HOUSE HEATING FUEL
In 1990, the twin kings of heating fuel were utility gas and
electricity. About three-quarters of our homes used one or the
other as their principal heat source; utility gas alone accounted
for about half.
States where utility gas was most prevalent include Utah,
Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, and Kansas. Electricity was most
likely to dominate in warm weather States and/or areas where
abundant hydroelectric power existed, such as Florida,
Washington, Arizona, and Tennessee.
Fuel oil was tops in New England; 70 percent of the homes in
Maine, for example, used fuel oil. New Hampshire, Connecticut,
and Vermont followed closely on Maine's heels.
No fuel other than the three above was dominant in any one State,
but a couple were hardly rare in some parts of the nation.
Bottled, tank, or LP gas was used by about 20 percent of homes in
Mississippi and South Dakota. Wood almost reached that level in
some rural States with abundant forests, such as Idaho, Vermont,
and Oregon.
So, for most of us Americans today using utiltiy gas or
electricity, all we have to worry about is when and where to set
the thermostat. Imagine having to spend a lot of time shoveling
coal or chopping wood. Well, if you were 50 years old in 1990,
chances are someone did in the first house or apartment building
you lived in! In 1940, about three-quarters of all households
heated with coal or wood.
Tracing the history of house heating fuels from 1940 to 1990
illustrates well how much our lives and homes have changed in a
mere half-century.
Electricity was so rare in 1940, the Census Bureau did not even
bother to tally its usage. Even as late as 1960, it was rare in
the nation as a whole, registering a paltry 2 percent; however,
its use had entered double digits in rapidly-growing Nevada back
in 1950. Then, its growth exploded until, by 1990, it heated
about one-quarter of our homes nationally.
Utility gas (lumped with bottled gas) was used by barely more
than one home in 10 in 1940, although it was dominant in
California even then. Its growth was very rapid, passing the
50-percent mark by 1970, where it has essentially leveled off.
Fuel oil (including kerosene and other liquid fuels) has had a
roller coaster ride from 1940 to 1990. It, like gas, was used by
only 10 percent of American homes in 1940. By 1960, it had risen
to 33 percent. Then, it has declined ever since. By 1990, its
percent use was just a little higher than it was in 1940, but, as
noted earlier, it is the most common fuel in New England.
Coal has virtually disappeared. It was still the most likely
fuel to be used nationally in 1950 (35 percent), but that was the
last time it could make that claim.
Wood, dominant in the Pacific Northwest and South in 1940, had
virtually disappeared as a heating fuel by 1970. However, since
then, it has had a modest comeback, standing at 4 percent
nationally in 1990.
1 9 9 0
Occupied Utility Bottled, Elec- Fuel Coal Wood Other No
