7 percent of the U.S. population. When broken down by region of birth, 53.3 percent originated from Latin America (Caribbean, Central America, South America), 25 percent from Asia, 13.7 percent from Europe, and eight percent from other regions. The population characteristics report also presents information on the concentration of foreign-born residents throughout the United States. In 2003, the foreign-born population accounted for 22.2 percent in the Northeast region, 11.3 percent in the Midwest, 29.2 percent in the South, and 37.3 percent in the West.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in the United States fluctuates significantly by region. Areas in and near large cities and on the East and West coasts are the most expensive, while rural areas tend to be much less expensive. Many resources to calculate cost of living are available online.
A comprehensive resource can be found at Sperling's Best Places. This Web site uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index as a source for cost of living information on cities throughout the United States. When you visit the site, you can grasp the difference in cost of living among cities in various regions by selecting two locations to compare. For example, according to the cost of living statistics, San Diego, California, is 45.7 percent more expensive than Memphis, Tennessee. That means that a $50,000 salary in Memphis would need to increase to $72,835 annually in San Diego in order for a comparable standard of living to be maintained.
Time Zones
The United States comprises four time zones:
- Eastern
- Central
- Mountain
- Pacific
The East Coast is three hours "ahead" of the West Coast. In addition, most areas have what is called daylight savings time from April to October, when clocks are set ahead one hour to enjoy the longer days of summer.