The Year was 1951
New Jersey had a turnpike. We were ratifying the 22nd amendment to the constitution, and the first color television was broadcasting from our Empire State Building.
Inflation was at a whopping 7.8 percent in the United States but it was falling.
United States — President – Harry S Truman
The US population was about 154,900,000 and our life expectancy in 1951 was about 67.5 years.
The murder rate was just 4 murders per 100,000 and violent crime was lower than in years preceding it.
The Median Household Income was about 3200 dollars for the average laborer without a college education and college educated people were only about 19 percent of the country.
The Minimum Wage in 1951 was $0.75 per hour, equivalent to $7.24 in 2018.
Grocery prices – Bacon was 19 cents a pound and eggs 17 for a dozen. A gallon of milk cost about $.91 cents and a loaf of bread was approximately 18 cents.
Sending a letter across the country would cost you $.02 in postage.
A gallon of gas cost about 19 cents.
The top selling car was the Ford Victoria and its base price was $2,059, roughly 7 months pay for the average worker.
1951 product introductions included
- Clorets Gum
- Pizza Rolls
- Ford Country Squire
- Colorforms
Colorforms with one of its creators, Patricia Kislevitz
Beauty salons were more than a place to get your hair styled in 1951. It was also a place for social gathering.
In Top news in 1951
King Abdullah of Jordan assassinated on July 20th in Jerusalem.
The Midwestern US sustains a great flood. Hundreds are killed and millions of dollars of damage occur. The first birth control pill and the Univac commercial computer are invented.
