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.
Independence Day By The Numbers:
2.5 million
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.
304 million
The nation's population on this July Fourth.
6.8 billion pounds
Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2007. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for about one-sixth of the nation's total production. And if the beef did not come from Texas, it very well may have come from Nebraska (4.7 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.1 billion pounds).
74 million
Number of Americans who said they have taken part in a barbecue during the previous year.
It’s probably safe to assume a lot of these events took place on Independence Day.
$207 million
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2007, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($217 million).
U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $14.9 million in 2007, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($3.8 million).
$4.7 million
In 2007, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount
($4.3 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics
$2.4 million
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2007. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing
$1.2 million worth.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics
31
Number of places nationwide with "liberty" in their name. The most populous one as of July 1, 2006, is Liberty, Mo. (29,581). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
31
Number of places with "eagle" -- after the majestic bird that serves as our national symbol.
12
Number of places with "independence" in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., with 109,400 residents.
Number of places adopted the name "freedom." Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.
1
There is one place named "patriot" -- Patriot, Ind., with a population of 192.
5
And what could be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called "America"? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 25,596.
Sources: Historical Statistics of the United States, Population Clock, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008, and Foreign Trade Statistics