units gas tank, or tricity oil, or fuel fuel
LP gas kero- coke used
sene,
etc.
US 91947410 51.0% 5.7% 25.8% 12.2% 0.4% 3.9% 0.4% 0.6%
AL 1506790 42.8% 15.6% 34.6% 1.2% 0.3% 5.3% 0.1% 0.1%
AK 188915 42.8% 1.9% 11.8% 32.3% 1.7% 7.7% 1.4% 0.5%
AZ 1368843 39.5% 4.4% 51.4% 0.2% 0.2% 3.6% 0.2% 0.4%
AR 891179 52.8% 11.6% 22.7% 0.2% 0.0% 12.5% 0.1% 0.1%
CA 10381206 73.2% 3.1% 19.2% 0.3% 0.0% 3.1% 0.3% 0.8%
CO 1282489 77.0% 4.8% 12.9% 0.3% 0.4% 3.3% 1.1% 0.3%
CT 1230479 26.3% 1.9% 15.1% 54.4% 0.3% 1.6% 0.2% 0.2%
DE 247497 30.5% 6.8% 21.8% 38.5% 0.2% 1.7% 0.3% 0.2%
DC 249634 63.5% 2.0% 20.5% 12.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.7% 0.8%
FL 5134869 7.5% 7.2% 78.8% 4.1% 0.0% 0.8% 0.2% 1.5%
GA 2366615 53.3% 13.8% 27.2% 1.5% 0.0% 3.8% 0.1% 0.2%
HI 356267 3.3% 2.0% 37.9% 0.2% 0.0% 0.5% 1.6% 54.5%
ID 360723 28.2% 3.1% 39.8% 9.0% 1.3% 18.0% 0.6% 0.1%
IL 4202240 80.3% 4.3% 11.2% 1.8% 0.1% 1.0% 0.7% 0.5%
IN 2065355 63.1% 6.4% 19.3% 6.2% 0.2% 4.2% 0.4% 0.2%
IA 1064325 65.6% 14.8% 10.5% 5.5% 0.0% 2.9% 0.5% 0.2%
KS 944726 75.9% 8.8% 11.8% 0.3% 0.0% 2.9% 0.3% 0.1%
KY 1379782 45.6% 7.7% 30.0% 4.8% 3.2% 8.2% 0.3% 0.2%
LA 1499269 55.1% 5.8% 36.2% 0.3% 0.0% 2.3% 0.1% 0.2%
ME 465312 1.8% 1.9% 11.7% 69.5% 0.7% 14.1% 0.3% 0.1%
MD 1748991 43.2% 2.3% 29.6% 22.1% 0.3% 1.9% 0.4% 0.3%
MA 2247110 38.0% 2.1% 13.5% 44.0% 0.3% 1.5% 0.4% 0.3%
MI 3419331 76.9% 6.1% 5.4% 6.9% 0.1% 3.9% 0.5% 0.2%
MN 1647853 62.9% 8.2% 10.5% 11.9% 0.1% 4.9% 1.2% 0.5%
MS 911374 40.8% 20.1% 30.6% 0.5% 0.0% 7.8% 0.1% 0.1%
MO 1961206 60.4% 12.0% 18.1% 1.5% 0.0% 7.6% 0.2% 0.1%
MT 306163 54.2% 7.5% 17.9% 4.1% 0.8% 14.7% 0.6% 0.1%
NE 602363 70.2% 10.9% 13.6% 2.5% 0.0% 2.1% 0.5% 0.1%
NV 466297 47.7% 6.0% 39.3% 3.7% 0.1% 2.6% 0.4% 0.2%
NH 411186 15.2% 6.1% 12.4% 55.8% 0.9% 9.0% 0.4% 0.2%
NJ 2794711 57.5% 1.9% 10.0% 29.2% 0.1% 0.5% 0.4% 0.3%
NM 542709 70.1% 11.9% 9.1% 0.3% 0.2% 7.6% 0.7% 0.1%
NY 6639322 45.7% 2.4% 8.5% 39.6% 0.2% 2.0% 1.0% 0.5%
NC 2517026 18.6% 8.5% 42.0% 22.5% 0.1% 7.8% 0.3% 0.2%
ND 240878 39.7% 14.0% 26.2% 15.7% 1.7% 1.2% 0.9% 0.6%
OH 4087546 68.2% 3.8% 16.8% 7.5% 0.4% 2.5% 0.7% 0.2%
OK 1206135 64.4% 10.0% 20.5% 0.1% 0.0% 4.7% 0.2% 0.1%
OR 1103313 24.7% 1.5% 44.6% 11.4% 0.0% 16.9% 0.6% 0.2%
PA 4495966 49.5% 1.7% 14.8% 27.9% 2.9% 2.6% 0.4% 0.2%
RI 377977 40.7% 2.4% 7.9% 47.0% 0.2% 1.4% 0.3% 0.1%
SC 1258044 24.6% 9.2% 46.9% 13.2% 0.1% 5.7% 0.2% 0.2%
SD 259034 43.0% 19.9% 17.8% 13.6% 0.2% 4.2% 0.8% 0.4%
TN 1853725 30.0% 5.5% 50.5% 3.8% 0.9% 9.0% 0.2% 0.1%
TX 6070937 50.4% 7.8% 40.2% 0.1% 0.0% 1.2% 0.1% 0.2%
UT 537273 81.9% 2.3% 9.5% 1.3% 1.3% 3.2% 0.3% 0.1%
VT 210650 8.0% 10.5% 9.1% 54.3% 0.7% 17.0% 0.2% 0.2%
VA 2291830 28.9% 2.6% 40.1% 20.2% 0.8% 6.7% 0.4% 0.3%
WA 1872431 22.4% 1.1% 55.1% 9.9% 0.1% 10.6% 0.6% 0.2%
WV 688557 50.7% 2.8% 25.3% 7.8% 4.0% 9.0% 0.4% 0.1%
WI 1822118 61.0% 8.4% 9.3% 14.6% 0.0% 5.9% 0.6% 0.2%
WY 168839 62.9% 9.0% 16.5% 0.7% 2.2% 7.9% 0.6% 0.2%
1 9 8 0
Occupied Utility Bottled, Elec- Fuel Coal Wood Other No
units gas tank, or tricity oil, or fuel fuel
LP gas kero- coke used
sene,
etc.
