Were you were born between the mid 1940’s to the mid 1960’s? If so, you are in good company with about 78.2 million people. As a “Baby Boomer,” you join a group that represents over a quarter of the total U.S. population, the largest generation in numbers and girth, in American history.
According to facts and figures compiled by the Colorado Trust, Denver is the “Boomer Capital” of the U.S. with this age group making up 33% of the population living in the Mile High City compared to the national average of 27% for a metro area.
Baby Boomers living in Colorado must be fascinating subjects because the Colorado Trust and the Rose Community Foundation are conducting a survey to understand what Boomers want and need to “live healthy, fulfilling and useful lives.” If you are between 55 and 65 (in age, not looks), you are invited to take the survey on coloradoboomers.com.Looking at the past, Baby Boomers have been known for their sex, drugs and wars. Here are some more interesting facts from coloradoboomers.com:
In 1957 alone, 4.3 million babies were born, the most ever. Anyone who is 60 today can expect to live on an average of 81.6 years. Better start mass producing nursing homes: in 2030, boomers will continue to be about 20% of the total population. Women represent 51% of all Boomers and 9% are African-American and 8% are Hispanic.
This explains a lot: Baby Boomers were the first generation to grow up with TV in the home. Yet most were multi-tasked, they still managed to get a high school diploma (89%) and nearly 30% went on to college.
Boomers are not zoomers–30% are obese and no wonder, with all those TV’s and nearly half with computer access.
About a quarter of Boomers do not think they will have enough money to retire. Not surprisingly, most do not plan to retire at age 65.
The Generation X group is only at 58.5 million. Even if Boomers start dying off in the next 25 years, there will still be almost as many Baby Boomers as Generation X’ers in 2030. Right now there are 3.3 workers for each Social Security beneficiary, in 2031 when all Baby Boomers will be over 65, there will be only 2.1 workers. So pick up that second job, Gen X!
Taking two steps forward in the 1960’s and 1970’s and one step back in the 1980’s and 1990’s, Boomers were a part of social movements including civil rights, feminism, anti-war protest, environmental movement, sexual revolution and recreational drugs. Hair styles, A-bomb scares, music, fashion, politics, religion, Vietnam War, sex and marijuana use produced a wide generational gap.
No wonder kids these days are having a hard time creating their own culture clash-their Baby Boomer parents did it all.
For more about Baby Boomers, click here.
Leslie Robinson is a Baby Boomer living in Rifle and she encourages her friends to sign up now for the “Happy Hippy Home” breaking ground in 2020.
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