Wiktor Wise
The electrification of homes has existed since the late 19th century, with the first American home to be powered by hydroelectricity in 1882. However, it took several decades for electricity to become commonly used in homes, with many homes still relying on gas and candles for lighting well into the 20th century. By the 1920s, electricity was being used for lighting in many homes, and by the 1950s, electrical appliances such as vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, and washing machines became more popular, increasing the demand for electricity. By 1960, virtually all American homes had electricity, and in the 1970s, there were vast gains in electrification globally, with the percentage of the world's population with access to electricity increasing from 49% in 1970 to 76% in 1990.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of American homes with electricity | 85% by 1945, virtually all by 1960 |
| Percentage of the world's population with access to electricity | 49% in 1970, 76% in 1990 |
| First home application of electricity | Lighting |
| First long-lasting incandescent lightbulb | Invented by Edison in 1870 |
| First American home with electricity | 1882, Appleton, Wisconsin |
| First type of electrical wiring used | Knob-and-tube wiring |
| Time period of knob-and-tube wiring usage | 1890-1910 |
| Replacement for knob-and-tube wiring | Flexible armoured cable |
| Time period of flexible armoured cable usage | 1920s-1940s |
| Next replacement wiring | Metal conduit |
| Time period of metal conduit usage | Began in the 1940s |
| Rural Electrification Act | Passed in 1936 by FDR |
| Rural Electrification Administration (REA) | Established in 1935 |
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What You'll Learn
Electric lighting
By the 1970s, electric lighting was commonplace in homes in the US and the UK. However, the journey towards electrification began much earlier, with the first American home lit by hydroelectricity in 1882.
Before the advent of electric lighting, homes relied on fire in the grate, candles, and oil lamps to provide illumination. These light sources had numerous drawbacks, including the risk of tripping hazards and the production of smoke and fumes.
The introduction of gas lighting in the late 18th century marked the first significant shift in indoor lighting. While gas lighting was popular among the middle classes in the 19th century, it had several downsides, including choking fumes, smoke, blackened walls, and the risk of explosions.
The next major development in lighting technology came in the mid-19th century with the introduction of electric lighting. Thomas Edison's invention of the practical incandescent bulb in 1879 marked a turning point, and electric lighting soon became a part of popular culture. The intense light of the early electric arc streetlamps in the 1870s was unsuitable for domestic use, but the development of the incandescent lamp bulb provided a solution for indoor lighting.
By the 1920s, electric lighting was becoming more prevalent in UK homes, although its spread was limited by the extent of the electric grid, particularly in rural areas. The 1930s saw the introduction of high-pressure mercury-vapor lamps and low-pressure sodium-vapor lamps, which became widely used for street lighting. The 1940s brought further advancements, with electricians using metal conduits to enclose multiple insulated wires, improving safety.
By the 1960s, most homes in the US and the UK had transitioned to electric lighting. The 1970s energy crisis also marked a shift towards energy efficiency, with the introduction of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), which offered a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional incandescent bulbs.
Today, incandescent and fluorescent lights continue to dominate electrical lighting, alongside the growing popularity of LED technology.
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Rural electrification
In the 1970s, most homes in the United States had electricity, with the majority of households reporting its usage by 1925. However, rural electrification was a more recent development, with nearly all farms in the United States gaining electricity by the early 1970s.
In the United States, the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, played a pivotal role in bringing electricity to rural communities. The Act provided federal loans to electric power cooperatives for the installation of electrical distribution systems in isolated rural areas. These cooperatives purchased wholesale power and distributed it through their transmission and distribution lines.
The establishment of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in 1935, authorized by Congress in the 1936 Act, was a key mechanism for achieving rural electrification. The REA provided long-term, self-liquidating loans to state and local governments, farmers' cooperatives, and nonprofit organizations. By 1940, 59% of farms in Oregon and 71% in Washington had electricity, largely due to the REA and the completion of the Bonneville Dam in 1938.
Amendments to the Rural Electrification Act over the years have further facilitated rural electrification. For example, in 1944, loan terms were increased to 35 years, and in 1949, the Act was extended to include loans for telephone companies expanding into rural areas.
The impact of rural electrification extends beyond lighting homes. It facilitates sustainable economic and social growth, improves education, enhances business productivity, and provides access to modern agricultural techniques.
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Electrical wiring
By 1970, electrification of homes had existed for almost a century, since the late 1800s. However, the availability of electricity in homes varied depending on the region and type of area, with rural electrification progressing more slowly than in urban areas.