US 80389673 53.1% 5.6% 18.4% 18.2% 0.6% 3.2% 0.2% 0.7%
AL 1341856 47.7% 17.3% 25.9% 0.5% 0.9% 7.5% 0.1% 0.1%
AK 131463 35.7% 1.4% 14.4% 38.3% 2.3% 7.2% 0.7% 0.1%
AZ 957032 56.8% 4.6% 34.2% 0.2% 0.1% 3.5% 0.1% 0.7%
AR 816065 57.9% 15.8% 15.6% 0.1% 0.0% 10.4% 0.0% 0.1%
CA 8629866 78.7% 2.7% 15.3% 0.3% 0.0% 1.9% 0.1% 0.8%
CO 1061249 81.7% 5.3% 9.5% 0.6% 0.6% 2.0% 0.3% 0.0%
CT 1093678 21.6% 1.2% 10.7% 63.8% 0.2% 2.2% 0.1% 0.1%
DE 207081 28.1% 3.0% 11.3% 55.3% 0.2% 1.8% 0.1% 0.1%
DC 253143 57.4% 1.4% 10.2% 30.0% 0.2% 0.0% 0.6% 0.1%
FL 3744254 11.3% 12.0% 60.5% 11.3% 0.0% 1.3% 0.0% 3.6%
GA 1871652 55.8% 17.0% 19.8% 1.9% 0.2% 5.2% 0.0% 0.1%
HI 294052 4.1% 1.2% 4.5% 0.3% 0.0% 1.1% 0.1% 88.7%
ID 324107 26.7% 3.7% 39.1% 16.3% 2.9% 11.0% 0.3% 0.1%
IL 4045374 80.7% 4.3% 8.4% 5.3% 0.4% 0.5% 0.3% 0.0%
IN 1927050 60.9% 6.3% 16.4% 13.3% 0.5% 2.4% 0.2% 0.0%
IA 1053033 64.8% 14.0% 8.3% 11.0% 0.2% 1.6% 0.2% 0.0%
KS 872239 78.5% 9.7% 9.2% 0.6% 0.0% 1.9% 0.1% 0.0%
KY 1263355 50.7% 7.8% 23.2% 6.6% 5.1% 6.3% 0.2% 0.1%
LA 1411788 69.0% 6.8% 22.2% 0.1% 0.0% 1.6% 0.1% 0.2%
ME 395184 1.5% 1.2% 10.6% 71.3% 0.2% 15.1% 0.1% 0.1%
MD 1460865 46.0% 1.5% 13.8% 36.1% 0.5% 1.8% 0.2% 0.1%
MA 2032717 32.8% 1.2% 9.6% 54.0% 0.2% 2.0% 0.2% 0.1%
MI 3195213 76.1% 3.9% 4.7% 12.8% 0.2% 2.1% 0.2% 0.0%
MN 1445222 59.3% 7.3% 7.0% 22.5% 0.2% 3.0% 0.6% 0.0%
MS 827169 46.0% 21.3% 23.0% 0.2% 0.0% 9.2% 0.1% 0.2%
MO 1793399 65.0% 14.3% 11.7% 3.5% 0.1% 5.2% 0.2% 0.0%
MT 283742 60.9% 7.4% 14.6% 6.7% 1.0% 9.1% 0.2% 0.0%
NE 571400 71.8% 12.0% 9.7% 4.8% 0.1% 1.3% 0.2% 0.0%
NV 304327 47.9% 6.2% 36.2% 6.9% 0.2% 2.4% 0.1% 0.2%
NH 323493 11.8% 2.9% 13.4% 59.8% 0.2% 11.7% 0.1% 0.1%
NJ 2548594 44.2% 0.9% 7.9% 46.0% 0.2% 0.5% 0.2% 0.1%
NM 441466 74.4% 10.5% 8.1% 0.4% 0.2% 6.0% 0.1% 0.3%
NY 6340429 39.3% 1.3% 5.1% 51.9% 0.3% 1.6% 0.6% 0.1%
NC 2043291 16.0% 5.8% 29.3% 40.1% 0.3% 8.2% 0.1% 0.2%
ND 227664 40.3% 11.4% 17.5% 27.9% 2.0% 0.6% 0.2% 0.0%
OH 3833828 71.0% 2.8% 13.0% 10.8% 0.8% 1.4% 0.3% 0.0%
OK 1118561 69.5% 9.6% 16.3% 0.1% 0.0% 4.5% 0.1% 0.1%
OR 991593 22.5% 1.9% 43.8% 18.8% 0.1% 12.5% 0.3% 0.1%
PA 4219606 48.9% 1.0% 10.3% 34.6% 3.5% 1.6% 0.2% 0.1%
RI 338590 32.3% 1.3% 6.9% 57.2% 0.2% 2.0% 0.1% 0.1%
SC 1029981 25.8% 11.5% 31.1% 24.5% 0.4% 6.5% 0.0% 0.2%
SD 242523 41.9% 18.0% 14.5% 22.2% 0.3% 2.9% 0.2% 0.0%
TN 1618505 28.5% 4.9% 49.1% 3.9% 2.4% 11.2% 0.1% 0.1%
TX 4929267 63.4% 8.8% 25.9% 0.1% 0.0% 1.4% 0.1% 0.4%
UT 448603 80.9% 2.4% 10.2% 2.5% 2.2% 1.7% 0.1% 0.0%
VT 178325 6.0% 4.9% 10.1% 61.0% 0.5% 17.4% 0.1% 0.1%
VA 1863073 28.4% 1.7% 26.9% 34.0% 1.7% 7.2% 0.1% 0.1%
WA 1540510 22.1% 1.1% 52.5% 18.6% 0.2% 5.0% 0.3% 0.1%
WV 686311 59.4% 2.5% 18.3% 10.0% 5.3% 4.4% 0.1% 0.1%
WI 1652261 57.2% 7.9% 6.1% 25.8% 0.2% 2.6% 0.2% 0.0%
WY 165624 73.4% 9.6% 11.3% 1.0% 1.8% 2.8% 0.1% 0.0%
1 9 7 0
Occupied Utility Bottled, Elec- Fuel Coal Wood Other No
units gas tank, or tricity oil, or fuel fuel
LP gas kero- coke used
sene,
etc.
