Journal Entry for August 17, 2026
As we continue to celebrate America's 250th Birthday, let us remember and be thankful for some of the greatest times in our United States history, including housing, prosperity, political, and technological advances during the 1970s.
The Vietnam War (1955-1975) ended America’s supported armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. U.S. Presidents included: Richard M. Nixon – 37th president, served January 20, 1969 – August 1974. Gerald R. Ford, 38th president, served August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977. Jimmy Carter – 39th president served January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981.
The housing bubble of the early 1970s was challenged by high inflation versus easy credit from savings and loan institutions. Veteran loans were available but with stricter guidelines designed to protect the Veteran. At this time, the VA funding fee was introduced. In 1970, President Nixon signed the Veterans Housing Act.
The population of the United States in 1970 was approximately 203.4 million people, marking a 13.4% increase over the 1960 population of 179,323,175. California became the most populous state, surpassing New York. This data had a significant impact caused by baby boomers.
Housing Market
1970s were marked by tremendous growth and opportunities encouraging the necessity for people to move and buy houses. In this decade, the median price of a new home on average in America ranged from approximately $17.000 in 1970 to about $55,700 or more depending on location by 1979. On average new homes cost $23,000-$28,000 for new homes and approximately $18,000 - $23,000 or more for existing homes nationwide.
Census records show the 1970s saw the fastest decade-to-decade increase in U.S. home values, up 43% in inflation-adjusted terms. Urban markets in the Northeast and West often exceeded $30,000 for new homes, while rural areas in the South and Midwest were cheaper.
Home size and features for a typical median-priced 1970 home was often a modest 3-bedroom, 1-bath, (~1400 square feet) with basic amenities. Prices continued to rise during the decade due to high inflation and gas rationing, land scarcity, construction cost, and higher interest rates in 1979.
The number of children born in the 1970’s decreased but most cities still had overcrowded classrooms in very old schools. Discipline was still enforced and many schools used the same teaching skills: recitation, cursive, and memorization. Neighborhood children played outdoors without adult supervision. What many children had in the 1970s that children in previous decades did not have was more sports and competition. Also, children in America from this decade became immersed in making a difference globally.
Earth Day, held in the United States began on April 22, 1970. This event was very instrumental gaining support from students at all grade levels for a series of environmental legislation that passed through the U.S. Congress.
Sport heroes in the 1970s that were inspirational included:
- Billy Jean King (1973) -Battle of the Sexes against Bobby Riggs, Tennis Match.
- Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves in 1974 breaks Babe Ruth’s major league home run record finishing his career with 755 home runs.
- Jack Nicklaus, dominated golf, winning multiple majors at a record pace.
- Basketball Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – NBA legend for the Bucks and Lakers, winning multiple majors at a record pace.
- Pitcher for the Mets, Tom Seaver – 1973 World Series.
- Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears linebacker, one of the greatest defensive players in history.
- Mohammed Ali – three-time heavyweight champion, Olympic gold medalist, and cultural icon whose activism and boxing prowess made him a global hero.
- Mark Spitz – 1972 seven gold medals as an Olympic swimmer.
- Dan Marino – Miami Dolphins quarterback.
- Earl Campbell – Houston Oilers running back.
- Richard Petty – NASCAR legend who dominated the 1970s winning multiple Daytona 500s.
These athletes from the 1970’were all legends who excelled in sports leaving a lasting cultural impact, influencing fans of the decade and many generations and fans of future champions. As a result, many schools increased their budgets and costs to parents for extensive extracurricular activities.
- Developers for New Construction began implementing and competing against each other, offering community amenities such as:
- Golf Course lot Communities
- Tennis Courts
- Swimming Pools
- Basketball Courts
- Better Playground Equipment and Trails
- Community Rooms
- Homeowner Associations (HOA)
Homes designed in the 1970s emphasized affordability. Buyers had more choices between split-level or ranch styles. Universal community planning boards created Better Homes & Garden awards in 1973, encouraging development with natural preservation, recreation, and community spaces. HUD initiatives in the 1970s came down hard addressing lead-based paint hazards, fair housing, and affordable housing programs.
Technology Took Off – The Sky is the Limits!
Boeing, January 22, 1970 (The Jumbo Jet Age) – introduced commercial service, and the plane revolutionized faster travel.
Intel Corporation November 5, 1971 - In the early 1970s, the introduction of large-scale integration made it possible to pack thousands of transistors, diodes, and resistors onto a silicon chip less than 0.2 inches that led to the development of the microprocessor. The production of inexpensive microprocessors enabled computer engineers to provide enough computing power to perform many business, industrial and scientific tasks. The birth of microprocessors permitted the development of intelligent terminals.
In 1972, the company HP released HP 3000 general-purpose minicomputers- a product line that continues to be in use in business. In 1976 an engineering intern at the company, Stephen G. Woziak, built a prototype for the first personal computer (PC) and offered it to the company. Hewlett-Packard declined and gave Wozniak all rights to his idea; later he joined with Steven P. Jobs to create Apple Computer, Inc.; now Apple Inc. Apple made history in 1977.
Microsoft – founded on April 4, 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, becoming the world’s leading developers of personal computer software systems and applications.
In sum, the 1970s produced some of the greatest challenges that inspired America, its people, schools, and businesses to produce landmark political reforms in housing, environmental protection, civil rights, and cultural milestones that continues to reshape American life and global influences.
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