Abstract
Since the end of the 20th century in the United States, unmarried cohabitation has increased significantly. In 2005, there were 5.3 million cohabitating couples in the United States. Approximately 44 percent of these couples had children in the household. Research has shown that unmarried cohabitation impacts that age at first marriage, the stability of the marital union, and overall marital happiness Using data from the 2005 American Community Survey, this study updated a report conducted in 1983 by Graham B. Spanier. The goal was to assess the findings achieved by Spanier and determine the nature of cohabitation in 2005 in comparison to 1983. There were many similarities but also important differences. The rise of interracial couples, the increase in the age at first marriage, and the increase in the number of elderly cohabitants are some of the differences concluded in this study in comparison to the 1983 study.