America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

Nation Celebrates Its 399th Annual Feast

In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims — early settlers of Plymouth Colony — held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Many regard this event as the nation’s first Thanksgiving.

The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived centuries since the event became a national holiday on Oct. 3, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving.

Read More

To learn more about:

• How many colonists were there in 1620
• The legacy of the national holiday
• How the 2020 Census plans to count every person living in the United States, including American Indians

Continue reading...

Help us spread the word about America Counts. Share this story on social media or forward it to a friend.

Share This

You May Be Interested In

Public Service Announcement Watch and share this PSA to learn what the 2020 Census is, how data are used and secured, how it affects representation, and how you can complete it.

Watch Now

About America Counts

America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency preparedness, and population. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews.