Fun Facts on the Fourth

From the U.S Census Bureau

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

                                                2.5 million

In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly-independent nation.

Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970

                                                313.9 million

The nation’s estimated population on this July Fourth.

Source: Population clock

Flags

                                              $3.6 million

In 2011, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount—$3.3 million—was for U.S. flags made in China.

Source: Foreign Trade Statistics

                                            $663,071

Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2011. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $80,349 worth.

Source: Foreign Trade Statistics 

                                               $302.7 million                                                                                                  

Dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation’s manufacturers in 2007, according to the latest published economic census statistics.

Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 3149998231

                                                 $232.3 million

The value of fireworks imported from China in 2011, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($223.4 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $15.8 million in 2011, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($4.5 million).

Source: Foreign Trade Statistics

$231.8 million

The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007.

Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 325998J108 <http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/>                 

                                                           
Patriotic-Sounding Place Names  

Thirty-one places have “liberty” in their names. The most populous one as of April 1, 2010, was Liberty, Mo. (29,149). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

Thirty-five places have “eagle” in their names. The most populous one is Eagle Pass, Texas, with a population of 26,248.

Eleven places have “independence” in their names. The most populous one is Independence, Mo., with a population of 116,830.

Nine places have “freedom” in their names. The most populous one is New Freedom, Pa., with a population of 4,464.

One place has “patriot” in its name. Patriot, Ind., has a population of 209.

Five places have “America” in their names. The most populous is American Fork, Utah, with a population of 26,263.

Source: American FactFinder 

 Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July barbecues. About half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2011.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service