Year 2011: Fun Facts, Trivia, and History

This quick read presents a mix of fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 2011. Discover the year’s top news stories, most influential people, sports facts, retail prices, computer and Internet history, entertainment trivia, and much more.

Take a journey through history in just minutes.

1. In 2011, Barack Obama was the president of the United States, and Joe Biden was the nation’s vice president.
2. In July 2011, the U.S. unemployment rate was 9.1%. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that “Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (9.0 percent), adult women (7.9 percent), teenagers (25.0 percent), whites (8.1 percent), Blacks (15.9 percent), and Hispanics (11.3 percent) showed little or no change in July [2011]. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted.”
3. The inflation rate was 3.16%. In2013Dollars.com tells us that “Purchasing power decreased by 3.16% in 2011 compared to the previous year, 2010. On average, you would have to spend 3.16% more money in 2011 than in 2010 for the same item. In other words, $1 in 2010 is equivalent in purchasing power to $1.03 in 2011.”
4. In 2011, a 16-ounce loaf of brand-name white bread cost $3.69, yellow onions were $2.49 for a three-pound bag, and one pound of 90% lean ground beef was $4.49. A gallon of milk cost $3.57, eggs were $1.89 a dozen, and Heinz ketchup was $1.99 for a 14-ounce bottle.
5. Here were the sticker prices for two best-selling 2011 cars: A Chevrolet Camaro cost $37,377.00, and a Hyundai Accent was $16,170.00.
6. The average price for a gallon of gas was $3.53.
7. The minimum wage was $7.25.
8. The prime rate was 3.25%, an ounce of gold topped $1,900.00 in August, and the median household income was $50,054.00.
9. In January 2011, the median cost of a newly built, single-family home in the United States was $240,100 while the average price was $275,700.
10. On January 15, Wikipedia, the Internet encyclopedia, celebrated ten years online.
11. On February 15, President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to writer and civil rights activist Maya Angelou.
12. On February 24, the Discovery space shuttle began its final orbital flight after launching from the Kennedy Space Center.
13. On March 9, the Discovery space shuttle landed back on Earth after its 39th and final flight.
14. On March 11, a “9.0 magnitude earthquake struck 80 miles east of Sendai, Japan,” triggering a tsunami that killed thousands of people and that also caused a major nuclear accident at a power station.
15. On March 16, the USPS issued new "forever" stamps that honored the Latin music legends Selena, Carlos Gardel, Carmen Miranda, Tito Puente, and Celia Cruz.
16. On April 27, after facing continued questions about whether he was born in Hawaii, President Obama released a copy of his birth certificate that confirmed he was born in a Honolulu hospital in 1961.
17. On May 1, Pope John Paul II was beatified by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI.
18. On May 2, Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaeda and suspected mastermind behind the September 11 terror attacks, was killed by American soldiers in Pakistan.
19. On May 25, talk show host Oprah Winfrey aired the last Oprah Winfrey Show.
20. On July 17, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 2, the last Harry Potter film, premiered in London.
21. On August 24, Steve Jobs resigned as Apple CEO because of health issues and was succeeded by Tim Cook.
22. On September 14, Elizabeth Warren, a consumer advocate and Harvard University professor, announced that she was running for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts.
23. On September 20, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) military policy ended. DADT had been “the official United States policy on military service by gays, bisexuals, and lesbians, instituted by the Clinton administration on February 28, 1994.”
24. On October 29, a record-breaking autumn snowstorm barreled across the northeastern United States. The “Halloween nor’easter” dumped up to 30 inches of snow in some locations and left over two million residents without power for up to 36 hours.
25. On December 18, the last U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq.
26. In 2011, popular baby names were Jacob, Mason, William, Jayden, Sophia, Isabella, Emma, and Olivia.
27. The average life expectancy at birth in the United States was 78.64 years.
28. The cost of a 30-second Super Bowl ad was $2,690,000.
29. Popular holiday gifts were cash, electronics, toys, gift cards, and clothes.
30. Fashion trends in 2011 included hair feathers, fedoras, bubble skirts, boho headbands, statement tights, maxi skirts, platform pumps, tribal prints, oversized cocktail rings, tunic dresses, neon everything, and skull print scarves.
31. Teresa Scanlan (Nebraska) won the Miss America crown.
32. Alyssa Campanella (New Jersey) became Miss USA.
33. Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” was “The Protester.”
34. Hot Wheels was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
35. The most popular Christmas gifts were LeapFrog, LeapPad, and the Kindle Fire.
36. Top-grossing Broadway shows included Wicked, The Lion King, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Jersey Boys, and The Book of Mormon.
37. At the 83rd Academy Awards, which honored the best films of 2010, The King’s Speech won an Oscar for Best Picture, and Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) won an Oscar for Best Director.
38. At the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards, Modern Family (ABC) won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and Mad Men (AMC) won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.
39. Border’s, the bookstore chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
40. Friendly’s, the restaurant chain, also filed for bankruptcy protection.

Disclaimer: In writing and editing this article, Gregory DeVictor has made every effort to ensure historical accuracy and not to mislead his audience. In addition, the contents of this article, including text, graphics, and captions, are for general informational purposes only.

© 2026 Gregory DeVictor