Top 100 Years Of the 20th Century by Galen Black At the first of last year, I began an informal web survey. I asked the on line community to name their choice for best year of the 20th century. The results were tabulated using a very sophisticated method of counting. This poll is based on the 100 years making up this century, beginning with the year 1900 and ending with the year 1999. Oh, God! Do you geeks have to whine so loud? Yes, I'm aware that there was never a year zero A.D., your point? No, No, No! That does not mean the century begins in the 01 year. It means the year numbering department screwed up. They just weren't thinking. What is termed 1 BC is in fact 0 AD. The BC years are all off by one year. But since it would be too expensive to go back in time and change all of those calendars, I say that the first century just got short changed a year. What do you mean I'm wrong? SHUT UP! Here's the list. For the top 10, I give some speculation as to why I think those years were ranked so high. I also include some memorable quotes from people I surveyed, who shared why they thought a particular year was the best. 1972 -- (10, 452 votes) Probably due to the large number of porno lovers on the web. ("Deep Throat" released.) 1966 -- (10,402 votes) Most likely due to the high number geeks in the survey. ("Star Trek" the TV series released.) 1977 -- (10,401 votes) Only came in 3rd by one vote. ("Star Wars" released) 1999 -- (10,339) I think a lot of people just didn't want to think very hard about it. 1998 -- (10,337) I also polled a lot of people last year. 1971 -- (9,866 votes) My only guess is that I polled an extraordinary high number of 28 year olds. 1969 -- (9, 392 votes) I think a combination of porno lovers and very immature high school boys. 1913 -- (9, 087 votes)This was a surprise. I have no explanation 1979 -- (8, 777 votes) "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" released. 1945 -- (8, 761 votes) End of World War Two 1974 -- I think there's a lot of 12-14 year old girls lurking around the web.(Leonardo DiCaprio was born.) 1986 -- (8,693 votes) 1983 -- (8,124 votes) 1980 -- (7,842 votes) 38% percent of those polled said they voted this year because Reagan was elected president. 35% said they voted for 1980 because it was the year Carter was unelected president. And 25% said their vote was for the first year they were freed from the evil rule of scrap pieces of paper and tape, when 3M introduced "Post-it" notes. 1993 -- (7,621 votes) 1985 -- (7,456 votes) 1982 -- (7,222 votes) 1992 -- (6,891 votes) 1967 -- (6,247 votes) By my crude estimation, I surveyed exactly 6,247 Beatles fans. One fella actually commented, "The greatest album, by the greatest group, of the greatest musical genre, in the greatest universe. Check out my web page at www.johnpaulgeorgeandringo.com." I didn't check out the page, but if you want too click the link. (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released.) 1907 -- (6,150 votes) 1959 -- (6,145 votes) A couple of elementary schools in Juno, Alaska stuffed the ballot box on this one. They were trying to get the year Alaska got statehood into the top twenty. I'm sorry kids, you wasted your time. A bunch of kids from Oklahoma showed they loved their state more than you. They got the year Oklahoma became a state to the number 20 slot. 1994 -- (5,927 votes) 1963 -- (5,673 votes) 1912 -- (5,361 votes)A lot of people "missed the boat" on this one. I don't think they understand that the Titanic sank this year. One guy said, "That's the year Titanic made it's first voyage. Have you ever seen that boat. Man, it was huge. I love that thing. This has got to be the best year ever." 1991 -- (5,009 votes) 1965 -- (4,662 votes) 1984 -- (4,390 votes) I think my internet lines got mixed up with Amazon.com's and I mistook a bunch of orders for the Orwell classic as votes for years. A few day's later a bunch of folks who voted for 1999 thanked me for the copy of Prince's classic. So technically, this year should have less votes and 1999 should have more, but screw 1999. It's got plenty of votes already. So take that 1999. 