Nuclear Family No Longer In Majority

Cal Thomas | Syndicated columnist | Published: Aug 17, 2005

Nuclear Family No Longer In Majority

August 18, 2005

Here is some sobering information.

The Census Bureau reports single adult households have replaced two-parent families with children as the most recent type of American household.

The nuclear family of husband and wife and at least one child is no longer in the majority.

The number of single-adult households is now at 27 million and growing.

The nuclear family has dropped to second place with 25 million and married households with no children are the third most common at 20 million.

It's not all because of divorce, though divorce is a major part of it.

Widows and widowers at the end of life and people who choose to live together without marriage, or just live alone are also included.

According to the census numbers, more women live alone than men.

These numbers will have an effect on social policy as the definition of a family continues to change.

The old models -- represented by TV shows like "Father Knows Best," "Leave It To Beaver" and "Ozzie and Harriett" have long gone, along with the nuclear family they represented.

I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.


Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C. Watch his television show, After Hours with Cal Thomas, on the Fox News Channel, Saturdays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.

Nuclear Family No Longer In Majority