US 63446641 55.2% 6.0% 7.7% 26.0% 2.9% 1.3% 0.4% 0.6%
AL 1034113 55.1% 18.6% 13.6% 1.9% 5.2% 5.4% 0.1% 0.1%
AK 79059 26.0% 1.6% 4.8% 56.6% 4.0% 3.7% 3.2% 0.1%
AZ 539157 78.7% 5.0% 12.3% 0.8% 0.1% 2.3% 0.1% 0.8%
AR 615424 64.9% 21.1% 4.5% 0.7% 0.4% 8.2% 0.1% 0.2%
CA 6573861 86.0% 3.1% 8.6% 0.7% 0.0% 0.7% 0.2% 0.7%
CO 690928 84.8% 7.3% 3.5% 1.7% 2.0% 0.2% 0.4% 0.0%
CT 933269 20.6% 1.4% 5.2% 71.9% 0.2% 0.1% 0.4% 0.1%
DE 164804 30.3% 2.1% 4.2% 61.5% 1.0% 0.4% 0.4% 0.1%
DC 262538 52.3% 1.8% 5.8% 34.9% 3.8% 0.0% 1.2% 0.1%
FL 2284786 15.4% 17.7% 32.3% 29.2% 0.0% 1.0% 0.1% 4.2%
GA 1369225 59.1% 18.3% 10.7% 5.0% 1.8% 4.9% 0.2% 0.1%
HI 203088 0.4% 0.2% 3.0% 0.3% 0.1% 1.0% 0.0% 95.0%
ID 218960 32.2% 5.4% 9.8% 40.2% 9.4% 2.5% 0.6% 0.0%
IL 3502138 70.5% 3.9% 3.0% 14.1% 7.7% 0.1% 0.6% 0.1%
IN 1609494 57.0% 6.0% 5.9% 26.9% 3.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.1%
IA 896311 62.8% 12.5% 1.9% 20.8% 1.5% 0.2% 0.4% 0.0%
KS 727364 82.2% 12.3% 3.1% 1.6% 0.2% 0.4% 0.2% 0.0%
KY 983665 58.0% 7.9% 8.3% 9.0% 13.7% 2.6% 0.5% 0.1%
LA 1052038 81.7% 10.0% 6.1% 0.5% 0.0% 1.5% 0.1% 0.2%
ME 302923 1.8% 1.4% 1.9% 91.8% 0.8% 2.1% 0.2% 0.0%
MD 1175073 46.8% 1.5% 4.9% 43.8% 1.8% 0.5% 0.6% 0.1%
MA 1759692 28.0% 1.0% 4.1% 65.8% 0.4% 0.1% 0.4% 0.1%
MI 2653059 70.0% 2.6% 2.6% 22.0% 2.2% 0.2% 0.4% 0.0%
MN 1153946 53.9% 6.2% 2.6% 34.3% 1.4% 0.6% 1.0% 0.0%
MS 636724 52.3% 26.6% 11.1% 0.6% 0.8% 8.4% 0.1% 0.1%
MO 1520567 67.8% 16.7% 2.9% 8.7% 0.9% 2.5% 0.4% 0.1%
MT 217304 69.5% 8.5% 3.9% 13.7% 2.1% 1.9% 0.3% 0.0%
NE 473721 71.9% 13.8% 3.2% 9.9% 0.5% 0.2% 0.4% 0.0%
NV 160052 39.0% 9.1% 34.6% 15.8% 0.4% 0.8% 0.2% 0.1%
NH 225378 10.9% 2.5% 4.4% 80.5% 0.6% 0.9% 0.1% 0.1%
NJ 2218182 41.2% 0.8% 3.3% 52.6% 1.3% 0.0% 0.6% 0.1%
NM 289389 78.0% 12.1% 2.6% 1.4% 0.3% 5.2% 0.1% 0.2%
NY 5913861 37.8% 1.1% 1.8% 56.8% 1.4% 0.1% 1.0% 0.1%
NC 1509564 14.9% 4.9% 10.8% 61.9% 3.2% 4.1% 0.2% 0.1%
ND 181613 31.8% 10.9% 3.3% 47.9% 5.2% 0.1% 0.8% 0.0%
OH 3289432 76.5% 2.2% 3.4% 14.1% 3.1% 0.1% 0.5% 0.1%
OK 850803 79.0% 14.0% 5.0% 0.2% 0.1% 1.5% 0.2% 0.0%
OR 691631 23.6% 2.7% 29.8% 37.8% 0.4% 4.7% 0.9% 0.1%
PA 3702304 48.3% 0.8% 3.9% 35.0% 11.2% 0.2% 0.5% 0.1%
RI 291965 27.4% 1.1% 2.7% 67.9% 0.1% 0.1% 0.3% 0.2%
SC 734373 27.0% 9.7% 9.0% 44.6% 3.2% 6.3% 0.1% 0.1%
