In 1978, a joint congressional resolution established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad, completed May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a month-long celebration. Per a 1997 Office of Management and Budget directive, the Asian or Pacific Islander racial category was separated into two categories: one being Asian and the other Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.  The nice folks over at the U.S. Census Bureau sent us some interesting facts and figures on this topic:

• 16 million
The estimated number of U.S. residents of Asian descent in July 2009.  This estimate includes those who said they were both Asian alone or Asian in combination with one or more other races.
• 5.2 millionThe Asian population in California; the state had the largest Asian population on July 1, 2009, followed by New York (1.5 million). Texas was next, reaching 1 million for the first time. In Hawaii, our nation's only majority-Asian state, Asians made up the highest proportion of the total population (53 percent). This includes both Asian alone or Asian in combination with one or more other races.
• 2.6%
Percentage growth of the Asian population between 2008 and 2009, the second fastest-growing minority group (following the Hispanic population).  This includes both Asian alone or Asian in combination with one or more other races.
• 3.8 million
Number of Asians of Chinese descent in the U.S. in 2009. Chinese-Americans were the largest Asian group, followed by Filipinos (3.2 million), Asian Indians (2.8 million), Vietnamese (1.7 million), Koreans (1.6 million) and Japanese (1.3 million). These estimates represent the number of people who reported a specific Asian group alone, and people who reported that Asian group in combination with one or more other Asian groups or races.
• $68,780
Median household income for single-race Asians in 2009.  Median household income differed greatly by Asian group. For Asian Indians, for example, the median income in 2009 was $90,429; for Bangladeshi, it was $46,657. (These figures represent the single-race population.)
• 12.5%
The poverty rate for single-race Asians in 2009, not statistically different from the 2008 poverty rate. Between 2008 and 2009, the poverty rate increased for non-Hispanic whites (from 8.6 percent to 9.4 percent), for blacks (from 24.7 percent to 25.8 percent) and for Hispanics (from 23.2 percent to 25.3 percent).
• 17.2%
Percentage of single-race Asians without health insurance coverage in 2009, not statistically different from 2008.
• 50%
The percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who had a bachelor's degree or higher level of education. This compared with 28 percent for all Americans 25 and older.
• 85%
The percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma. This is not statistically different from the percentage for the total population or the percentage of Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander alone, 85 and 86 percent respectively.
• 20%
The percentage of single-race Asians 25 and older who had a graduate (e.g., master's or doctorate) or professional degree. This compared with 10 percent for all
• 589,000
How many more single-race Asians voted in the 2008 presidential election than in the 2004 election. All in all, 48 percent of Asians turned out to vote in 2008 -- up 4 percentage points from 2004. A total of 3.4 million Asians voted.
• 1.6 million
Number of businesses owned by Asian-Americans in 2007, an increase of 40.7 percent from 2002.
• $514 billion
Total receipts of businesses owned by Asian-Americans, up 57.3 percent from 2002.  In 2007, 32.3 percent of Asian-owned businesses were in repair and maintenance; personal and laundry services; and professional, scientific and technical services.
• 47.2%
Percentage of businesses in Hawaii owned by people of Asian decent. It was 14.9 percent in California and 10.1 percent in New York.
• 510,000
California had the most Asian-owned firms at 509,670 (32.8 percent of all such firms), with receipts of $182.7 billion (35.6 percent of all Asian-owned firm receipts). New York was second with 196,919 Asian-owned firms or 12.7 percent, with receipts of $50.8 billion or 9.9 percent. Texas was third in number of Asian-owned firms with 114,593 or 7.4 percent, with receipts of $42.4 billion or 8.3 percent. New Jersey accounted for 4.4 percent of all Asian-owned firms and 5.9 percent of receipts, while Florida accounted for 4.2 percent of all Asian-owned firms and 3.4 percent of receipts.
• 2.6 million
The number of people 5 and older who spoke Chinese at home in 2009. After Spanish, Chinese was the most widely spoken non-English language in the country. Tagalog, Vietnamese and Korean were each spoken at home by more than 1 million people.