In the United States, vast gains in electrification were made in the 1930s, thanks in large part to Franklin D. Roosevelt's Rural Electrification Act of 1936. By 1945, 85% of American homes were powered by electricity, and by 1960, virtually all homes had electricity. The initial applications of electricity in homes were for lighting, with Edison's first long-lasting incandescent lightbulb dating back to 1870. However, it took several decades for electric lighting to be widely adopted in homes outside of those owned by the wealthy.
The first type of electrical wiring used was knob-and-tube wiring, which was standard between 1890 and 1910. This wiring consisted of hot wires and neutral wires that were separately run and insulated using rubberized cloth. Over time, this insulation degraded, and knob-and-tube wiring was eventually replaced by more advanced wiring methods.
In the 1920s to 1940s, flexible armoured cable became commonplace, offering some protection from wire damage. During the 1940s, electricians began using metal conduit, enclosing multiple insulated wires within rigid metal tubes. These advancements improved the safety of electrical systems, as wires in the early days of electrification often lacked proper insulation and grounding, posing a higher risk of fire hazards.
By the 1970s, the electrical wiring and systems in homes had evolved significantly from the early days of electrification. The exact wiring methods and standards in place during the 1970s would depend on the specific country and region, as electrification varied globally. However, it is safe to say that by this decade, electricity and its associated wiring had become an integral part of daily life in many parts of the world.
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Electric appliances
By 1970, electricity had become a common feature in American homes. In the earliest days of home electrification, electricity was carried by bare copper wires with minimal cotton insulation, and sockets, switch handles, and fuse blocks were made of wood. While electricity was initially used primarily for lighting, the electrification of homes in the 20th century led to the widespread adoption of electric appliances, with vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, and washing machines becoming popular starting in the 1950s.
During the 1970s, appliance makers pushed the boundaries of kitchen gadgets, introducing a range of innovative, if sometimes impractical, devices. Some notable examples of electric appliances from the 1970s include:
- The Presto Hot Dogger: This appliance offered a unique way to cook hot dogs by running electricity through them on metal prongs. While it provided a fast and convenient cooking method, some users reported uneven cooking and strange tastes or smells.
- Popcorn Poppers: These gadgets, such as the Wearever Popcorn Pumper, used blasts of hot air instead of oil to quickly pop kernels. The West Bend Poppery II featured a built-in butter melter and a compact countertop design.
- Electric Food Dehydrators: The Excalibur ED-700 used stacked trays and a built-in fan to dehydrate foods by circulating warm air. While these dehydrators were effective, they were often bulky and required significant patience during the dehydration process.
- Electric Pasta Makers: Machines like the Bialetti Tuttopasta automated the pasta-making process by mixing, kneading, and pressing dough into various shapes. However, they were challenging to clean and rarely produced superior results compared to manual methods.
In addition to these unique appliances, the 1970s also saw the continued use and improvement of more conventional electric appliances. Refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers became more common in households, enhancing the convenience and efficiency of daily tasks.
The availability and adoption of electric appliances in the 1970s varied across regions. While most American homes had access to electricity by this time, there were still areas with limited or no electrical service. Additionally, there was a push for the standardization of 220-volt feeds to homes during the 1970s, as some homes were still using 110-volt feeds, which could struggle to power major appliances adequately.
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Power sources
The power sources that provided electricity to homes in 1970 were largely dependent on the region in question. In the US, for instance, the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 meant that by 1945, 85% of American homes were powered by electricity, with virtually all homes electrified by 1960. This was achieved through the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), which provided loans to electric cooperatives that were repaid over 30 years.
In the Soviet Union, on the other hand, electrification of rural regions was only largely completed by the early 1970s. In China, large-scale electrification was delayed for decades due to early 20th-century turmoil, and it was only after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 that the country was able to pursue widespread electrification.
The primary sources of electrical production since the early 20th century have been coal, petroleum, and natural gas. However, electricity is multi-sourced, and power can be produced from other sources, including renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there were. In fact, by 1960, virtually all homes in the US had electricity.
Electric lighting was the first application of electricity in homes. Edison created the first long-lasting incandescent lightbulb in 1870, but it took a while for electric lighting to be used in homes outside of the very wealthy.
By 1882, parts of Manhattan were using electric lights, but these were mostly in commercial and public settings. Around 40 years later, in 1925, half of US households reported using electricity in the home.
Rural Electrification Administrations (REAs) were established to bring electrification to underserved rural areas. In the US, Franklin D. Roosevelt made rural electrification part of his 1932 presidential campaign. REAs made loans to electric cooperatives that were repaid over 30 years, and these cooperatives were owned by the local communities.
Early appliances included toasters, doorbells, washing machines, refrigerators, corn poppers, percolators, irons, and curling irons.