SD 200807 40.1% 16.2% 3.3% 38.0% 1.4% 0.8% 0.2% 0.0%
TN 1213187 32.6% 5.3% 40.4% 6.3% 10.4% 4.7% 0.1% 0.1%
TX 3433996 78.8% 11.4% 8.2% 0.4% 0.0% 0.7% 0.1% 0.4%
UT 297934 81.8% 3.6% 2.8% 5.0% 6.0% 0.3% 0.4% 0.0%
VT 132098 5.0% 5.3% 5.9% 80.4% 1.7% 1.4% 0.2% 0.0%
VA 1390636 30.4% 1.6% 8.9% 48.6% 6.7% 3.3% 0.4% 0.1%
WA 1105587 23.4% 1.8% 30.4% 40.8% 1.1% 1.6% 0.8% 0.1%
WV 547214 68.8% 2.0% 4.6% 9.2% 14.4% 0.9% 0.1% 0.1%
WI 1328804 49.3% 6.4% 1.9% 39.2% 2.2% 0.5% 0.4% 0.0%
WY 104600 77.0% 12.9% 2.5% 3.4% 3.4% 0.7% 0.1% 0.0%
1 9 6 0
Occupied Utility Bottled, Elec- Fuel Coal Wood Other No
units gas tank, or tricity oil, or fuel fuel
LP gas kero- coke used
sene,
etc.
US 53022057 43.1% 5.1% 1.8% 32.4% 12.2% 4.2% 0.4% 0.9%
AL 884078 50.0% 11.2% 3.7% 3.0% 16.4% 14.7% 0.4% 0.6%
AK 57250 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% 71.5% 17.1% 9.2% 1.7% 0.2%
AZ 366578 79.2% 7.1% 2.8% 3.6% 0.3% 4.2% 0.3% 2.5%
AR 523523 54.7% 15.8% 0.7% 1.7% 3.1% 23.1% 0.6% 0.2%
CA 4981577 87.3% 4.3% 2.9% 1.8% 0.2% 1.7% 0.3% 1.6%
CO 529207 75.9% 8.0% 0.3% 5.9% 8.6% 1.0% 0.3% 0.1%
CT 752710 12.8% 1.6% 0.2% 80.2% 4.1% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2%
DE 128582 13.7% 1.9% 0.4% 73.9% 7.1% 2.5% 0.3% 0.1%
DC 252044 35.9% 1.8% 0.4% 42.0% 19.1% 0.0% 0.7% 0.1%
FL 1550361 10.7% 19.7% 9.6% 46.1% 0.3% 4.8% 0.5% 8.2%
GA 1070296 49.8% 10.9% 1.7% 9.9% 9.6% 17.0% 0.5% 0.5%
HI 153012 0.1% 0.1% 1.2% 0.3% 0.1% 0.6% 0.0% 97.6%
ID 193839 10.9% 3.1% 2.9% 50.0% 24.1% 8.2% 0.7% 0.0%
IL 3084638 36.0% 3.8% 0.2% 31.1% 28.0% 0.4% 0.3% 0.1%
IN 1387846 26.1% 4.2% 0.9% 42.3% 24.3% 1.5% 0.5% 0.1%
IA 841340 41.6% 6.2% 0.3% 36.7% 13.5% 1.3% 0.4% 0.0%
KS 672869 76.8% 11.6% 0.3% 5.6% 2.7% 2.6% 0.3% 0.1%
KY 851808 45.6% 4.4% 1.6% 7.7% 35.1% 5.2% 0.2% 0.2%
LA 892334 79.2% 10.5% 0.6% 1.6% 0.2% 6.9% 0.4% 0.5%
ME 280355 2.0% 0.8% 0.2% 81.2% 7.0% 8.4% 0.3% 0.1%
MD 862973 31.6% 1.2% 0.3% 54.5% 9.0% 2.7% 0.4% 0.2%
MA 1534959 15.6% 1.4% 0.1% 75.4% 6.6% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3%
MI 2239068 45.9% 1.8% 0.3% 35.1% 15.2% 1.3% 0.4% 0.0%
MN 991981 39.3% 5.7% 0.1% 42.5% 7.9% 3.3% 1.0% 0.0%
MS 568070 48.7% 17.2% 1.9% 1.2% 4.1% 25.8% 0.6% 0.5%
MO 1359973 51.3% 9.9% 0.4% 17.1% 12.2% 8.8% 0.2% 0.1%
MT 202240 61.0% 5.2% 1.3% 19.0% 6.9% 5.8% 0.6% 0.1%
