15 Ways Virginia Residents Are Living Better Now Than in the 1960s and 1970s
Virginians who lived through the 1960s and 1970s may sometimes feel nostalgic for the good old days. People sporting bell bottoms, using lava lamps, and cruising around on roller skates surely felt they were living in the most modern of times, just as many of us feel today.
That said, many facets of life have drastically changed (and improved) over the last 50 to 60 years. Advances in different areas, such as technology and medicine, have made life better for many Virginia residents and Americans as a whole.
If you ever find yourself wishing for a time machine back to the 1960s or 1970s, review this list. It’s a reminder that many things are better now than they were then, though there’s still plenty to love about the ’60s and ’70s. And one thing is nearly certain: In another 50 to 60 years, Americans will likely be talking about how much their life has improved since the 2020s.
1: Phones
Can you remember what you did before you had a cell phone? Many young people of the tech-savvy Generation Z don’t even know how to use rotary telephones, which were common in the 1960s.
Today’s phones come equipped with advanced technology, such as GPS navigation and video calling. Essentially, people now carry small computers in their pockets, enabling them to access a wealth of information at their fingertips.
2: Long-Distance Calls
Speaking of the phone in your pocket, making long-distance calls is certainly easier today than it was a half-century ago. Many American phone plans allow people to make long-distance calls anywhere in the country, and some providers offer international calling plans if you need to make transnational calls.
In the 1960s, long-distance calls were much different. A person needed to speak with an operator to facilitate the call. Plus, callers were charged by the minute for long-distance conversations, so you had to make the call short or risk an expensive phone bill.
3: Vehicles
There’s no question that today’s automobiles can drive farther than they could in the 1960s and 1970s. While many modern vehicles can last for 250,000 miles or more, cars from 50 years ago usually topped out at 100,000 miles.
In the 1970s, drivers often needed to replace vehicle parts, such as the exhaust system and headlights, every few years. These same components today can now last for a vehicle’s entire life span.
4: Television
Sure, the 1960s and 1970s ushered in hit shows like “Happy Days” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” But many people watched these shows on black-and-white televisions since these sets were much less expensive than color TVs. In addition, many people didn’t have access to cable until the mid-1970s.
American viewers today watch shows on sleek, flat-screen TVs with high-definition resolution. They can even access TV shows on their mobile devices. With network television, cable, and streaming services, you can also watch a nearly infinite number of shows at your leisure.
5: Banking
Gone are the days of balancing checkbooks by hand and depositing paper paychecks. Banking is another area that has significantly advanced over the last 50 to 60 years.
The banking industry introduced modern concepts, such as ATMs and electronic payment systems, in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but they didn’t become mainstream until later. Americans today can access their banking accounts via mobile apps, which allow them to deposit checks remotely, transfer money, and even get notifications about their spending.
6: Alarm Clocks
If you wanted to make your early-morning meeting in the 1960s, you needed to wind your alarm clock to set the wake-up time. In the morning, you could expect your alarm to startle you awake with ear-splitting bell tones.
Nowadays, digital clocks and phone alarms have largely replaced the alarm clocks of yesteryear. You can even use specialty alarm clocks, such as sunrise clocks that simulate a sunrise, to improve your morning routine.
7: Life Expectancy
People today live longer than they did in the 1960s and 1970s. This increase in life expectancy is a positive aspect of the past half-century.
In 1960, the average life expectancy in the United States was 69.7 years, according to the United States Census Bureau. The most recent Census data shows life expectancy has increased to 79.4 years, a nearly 10-year difference.
8: Access to Information
The internet has fundamentally changed the way Americans access information. Fifty years ago, people needed to use encyclopedias or library resources to find information on new topics.
Now, you can search for answers to virtually any question by doing a quick online search. You can browse online encyclopedias, read academic journals, and even connect with experts through the internet.
9: Flight Safety
Statistically, it’s safer to fly today than it was 50 to 60 years ago. A recent study found that airline passenger fatalities have dropped every decade since the late 1960s.
Between 2008 and 2017, data shows there was one fatality per 7.9 million passenger boardings. Comparatively, there was one fatality per 350,000 boardings between 1968 and 1977.
10: Affordable Travel
In addition to being safer, flying is also cheaper today than it was five to six decades ago. In the late 1970s, a domestic round-trip flight in the United States cost over $615 in today’s money.
By 2016, the cost of a round-trip flight had dropped, averaging around $344. While flight prices still fluctuate to sometimes high levels, this overall affordability has allowed more Americans to travel by air to new destinations.
11: Air Quality
Americans breathe cleaner air today than they did in the 1960s and 1970s. The Clean Air Act, enacted in 1970, has significantly improved air quality in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Many air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and lead, have dropped by drastic amounts. Cleaner air has also lowered the risk of damaging health effects, according to the EPA.
12: Water Quality
Like air quality, water quality in the United States has notably improved over the last 50+ years. The 1972 Clean Water Act required the regulation of pollution in American waterways.
There are now double the number of waters safe for fishing and swimming. Additionally, the act has prohibited nearly 700 billion pounds of pollutants from entering U.S. waters.
13: Video Games
Advancements in video game technology have improved the gaming experience for many Americans. While the 1960s and 1970s introduced some cutting-edge developments, including the first home console, today’s games have technology that was unimaginable back then.
Modern games feature high-definition graphics and immersive experiences. The rise in virtual reality (VR) technology has allowed Americans to experience video games in a new way.
14: Shopping
Online shopping didn’t exist in the 1960s and 1970s. In those days, Americans couldn’t compare multiple shopping sites to find the cheapest prices on clothes, groceries, or other items.
The rise of online shopping has made it easier to hunt for bargains. Plus, Americans get the convenience of shopping for goods without leaving their homes.
15: Space Travel
In the years since Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, space travel has become more frequent. The interest in exploring space has grown, particularly in recent decades.
Private companies, such as SpaceX, have launched spacecraft and humans to the International Space Station. Continued space exploration in future decades may reveal a deeper understanding of the world beyond planet Earth.
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