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Census: American Internet use surges

Sixty-four percent of Americans 18 and older reported using the Internet in 2007, up from just 22 percent a decade earlier.

That's according to a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau, which also shows that 62 percent of the nation's households report using the Internet at home in 2007, an 18 percent increase from 1997.

Among households using the net in 2007, 82 percent reported using a high-speed connection, and 17 percent used a dial-up connection.

“As access to high speed connections have become more prevalent, so too have the number of people that connect to the Internet at home,” said Thom File, a statistician with the Census Bureau Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division. “These data give us a better understanding of who is using the Internet and from where.”

Among the states, New Hampshire had the highest rate of Internet use for those age three and older in 2007 at 82 percent. Mississippi and West Virginia had the lowest rates of use at about 52 percent. California's rate 69 percent, just above the national average of 67.1 percent.

Internet usage also varied by education and race. For individuals 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree, 87 percent reported going online from some location in 2007. About half (49 percent) of those with only a high school diploma reported using the Internet, compared with 19 percent for those without a high school diploma. Meanwhile, 69 percent of whites lived in households with Internet use. The same was true for 51 percent of blacks, 73 percent of Asians and 48 percent of Hispanics.