NE 433374 60.0% 9.2% 0.3% 22.7% 5.5% 1.9% 0.4% 0.1%
NV 91520 26.1% 10.4% 21.9% 33.8% 3.3% 2.9% 0.9% 0.8%
NH 180020 6.3% 2.6% 0.1% 79.7% 7.1% 3.6% 0.3% 0.2%
NJ 1806399 24.7% 1.1% 0.2% 62.9% 10.2% 0.2% 0.3% 0.3%
NM 251187 69.6% 12.1% 0.5% 4.7% 2.5% 9.6% 0.4% 0.6%
NY 5249039 22.8% 1.0% 0.2% 65.2% 9.4% 0.5% 0.6% 0.3%
NC 1204682 5.0% 2.6% 0.8% 56.3% 16.5% 18.4% 0.3% 0.2%
ND 173362 17.5% 5.7% 0.1% 51.3% 23.9% 0.7% 0.6% 0.1%
OH 2852533 67.3% 1.6% 0.4% 15.2% 14.8% 0.4% 0.3% 0.1%
OK 734516 77.3% 15.4% 0.3% 0.9% 1.1% 4.4% 0.3% 0.3%
OR 558144 10.5% 2.4% 14.1% 54.6% 1.4% 15.1% 1.9% 0.1%
PA 3350716 37.0% 0.8% 0.2% 31.0% 29.8% 0.5% 0.5% 0.2%
RI 257318 16.3% 1.8% 0.1% 78.3% 2.7% 0.4% 0.2% 0.3%
SC 603527 9.8% 5.2% 0.6% 47.3% 14.6% 21.6% 0.4% 0.4%
SD 194821 28.2% 9.8% 0.5% 48.5% 9.9% 2.5% 0.5% 0.1%
TN 1003301 28.0% 3.4% 19.8% 7.6% 30.1% 10.8% 0.2% 0.2%
TX 2778201 78.6% 13.9% 0.8% 1.7% 0.1% 3.5% 0.2% 1.1%
UT 241532 69.4% 2.2% 0.4% 10.3% 16.9% 0.5% 0.2% 0.0%
VT 110732 0.5% 1.9% 0.2% 77.3% 12.3% 7.5% 0.2% 0.0%
VA 1072828 17.9% 1.2% 0.8% 46.2% 21.6% 11.9% 0.3% 0.2%
WA 894163 7.7% 1.2% 11.7% 65.2% 5.7% 7.1% 1.2% 0.1%
WV 521142 61.8% 1.1% 0.6% 4.0% 30.1% 2.1% 0.2% 0.2%
WI 1146302 22.3% 4.0% 0.2% 51.6% 18.0% 3.5% 0.4% 0.0%
WY 99187 68.8% 10.1% 0.2% 8.3% 10.8% 1.4% 0.2% 0.1%
1 9 5 0
Occupied Utility Bottled, Elec- Fuel Coal Wood Other No
units gas tank, or tricity oil, or fuel fuel
reporting LP gas kero- coke used
heating sene,
fuel etc.
US 41828850 26.6% 2.3% 0.7% 22.6% 34.6% 10.0% 1.8% 1.4% 100.0%
AL 767990 20.1% 3.5% 1.4% 6.8% 32.4% 33.9% 1.2% 0.7%
AK 27579 NA NA 0.4% 64.5% 12.6% 21.9% 0.4% 0.2%
AZ 200680 56.7% 8.6% 2.0% 12.5% 1.3% 13.1% 2.1% 3.8%
AR 504390 33.3% 6.6% 0.3% 8.3% 7.5% 41.7% 1.1% 1.2%
CA 3272685 81.2% 4.0% 1.7% 5.6% 0.9% 3.3% 1.6% 1.7%
CO 385140 47.3% 3.7% 0.3% 12.9% 32.1% 2.1% 1.3% 0.3%
CT 558690 6.5% 0.7% 0.1% 59.2% 27.9% 1.9% 2.1% 1.7%
DE 89245 5.9% 1.4% 0.1% 47.1% 35.4% 7.5% 2.0% 0.6%
DC 217810 27.8% 0.3% 0.1% 28.4% 40.4% 0.6% 2.0% 0.3%
FL 796810 7.8% 5.8% 4.1% 35.6% 1.4% 20.5% 4.6% 20.2%
GA 864570 20.6% 3.0% 1.1% 12.0% 24.0% 36.4% 1.6% 1.3%
HI NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
ID 165620 0.3% 1.3% 1.6% 34.0% 43.6% 14.8% 4.3% 0.2%
IL 2532670 12.4% 0.8% 0.1% 20.8% 62.3% 1.4% 1.7% 0.6%
