The following are approximate numbers of US amateurs on the stated
dates, compared to the US population.

1930: US population 122 million, US hams 18,000, 1 ham per 6778
Americans

1940: US population 131 million, US hams 50,000, 1 ham per 2620
Americans

1950: US population 150 million, US hams 90,000, 1 ham per 1667
Americans

1960: US population 179 million, US hams 230,000, 1 ham per 779
Americans

1970: US population 223 million, US hams 270,000, 1 ham per 825
Americans

1980: US population 227 million, US hams 350,000, 1 ham per 649
Americans

1990: US population 249 million US hams 550,000, 1 ham per 453
Americans

2000: US population 281 million, US hams 683,000, 1 ham per 411
Americans

May 5 2007: US population (estimated) 301,773,107 US hams 655,219, 1
ham per 460 Americans

Except for the 1960s, every decade from the 1930s to the 1990s saw US
Amateur Radio growing faster than the US population.

73 de Jim, N2EY