[Nose Tinkle] Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle Clue: 7 Down, Daughter in "Bewitched"

Seems like just about anything will lead me back to Popular Baby Names nowadays.

As you can see, both Samantha and Tabitha have been around for awhile.  Samantha, in fact, was moderately popularity in the 19th century, "born" in the American South after 1800 according to two websites, including this one.

Bewitched debuted on September 17, 1964.  An instant hit, it was the #2 most popular show during the 1964-65 television season and #7 in 1965-66.

After spending most of the 20th century off the chart, Samantha reappeared at #472 in 1964 and jumped to #179 in 1965.  She spent 19 years (1988-2006) in the top 10, peaking at #3 in 1998, when "Bewitched" was in heavy rotation on Nick at Nite.

Tabitha charted 6 times from 1880 to 1893, reappearing at #524 in 1966, the year she was introduced as Samantha and Darrin's daughter on "Bewitched".  Her best years were from 1977 until 1992, when she remained in the top 200.  Best year:  #129 in 1978.

As for Sam's mother,  Endora is not in the top 1000 female names for any year of birth in the last 133 years.

Other baby name posts:
Anna, a model of consistency through the years.  (11/30/2013)
Rubies and Pearls.  (11/29/2013)
The Lucy and Ethel synchronized dive.  (11/28/2013)
The George Burns and Gracie Allen line graph.  (11/27/2013)
Rick, Dick & Rich -- but above all, Richard.  (11/26/2013)
When Jennifers rules the world.  (11/24/2013)
Ralph and Alice part ways in 1988. (11/23/2013)
Now Appearing in a Colorful Line Graph -- The 6 Jans.  (11/23/2013)
Which Do You Prefer: Catherine/Cathy or Katherine/Kathy?  (11/22/2013)
Just when you thought he was going, going, gone, Eugene bounces back.  (11/21/2013)
Sidney swings both ways.  (11/21/2013)
Popular baby names:  Nancy (1880-2012).  (11/17/2013
Madge: Off the chart even when she was an advertising icon.  (11/16/2013)
Cindy: Not Always a Nickname for Cynthia (Since 1938).  (11/15/2013)
Lizabeth:  There's only one reason why this name made the list.  (11/14/2013)
Paul and Paula:  1954 was their very best year together.  (11/14/2013)
Bonnie and Clyde take a dive together.  (11/13/2013)
Joseph demonstrates more staying power than Mary.  (11/12/2013)
The popularity of Elizabeth as a baby name:  1880-2012.  (11/12/2013)
The popularity of William as a baby name.  (11/12/2013)
The popularity of Thomas as a baby name.  (11/11/2013)
Susan is losin' popularity.  (11/11/2013)
The popularity of Robert as a baby name: 1880-2012.  (11/10/2013)
The popularity of Denise as a baby name:  1926-2012.  (11/10/2013)
The popularity of John as a baby name:  1880-2012.  (11/9/2013)
The popularity of Sheila as a baby name:  1917-2002, 2003-2004.  (11/9/2013)
The popularity of James as a baby name: 1880-2012.  (11/7/2013)
The popularity of Michael as a baby name: 1880-2012.  (11/7/2013)
The popularity of Sherry as a baby name:  1926-1995.  (11/7/2013)
Friends choose 15th and 16th most popular baby names for their unexpected twin boys.  (11/3/2013) 
Destiny Hope Cyrus's impact on popular baby names for girls.  (10/15/2013)
There really was something about Mary.  (9/22/2013)
"Gone With the Wind" and baby names.  (11/27/2011)
The baby names list, 1900-1999.  (5/11/2010)

Boom and Bust in North Dakota and Montana

Right now, it's boom time.

About that 1980s spike in population.   At the beginning of the oil boom in the late 1970s, local community members convinced Toby Holm's mother and father to build a 200-person trailer park to help house all of the workers flocking into the town.

"It was a huge endeavor and my mother worked until her fingers literally bled," said Holm. But the money flow stopped abruptly about five years later, and the trailer court that once boasted a 200-person per trailer waiting list was down to just five trailers. What had become a lifeline for Holm's parents was repossessed.   (From "When a Boomtown Goes Bust:  "Sudden Desertion", KPAX, 12/6/2011)

As Oil Floods Plains Towns, Crime Pours In.  (The New York Times, 11/30/2013)

Some figures presented in this article.

• Arrests up 565%  since 2005 in Watford City, North Dakota, where the population has increased 42% since 2010 -- from 1,744 to 2,482
• Arrests up 855% since 2005 in Roosevelt County, Montana.
• Violent crimes  in Dickinson, North Dakota, increase from 7 to 41 in 5 years.
• Annual pay for gas station attendants:  $50,000
• Small apartments rent for $2,000 per month

The Commercial That Dared Not Speak Its Rival's Name

U.S. butter consumption reaches highest level in 40 years. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/1/2013)

Butterfest.   This time of year is butter's sweet spot. Estimates are that at least 40% of butter consumption in the U.S. takes place between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. That increase in demand is driven by holiday baking and Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

Imperial.  Still "making life better".

Today, they go head-to-head against butter.

• "...your butter alternative."
• "...100% less cholesterol than butter...."

Related post:
Margarine wars.  (7/23/2011)