2007 BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO

Transcription

1 2007 BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO RE-ENACTOR SURVEY ANALYSIS P. O. B o x S a c r a m e n t o, K Y ( ) w w w. b a t t l e o f s a c. c o m

2 Nearly one-fourth of the re-enactors attending the 2007 Battle of Sacramento completed a survey. (188 of the 800 re-enactors (24%) in attendance completed a survey.) STATES REPRESENTED The 170 re-enactors survey during the 2007 Battle of Sacramento event in McLean County, Kentucky came from the following states: COUNTIES REPRESENTED Forty-five percent (45%) of the re-enactors who completed a survey came from Kentucky representing 29 counties and 37 different cities.

3 OCCUPATIONS Occupations ranged from aircraft mechanic to writer and everything in between. The following is a breakdown of the occupations most mentions. 37% were those represented: Other occupations (shown here in brown) included bartender, coal miner, chef, playwright author, truck drivers, policement, social worker, architect, mason and dentist. There were 95 different occupations listed. Retirees Teachers/Students Mechanics/Machinists Pipe Fitters Food Service Nurses Other YEARS OF PARTICIPATION 45% of the re-enactors surveyed had been attending re-enactments ten years or more. One-third (33%) responded that they had been involved in re-enactments 5 years or less with 13% responding that this was their first year. Over 50% of those who completed the survey had attended the Battle of Sacramento at least six times. ECONOMIC IMPACT Re-enactors at Battle of Sacramento spend on average $2, per year attending re-enactments*. This amount includes purchases such as equipment, costumes and large ticket items such as muskets and cannons. They participate in four (4) re-enactments per year with over 52% attending more than six (6) reenactments per year. Re-enactors spend on average $ at re-enactments. During the Battle of Sacramento, re-enactors spent on average $ on food, gas, lodging and miscellaneous items while in the area. A total of 800 re-enactors attended the 2007 Battle of Sacramento. If each spent an average of $ while in the area, there was a total of $106,608 direct impact on the area for the three-day event. * Please note: On-site interviews with re-enactors at the Battle of Sacramento indicated that a lesser amount is spent at this event due to so much being provided such as Saturday night dinner.

4 INFORMATION & REGISTRATION Only 5 people out of 162 (3%) responded that they had problems finding information on the event. 109 people responded (67%) responded that they had visited the website. If provided the option, only about one-fourth (25%) would prefer to use a credit card to register. 38 people responded yes to this question. One-third of those who responded to this question (36%) said they would be interested in registering online with a credit card if provided that option. 42 people responded yes. HOW DID ONE HEAR ABOUT THE EVENT? Nearly 54% heard about the event from their unit, other re-enactors or at a Civil War event and 38% heard about it from friends, family or by word-of-mouth. HOW DID THEY RATE THIS YEAR S BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO? 81% rated this year s Battle of Sacramento either an 8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale with 10 being the best. (132 out of 188 responded to this question.)

5 WHAT ARE THE FAVORITE RE-ENACTMENTS? The following re-enactments were rated as one of the re-enactor s favorites: 70% listed the Battle of Sacramento as one of their favorite re-enactments. 17% listed Perryville, 13% listed Shiloh and 9% listed Columbus Belmont. 37 out of 62 (60%) listed the Battle of Sacramento as their very favorite re-enactment. Perryville and Shilo tied at 8 each for 13% of the vote. Also listed as top favorites were: Eddyville (3), Columbus Belmont (1), Jerseyville Illinois Victorian Days (2), Brandenburg (2), Tunnel Hill (1), Rivers Bridge (1) and National Events (1). All of the Civil War events people listed on the survey include: Sacramento (83), Perryville (21), Shiloh (16), Columbus Belmont (11), Eddyville (5), Wildcat (5), Richmond (3), Gettysburg (3), Tunnel Hill (3), National Events (3), Jerseyville, IL (2), Brandenburg (2), Parker s Crossroad (2), Fort Donelson, TN (2), Lost River (2), Rivers Bridge, Fairview, Mill Springs, Chicamauga, GA, Collinsville, TN, Scottsville, Springhill, TN, Shepherdsville, Stones River, Leatherwood, Bridgeport, North Vernon, Davis Mills, Winfield, AL, Appamatox, Missionary Ridge, Sikeston, Bedford, Pilot s Knob, Pea Ridge, AR, Selma, TN, Bardstown, Preston Plantation, Munfordville, Fort Duffield, Georgetown, Morgan s Raid, Fort Henry, Springfield, West Point. UNION OR CSA? 74% of the re-enactors who responded to this question said they were Confederates with only 12% Union and another 15% able to both. Efforts need to be taken to encourage more Union troops to participate in the future otherwise the battle will be very one-sided and the outcome inevitable!

6 HAVE PARTICIPANTS VISITED THE OTHER CIVIL WAR SITES IN MCLEAN COUNTY OR TAKEN ONE OF THE CIVIL WAR DRIVING TOURS? LISTED WERE: GENERAL THOMAS CRITTENDEN S UNION HEADQUARTERS IN CALHOUN CAMP CALHOUN UNION CEMETERY WHERE 140 UNION SOLDIERS ARE BURIED. OTHER CEMETERIES IN MCLEAN COUNTY WITH CIVIL WAR VETERANS BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO DRIVING TOUR SUE MUNDY S HOMEPLACE ON THE CIVIL WAR DRIVING TOUR This was an interesting question. Only 4 people responded that they had visited all five sites and/or driving tours. A few others had at least visited Crittenden s Union Headquarters (14 total), visited Sue Mundy s Homeplace (16 total) or taken the Battle of Sacramento Driving Tour (19 total). The majority of participants, many of whom had attended the event as many as five times or more, had no idea the sites existed but expressed interest in receiving more information on them. Recommendation: Creating a greater awareness of both the Union Headquarters and the Union Cemetery through better marketing might be a way to encourage more Union troops to participate in the Battle of Sacramento in the future. HOW FAR DID PEOPLE TRAVEL? (160 out of 188 responded to this question.) The number of miles participants traveled to the event ranged from as close as 2 miles to as far away as 800 miles (Dallas Texas) with the average distance being 168 miles. HOW MANY PEOPLE TRAVELED TOGETHER? The majority (69%) traveled with 1 to 4 people. 9% traveled by themselves and 22% traveled with five people or more.* *This question really should have been worded to say How many people per vehicle? Some responses included the number who caravanned together but not necessarily in the same vehicle.

7 HOW LONG DID THEY STAY IN THE AREA? (159 responded to this question.) 65% stayed three days, 20% stayed two days, 10% stayed four days or more. Only two people (1%) said they stayed just one day and six people (4%) noted that they lived there. WHERE DID EVERYONE STAY DURING THE EVENT? (161 responded to this question.) 83% stayed on site, 9% stayed at home, 8% stayed in hotels and only 2 people (1%) stayed at a campsite and one person (less than 1%) stayed with friends. One person noted he spent part of his time on-site and part of the time at home and two people split their nights between on-site and a hotel. DID EVERYONE WHO RODE TOGETHER STAY IN THE SAME LOCATION? (142 responded to this question.) 90% of those who traveled to the event together stayed together. Three people out of the 10% that said they did not stay together noted their traveling companions stayed in a hotel or with friends rather than on-site.

8 PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT SURVEY & ANALYSIS: WMTH CORPORATION P.O. Box Bowling Green, KY (270)