In both traditional and modern societies, it's common to find more never-married men than never-married women.

The percentages of never-married women (39.5) and divorced women (5.7) were among the county's highest.

During that same period, the percentage of never-married women increased nearly fourfold in the 25-to-29 age group.

Married and never-married women can be distinguished by their dress, highlighting how few single women were painted, except in family groups.

The percentages of never-married women (45.3) and never-maried men (44.7) were among the county's highest.

A Census Bureau report issued last month found that nearly 24 percent of all never-married women 18 to 44 years old have children.

There are also fewer never-married men than never-married women.

In contrast to numbers in the 1960s and 1970s, from 1989 to 1995 fewer than 1% of children born to never-married women were surrendered for adoption.

But the program changed during a period of explosive growth in the late 1960's, as millions of never-married women joined the rolls.