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Historical Context for November 10, 1980

In 1980, the world population was approximately 4,447,606,236 people[†]

In 1980, the average yearly tuition was $738 for public universities and $3,225 for private universities. Today, these costs have risen to $9,750 and $35,248 respectively[†]

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Headlines from November 10, 1980

Arson Destroying New York Housing at a Record Rate; Arson for Profit Destroying Apartment Buildings in New York at a Record Rate Politicians Criticized The Matter of Insurance Insurance Changes Urged A Pool to Share the Risk Insurance Is Mandated Divided Investigatory Authority Rivalry Impedes Progress 'A Way Out' for Some

By Unknown Author

Arson is destroying more buildings in more neighborhoods than ever before in New York City, transforming some areas into ghost towns where apartment houses stand burned out and abandoned.

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Santa Fe's Investment Routes; Choosing a Route Southern Pacific's Attractions Santa Fe Considers Investment Routes Some Interest in Conrail Exploration Paying Off AT A GLANCE Santa Fe Industries

By Winston Williams Special To the New York Times

CHICAGO, Nov. 9--For years now, Santa Fe Industries Inc., the parent company of the Atchison, Topeka Santa Fe Railway Company, has wrestled with allotting the company's resources between the capital-hungry railroad and Santa Fe's more profitable natural-resources businesses.

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Oil Industry in Today's World; Despite Woes, A.P.I. Session Reflects Cheer Chiefs Stay Less Than a Day Drilling of Wells at a Peak Oil Industry Adapts To World of Today 'On the Right Track' More Turbulence Expected Industry Won on Decontrol 'Profit Motive Still Works' Critics Still Vocal New Supply Emphasis Expected

By Douglas Martin Special To the New York Times

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 9--Years ago, the annual meetings of the American Petroleum Institute, held in Chicago's Stevens Hotel, the world's largest, were grand affairs. Chartered trains rolled northward from the seemingly inexhaustible oilfields of Texas and Oklahoma.

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Illegal Aliens Are Bypassing Farms For Higher Pay of Jobs in the Cities; A Single, Crucial Decision Illegal Aliens Bypassing Farms for Higher Pay of Jobs in the Cities Underpayments of Workers Found Tips From Displaced Workers Employers Say Screening Difficult An Unspectactular Start Many Reasons for Decline

By John M. Crewdson Special To the New York Times

CHICAGO--Illegal aliens are increasingly bypassing the nation's farms and ranches, their usual sources of employment, for better-paying jobs in construction, manufacturing and service industries.

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I was wondering if anything interesting on the news was going on when I was born, and decided to create this website for fun. The purpose is to show people what was going on when they were born. With this website I've found out that it was a pretty slow news day on my birthday, but I bet it would feel cool to know a historical event happened on your birthday.

The data used in this project is provided by the New York Times API. They have by far the best API I was able to find, with articles dating back to the 1950s. There weren't any other major newspapers that had an API with close to as much data. The closest was the Guardian API, but theirs only went back to the 1990s. I decided to only use articles from the New York Times because their API was by far the best. This tool works if you have a birthday after the 1950s or so.

Some important dates in history I'd recommend looking up on this website are:

  • 9/11/2001: The September 11 Attacks happened on this day, the news articles from this date provide great context to the tragedy our nation suffered and the immediate response from the American people. The headlines capture the shock, confusion, and unity that emerged in the aftermath of this devastating event.
  • 7/20/1969: The historic Apollo 11 moon landing, when humans first set foot on another celestial body. The articles from this date showcase humanity's greatest achievement in space exploration and the culmination of the space race.
  • 11/9/1989: The fall of the Berlin Wall, marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War. The coverage provides fascinating insights into this pivotal moment in world history and the emotions of people as decades of division came to an end.
  • 1/20/2009: Barack Obama's inauguration as the first African American President of the United States, a watershed moment in American history that represented a major milestone in the ongoing journey toward racial equality.
  • 8/15/1969: The Woodstock Music Festival began, marking a defining moment in American counterculture and music history. The coverage captures the spirit of the era and the unprecedented gathering of young people.

These historical events are just a few examples of the fascinating moments in history you can explore through this tool. Whether you're interested in your own birthday, significant historical dates, or just curious about what was making headlines on any given day, this website offers a unique window into the past through the lens of contemporary news coverage.

You can read more on our blog.