The table illustrates the number of American households from 1790 to 1990.

The data presented in the table illustrates changes in allocation rates for family units in the United States between 1790 and 1990. From an

overall

perspective, it is readily apparent that the average population per household decreased during

this

period, with seven- and two-person communities being used far more frequently than other compositions at the first and end of the year respectively. In 1790, people lived with an average of 5.4 family members, which fell slightly to 4.9 over the next ten years. By 1990,

this

number had plummeted to 2.6.

Although

the proportion of seven-person group members was by far the highest at the start (35.8%), it declined to the lowest ratio

at the end

of the period (1.4%). In 1990, the percentage share of couple families increased significantly to 32.2%, making it the dominant part that year. Meanwhile, the single resident rate

also

grew considerably from the smallest component in 1790 with 3.7% to 25.6 % in the next two decades and became the second most prominent distribution.