Besides Huntsville High School, Who Else Is Turning 100?
Provided By WorldNow

On Oct. 1, 1908, Ford Motor Co. introduced the Model T, generally regarded as the first affordable automobile and the car that industry experts say "put America on wheels." The first Model T, produced for the 1909 model year, was assembled by hand and sold for $850. The demand for the cars was so high that Ford started producing them on an assembly line, enabling it to turn out a Model T every 10 seconds. Between making automobiles available to the common man and its use of the assembly line, it is no wonder that many consider the Model T to be the most influential car of the 20th century.

As the automotive industry has grown since 1908, so has America. In the statistics below, provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, take a look at how America has changed since the Henry Ford introduced the world to the Model T.

Then

79,000     The number of registered vehicles in 1905, shortly before production of the Model T started. About 77,000 were passenger cars, and 2,000 were other types of motor-driven vehicles. By 1925, near the end of the Model T's run, there were 20.1 million registered vehicles, including 17.5 million passenger cars.

... And now

244.2 million     The number of motor vehicles registered in the United States in 2006. About 134 million of them were cars.

Then

89 million     U.S. population in 1908.

 ... And now

304 million   U.S. population in 2008.

Then

John and Mary     Most popular baby names in 1908.

... And now

Jacob and Emily     Most popular baby names in 2007.