• 258,183
The number of single-race Asian military veterans. About one in three veterans was 65 years and older.
• 49%
The proportion of civilian employed single-race Asians 16 and older who worked in management, professional and related occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses.  Additionally, 17 percent worked in service occupations, 22 percent in sales and office occupations and 10 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations.
• 80%
Percentage of Asians living in a household with Internet use -- the highest rate among race and ethnic groups.
• 1.4 million
The number of Asians (self-identified as Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races) in Los Angeles County, Calif., in 2009, which topped the nation's counties.
• 17,000
Gain in Santa Clara County, Calif.'s Asian population (self-identified as Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races) from 2008 to 2009, the largest in the nation.
• 57%
Percent of the population of Honolulu County, Hawaii, that was Asian (self-identified as Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races) in 2009, which led the country. Honolulu was the only majority-Asian county in the nation.
• 35.3
Median age of the single-race Asian population in 2009. The corresponding figure was 36.8 years for the population as a whole.
• 23.6%
Percent of the single-race Asian population that was under age 18 as of July 1, 2009 while 9.6 percent was 65 or older.
• 40.6 million.   The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who will identify themselves as Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races
They would comprise 9 percent of the total population by that year.
• 161%
The projected percentage increase between 2008 and 2050 in the population of people who identify themselves as Asian or Asian in combination with one or more other races. This compares with a 44 percent increase in the population as a whole over the same period of time.
• 1.1 million
The estimated number of U.S. residents in July 2009 who said they were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, either alone or in combination with one or more other races. This group comprised 0.4 percent of the total population.  California had the largest population of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (284,000), followed by Hawaii (280,000) and Washington (58,000).  California had the largest numeric increase in this group between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009 (6,000). In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders comprised the largest proportion (22 percent) of the total population. This includes Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone and in combination with one or more other races.
• 2.3%
Percentage growth of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population between 2008 and 2009 — third among race groups. This includes Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders alone and in combination with one or more other races.
• $53,455
The median income of households headed by single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.
• 15.1%
The poverty rate for those who classified themselves as single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. This is not significantly different from the 2008 poverty rate.
• 17.3%
The percentage without health insurance for single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.
• 14%
The percentage of single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who had at least a bachelor's degree. This compared with 28 percent for the total population.
• 86%
The percentage of single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who had at least a high school diploma. This is not statistically different from either the percentage for the total population or the percentage of Asian alone, both 85 percent.
• 4%The percentage of single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 25 and older who had obtained a graduate or professional degree.  This compared with 10
• 38,881
The number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses in 2007, up 34.3 percent from 2002.
• $7.0 billion
Total receipts of these businesses, up 62.9 percent from 2002.
• 26.9 %
The percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses that were repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, and construction.
• 9.4%
The percent of businesses in Hawaii owned by Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islanders, highest among all states.
• 30,110
The number of single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander military veterans. About one in five veterans was 65 years and older.
• 24%
The proportion of civilian employed single-race Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders 16 and older who worked in management, professional and related occupations, such as financial managers, engineers, teachers and registered nurses.  This is not significantly different from the 25 percent worked in service occupations, while 28 percent worked in sales and office occupations and 14 percent in production, transportation and material moving occupations.
• 176,000
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population (alone or in combination with one or more other races) in Honolulu County, Hawaii, in 2009, which led the nation. Among counties, Harris County, Texas had the largest numerical increase in this race since July 2008 -- 722. Hawaii County, Hawaii, had the highest percentage of people of this race (30 percent).
• 29.9
The median age of the single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population in 2009. The median age was 36.8 for the population as a whole.
• 34%
Percentage of the single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population that was under age 18 as of July 1, 2009 while 6.3 percent was 65 or older.
• 2.6 million
The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who will identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander in combination with one or more other races.  They would comprise 0.6 percent of the total population by that year.
• 132%
The projected percentage increase between 2008 and 2050 in the population of people who identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander in combination with one or more other races. This compares with a 44 percent increase in the population as a whole over the same period of time.