1997 -- (3,987 votes) 1964 -- (3,823 votes) 1975 -- (3,625 votes) 1968 -- (3,376 votes) 1900 -- (2,990 votes) One person summed up most people's feelings on this year, "It was the first year of a real "kick ass" century." 1978 -- (2, 981 votes) 1990 -- (2,736 votes) 1962 -- (2,692 votes) 1973 -- (2,479 votes) 1989 -- (2.245 votes) The Veterans of the Cold War all voted for the year their great conflict ended. Civilian special forces units attacked and captured the Berlin Wall, signaling the fall of Communism, or at least evil communism. 1961 -- (2,099 votes) 1987 -- (1,934 votes) 1995 -- (1,821 votes) 1970 -- (1,746 votes) 1976 -- (1,673 votes) 1988 -- (1,589 votes) 1960 -- (1,244 votes) 1981 -- (1,033 votes) 1914 -- (945 votes) 1940 -- (925 votes) 1915 -- (790 votes) 1908 -- (713 votes) 1933 -- (688 votes)One high school senior wrote, "I lerned(sic) at school today they made getting drunk legal this year. Is that cool or what? We are cool! We are fine! We're the Class of '99! SENIORS!!!!! RULE!!!!!! 1922 -- (633 votes) 1929 -- (599 votes) A few Communist, Socialist and college juniors voted this year as the best. The Stock Market Crashed signaling the fall of capitalism. 1935 -- (536 votes) 1958 -- (487 votes) 1916 -- (434 votes) 1996 -- (433 votes) 1918 -- (398 votes) About 75 veterans of "The Great War" band together and got an email writing campaign going and got enough votes to get the End of World War 1 to this spot. 1957 -- (347 votes) 1950 -- (333 votes) Almost every person who voted for this year tried to convert me to Scientology. They all said this was the year L. Ron Hubbard set us all free. ("Dianetics" published.) 1931 -- (312 votes) 1946 -- (276 votes) 1910 -- (230 votes) 1937 -- (200 votes) 1906 -- (166 votes) 1903 -- (107 votes) 1947 -- (84 votes) 1956 -- (69 votes) I got 64 emails that simply said, "1956 was a great year." The other five emails simply said "1956" so I assume they were voting for this year. 1934 -- (55 votes) 1925 -- (52 votes) 1926 -- (38 votes) 1955 -- (32 votes) 1923 -- (30 votes) 1932 -- (26 votes) 1930 -- (22 votes) 1920 -- (16 votes) I didn't know Trojan condoms were introduced this year, that is until 8 voters let me know. 1902 -- (14 votes) 1944 -- (13 votes) 1938 -- (9 votes) 1904 -- (8 votes) 1943 -- (7 votes) 1939 -- (6 votes) The next 6 spots all got 2 votes a piece. 1954 -- Somebody bought their Mom and Dad a computer and an internet connection for Christmas. This is the entire email I got from these two love birds. "This is the year I met Dan, my wonderful husband. And I met Laura my fabulous wife, who still looks good in her one piece bathing suit. Oh, stop it, Dan. Come over here and kiss me you hot momma. Dan! This internet has changed you. Laura, lets go to that web site we caught the Grand kids looking at. Oh, you." 1905 1921 1949 1942 1909 All of the rest of the list got 1 vote a piece, except for 1901 which got no votes. It would have made a better showing if more people considered it the 1st year of the century. Ha, Ha. 1953 1936 1919 1941 -- I'm surprised this one got any votes but the one person who voted said this. "Spielberg's finest!" I have no idea what this means. 1924 1917 -- "I'm voting for 1917 because I bet no one else does." She was right. 1952 1947 1951 1948 -- The person who voted for this year said, "I was so happy the American people voted that no good Truman out of office and elected a real man like Thomas Dewey." I emailed this person back and they now know the truth, Thomas Dewey was not a real man. 1927 1911 1901 Back to the VGG Archive © copyright 2000 The Van Gogh-Goghs