In Patapsco again – Encouraging statistics from Minnesota County – Evening statistics
I led the CHC group on a hike in Patapsco State Park today. I have related, in an earlier entry, how portions of the park had been unexpectedly closed off and how, in desperation, I managed to put together an alternate route of adequate length just hours before leading the Wanderbirds on it a couple of months earlier. The route that I devised as a last-minute improvisation in November had become a familiar circuit by this time; it is quite surprising how quickly one acclimatizes to new situations and developments, in hiking as in other matters. The attendees were pleased with the route, which offers a contrast to the usual mountain hikes that we undertake. Even in the piedmont, however, the undulating hills provide a fair amount of elevation gain, which in this case amounted to over 1500 feet. It was not especially chilly, being in the low forties; although I could have wished for less cloud cover. Outside of a few moments towards the beginning of the hike, when the sun shone momentarily, the sky remained whitish and the daylight muted.
I came across a rather curious statistic concerning Scott County, Minnesota. About 6.3% of the residents are black, and their average life expectancy is 89.7 years – well above the national average, let alone the average for African-Americans. No one is certain exactly why this is the case. But a few factors are almost certainly contributors to this fortunate result. Most of the so-called blacks in this community are truly African-American, i.e., they have recently emigrated from various African nations to the U.S. Like most recent immigrants, they are go-getters and, in addition, they tend to lead a healthier lifestyle, eating more whole foods and more home-cooked meals. Many have more active habits and rely on longstanding social support. Then, too, the area has many resources: it is home to regional entertainment destinations such as Valley Fair, Canterbury Park, Mystic Lake casino, and the seasonal Renaissance Festival; Shutterfly and Amazon have offices in the county, offering stable employment to many of the residents; and it is close proximity to many wealthy Twin-Cities suburbs. Residents are more likely to have two-parent families and to own their homes rather than rent them. The blacks are not the only minority to benefit from this combination of favorable circumstances: the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, which also resides there, is one of the wealthiest Native-American communities in the nation.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 673,002,559; # of deaths worldwide: 6,743,107; # of cases U.S.: 103,829,943; # of deaths; U.S.: 1,128,521