IN 1151425 7.3% 1.0% 0.3% 21.0% 64.9% 3.8% 1.6% 0.3%
IA 767875 12.5% 2.0% 0.3% 32.2% 46.3% 4.6% 1.9% 0.2%
KS 573470 60.6% 5.3% 0.2% 10.0% 16.1% 6.1% 1.5% 0.2%
KY 760350 21.9% 1.0% 0.5% 4.5% 59.5% 11.0% 0.8% 0.7%
LA 692660 57.6% 9.4% 0.2% 9.0% 1.1% 19.6% 1.8% 1.3%
ME 250465 1.5% 0.7% 0.2% 50.0% 19.9% 24.2% 2.2% 1.3%
MD 626030 12.1% 0.7% 0.2% 45.9% 31.5% 6.9% 2.2% 0.6%
MA 1284185 7.6% 0.5% 0.1% 51.9% 34.7% 1.4% 2.1% 1.7%
MI 1757680 18.8% 0.5% 0.3% 24.4% 49.7% 4.2% 2.0% 0.1%
MN 829675 15.4% 1.4% 0.2% 39.0% 31.8% 9.7% 2.2% 0.3%
MS 535335 27.1% 7.5% 0.9% 4.1% 8.4% 49.7% 0.8% 1.4%
MO 1162305 24.5% 2.0% 0.2% 15.8% 40.1% 15.4% 1.5% 0.3%
MT 171940 43.1% 1.6% 0.7% 21.0% 20.5% 11.3% 1.7% 0.1%
NE 379375 29.4% 3.4% 0.4% 28.3% 30.0% 5.7% 2.5% 0.4%
NV 48410 2.2% 4.8% 17.5% 43.7% 15.7% 7.6% 7.9% 0.6%
NH 153435 1.8% 0.8% 0.1% 56.2% 24.8% 14.0% 1.7% 0.6%
NJ 1355525 9.4% 0.4% 0.1% 43.9% 42.4% 1.0% 1.6% 1.3%
NM 166385 51.3% 9.8% 0.5% 6.3% 8.8% 19.2% 1.3% 2.9%
NY 4202930 19.3% 0.5% 0.1% 32.9% 41.8% 1.8% 1.9% 1.8%
NC 969970 0.7% 1.0% 0.9% 28.0% 29.0% 36.3% 2.5% 1.6%
ND 159240 7.2% 2.2% 0.4% 30.2% 55.2% 1.9% 2.6% 0.2%
OH 2272565 34.2% 0.5% 0.2% 8.7% 53.8% 1.3% 1.2% 0.2%
OK 632585 68.4% 8.2% 0.2% 4.9% 5.5% 11.2% 0.9% 0.8%
OR 470820 5.9% 1.6% 3.3% 47.2% 5.8% 30.0% 6.0% 0.2%
PA 2863630 20.3% 0.4% 0.1% 14.8% 60.3% 1.7% 1.6% 0.8%
RI 223035 6.8% 0.5% 0.1% 63.6% 23.7% 1.1% 2.4% 1.8%
SC 502505 2.0% 1.9% 1.0% 26.2% 26.1% 39.5% 1.8% 1.5%
SD 179565 12.2% 5.3% 0.3% 36.6% 37.0% 5.8% 2.5% 0.2%
TN 851255 13.7% 0.6% 3.8% 8.6% 49.3% 21.5% 2.2% 0.3%
TX 2101135 65.1% 10.7% 0.5% 7.5% 0.7% 11.6% 1.5% 2.3%
UT 185755 34.6% 0.6% 0.4% 9.3% 51.1% 1.1% 2.3% 0.5%
VT 101975 0.5% 0.6% 0.1% 43.4% 30.9% 22.9% 1.5% 0.2%
VA 826700 4.7% 0.6% 0.4% 28.6% 40.0% 22.8% 1.9% 1.0%
WA 717830 2.2% 0.6% 2.7% 56.7% 17.1% 16.5% 4.1% 0.2%
WV 506180 48.0% 0.3% 0.4% 1.3% 43.8% 5.0% 0.6% 0.5%
WI 955640 4.3% 0.9% 0.2% 31.0% 49.3% 12.3% 1.8% 0.2%
WY 82710 51.9% 4.6% 0.3% 11.9% 26.3% 3.7% 1.1% 0.2%
Alaska and Hawaii are not included in 1950 U.S. total.
Electricity was tallied only for "Noncentral" heating systems in 1950.
1 9 4 0
Occupied Gas Bottled, Elec- Fuel Coal Wood Other No
units tank, or tricity oil, or fuel fuel
reporting LP gas kero- coke used
heating sene,
fuel etc.
