According to the Census Bureau, the U.S. population topped the 300 million mark Tuesday, October 17th. While it's virtually impossible to pinpoint exactly who is the 300-millionth American, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation claimed the 300 millionth baby with the birth of Emanuel Plata, a 6 lb., 15 oz. baby boy born at Elmhurst Hospital precisely 7:46 a.m., the time the Census Bureau estimated the landmark birth would be reached. Emanuel and his parents, Gricelda Plata and Armando Jimenez, residents of Brooklyn and natives of Mexico, were recognized by hospital officials and introduced to the public at a press briefing a few hours after his birth.

“It’s no surprise that the 300 millionth American has been born in a New York City public hospital to an immigrant family. Like America, New York City’s public hospitals have grown and changed in amazing ways. But one part of our history has remained the same: we continue to be the preferred medical home for our city’s immigrant families,” said HHC President Aviles.

Other NYC babies came close to being the 300 millionth:

• Manhattan: Metropolitan Hospital delivered a baby at 7:55 a.m.
  
• Brooklyn: Woodhull Hospital delivered a baby at 7:57 a.m.
  
• Bronx: Jacobi Medical Center delivered a baby at 8:01 a.m.
  

Noteworthy HHC statistics to coincide with milestones in US population:
2006 – US population reaches 300 million

• 300 millionth American born in NYC public hospital
  
• 1 in 6 New Yorkers get health care at an HHC facility
  
• HHC delivers approximately 25,000 babies per year
  
• HHC has invested nearly $40 million over five years to modernize and build new labor and delivery suites with private rooms and state of the art services

The Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country, is a $4.5 billion public benefit corporation that serves 1.3 million New Yorkers and nearly 450,000 who are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health, and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers, and nearly 100 community based clinics. For more information about HHC, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc.