This report presents a statistical portrait of the social and economic characteristics, primarily during the 1970s, of persons 65-years old and over. Most of the estimates in this report are based on data from the Current Population Survey of the Bureau of the Census and from the Decennial Censuses of Population and Housing, particularly the 1970 census. Other data are provided by various governmental agencies. The sample population extends over 461 areas comprising 923 counties and independent cities in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Data are included on family, material status, and fertility; institutional population; nativity and parentage; mobility and residence; education, vocational training, and literacy; voting; veterans; labor force participation, employment status, and occupation and industry; income and earnings; low-income status of persons and families; housing; health and health services; and crime victimization. Appendixes include reliability tables of the estimates. (Author/RM)