US 33884379 11.3% NA NA 10.0% 54.7% 22.8% 0.4% 0.8%
AL 647049 3.2% NA NA 0.5% 39.7% 56.4% 0.1% 0.1%
AK NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
AZ 124427 20.7% NA NA 19.4% 5.0% 44.1% 0.7% 10.1%
AR 481733 14.7% NA NA 1.0% 6.4% 77.8% 0.1% 0.1%
CA 2061330 67.1% NA NA 7.8% 1.9% 18.0% 1.1% 4.1%
CO 306640 7.5% NA NA 2.5% 82.4% 6.1% 0.2% 1.2%
CT 435310 1.1% NA NA 42.0% 49.0% 7.0% 0.4% 0.5%
DE 69376 0.8% NA NA 23.5% 56.6% 19.0% 0.1% 0.1%
DC 169424 10.8% NA NA 23.0% 65.5% 0.6% 0.1% 0.1%
FL 494513 3.1% NA NA 21.7% 3.6% 55.3% 1.2% 15.2%
GA 726786 4.2% NA NA 1.4% 39.1% 55.1% 0.1% 0.1%
HI NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
ID 136597 0.1% NA NA 3.6% 54.1% 39.7% 1.0% 1.5%
IL 2149768 2.2% NA NA 7.6% 86.5% 3.6% 0.2% 0.0%
IN 944385 0.9% NA NA 2.2% 87.6% 9.0% 0.3% 0.0%
IA 689991 2.5% NA NA 8.9% 71.4% 16.7% 0.5% 0.1%
KS 501320 27.6% NA NA 3.7% 40.7% 27.7% 0.2% 0.1%
KY 684791 5.9% NA NA 0.3% 72.4% 21.3% 0.1% 0.0%
LA 576656 29.2% NA NA 7.4% 7.3% 55.6% 0.2% 0.3%
ME 213610 0.2% NA NA 16.5% 29.1% 53.1% 0.4% 0.7%
MD 453567 2.5% NA NA 24.0% 58.3% 15.1% 0.2% 0.1%
MA 1085928 1.2% NA NA 36.9% 56.5% 4.6% 0.4% 0.5%
MI 1373547 3.8% NA NA 6.7% 79.8% 9.5% 0.1% 0.1%
MN 713696 3.1% NA NA 16.6% 51.2% 28.0% 0.9% 0.1%
MS 514676 9.4% NA NA 0.6% 10.8% 79.1% 0.1% 0.1%
MO 1049033 4.7% NA NA 3.5% 61.7% 29.9% 0.1% 0.1%
MT 155713 25.6% NA NA 3.6% 45.8% 24.1% 0.3% 0.6%
NE 355521 7.0% NA NA 9.1% 55.6% 27.6% 0.6% 0.2%
NV 31518 0.7% NA NA 30.3% 34.2% 29.0% 2.9% 3.0%
NH 129680 0.4% NA NA 28.0% 34.8% 36.2% 0.3% 0.3%
NJ 1072732 1.4% NA NA 24.7% 71.0% 2.6% 0.2% 0.1%
NM 123512 20.9% NA NA 5.4% 23.7% 46.4% 0.2% 3.4%
NY 3506754 3.0% NA NA 18.6% 73.7% 4.2% 0.4% 0.1%
NC 768421 0.1% NA NA 3.1% 42.5% 54.1% 0.1% 0.1%
ND 148511 2.7% NA NA 4.4% 85.4% 6.9% 0.5% 0.1%
OH 1867501 7.4% NA NA 1.0% 88.5% 3.0% 0.1% 0.0%
OK 583964 45.1% NA NA 2.1% 12.6% 39.9% 0.2% 0.2%
OR 327047 2.4% NA NA 15.0% 4.2% 73.3% 3.8% 1.2%
PA 2462297 4.4% NA NA 5.9% 86.2% 3.0% 0.4% 0.2%
RI 185593 1.2% NA NA 45.8% 48.2% 4.2% 0.5% 0.1%
SC 424333 0.2% NA NA 4.5% 36.3% 58.8% 0.1% 0.2%
SD 161354 5.3% NA NA 8.6% 65.6% 20.0% 0.3% 0.2%
TN 702130 3.3% NA NA 0.5% 56.3% 39.7% 0.1% 0.1%
TX 1597833 43.1% NA NA 5.4% 2.8% 46.6% 0.3% 1.9%
UT 137114 9.4% NA NA 0.6% 82.9% 6.2% 0.1% 0.8%
VT 90665 0.1% NA NA 15.5% 36.1% 47.9% 0.2% 0.2%
VA 616182 0.4% NA NA 7.9% 51.0% 40.5% 0.1% 0.1%
WA 518760 0.8% NA NA 22.3% 20.1% 52.8% 2.1% 1.8%
WV 430909 29.9% NA NA 0.1% 59.7% 10.2% 0.1% 0.0%
WI 814247 0.5% NA NA 9.5% 62.8% 27.0% 0.2% 0.1%
WY 67935 26.0% NA NA 3.2% 58.5% 11.0% 0.3% 0.9%
Utility gas and Bottled gas were combined in 1940.
Electricity was collected separately, but not tabulated.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Contact the HHES Division Housing Staff at 301-457-3191 or mail to hhes-info@census.gov
for further information on the Census of Housing.
Go To Historical Census of Housing Tables
Last Revised: Tuesday, 11-May-99 11:06:51
