Counterfactual
The Parallel Lives of Shelton and Cooper
In 21 boys, Shelton found its level. 50 years earlier, Cooper occupied that same statistical address.
1880–2025
Shelton
Peak year
1972
Peak births
179
Latest count
21
Status
Declining
Peak generation
Gen X
1882–2025
Cooper
Peak year
2025
Peak births
7,472
Latest count
7,472
Status
Rising
Peak generation
Gen Alpha
In 21 boys, Shelton found its level. 50 years earlier, Cooper occupied that same address. One peaked in the Gen Alpha era; the other in the Gen X world. They never met. But the data remembers them both.