To most Americans, 1946 feels like the distant past

May 11, 2026 · n = 509 · MoE ±4.6%Source report ↗

Core finding

In a Verasight survey of 509 U.S. adults conducted May 11, 2026, 1946 lands squarely in the distant past. About nine-in-ten (90%) say the year feels far away — half (50%) say very far, 26% say far, and 13% somewhat far.

Hardly anyone feels close to it: 4% say the year is neither close nor far, another 4% somewhat close, and just 2% call it close or very close.

Topline distribution

To most Americans, 1946 feels like the distant past.

How close or far does 1946 feel to you?

Very far
49.8%
Far
26.4%
Somewhat far
13.4%
Neither
4.2%
Somewhat close
4.2%
Close
1.4%
Very close
0.6%

n = 509 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±4.6%

ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUS adults age 18+
Field datesMay 11, 2026
Base (unweighted)509
Margin of error±4.6%
Modulesociety
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    How close or far does 1946 feel to you?

    reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26

Cite this question

Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=509 US adults age 18+, +/- 4.6%.