WASHINGTON, June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, triggering 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.
(1776 population from Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial
Times to 1970.)
302 million
The nation's population on this July Fourth.
Fourth of July Cookouts
More than 1 in 4
The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth
originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State had a total of 15.5 million market
hogs and pigs on March 1. This represents more than one-fourth of the
nation's total. North Carolina (8.4 million) and Minnesota (6.2 million)
were the runners-up. http://www.nass.usda.gov/
6.8 billion pounds
Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2006. 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 they did not come from Texas, they very
well may have come from Nebraska (4.8 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.1
billion pounds). http://www.nass.usda.gov/
6
Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion
or greater between December 2005 and November 2006. There is a good chance
that one of these states -- Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina,
Mississippi or Texas -- is the source of your barbecued chicken.
http://www.nass.usda.gov/
About 50-50
The odds that the beans in your side dish of baked beans came from
Michigan or North Dakota, which produced 49 percent of the nation's dry,
edible beans in 2006. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on
the cob. Florida, California, Georgia and New York together accounted for
60 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2006.
http://www.nass.usda.gov/
Please Pass the Potato Salad
Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July
barbecues. Nearly half of the nation's spuds were produced in Idaho or
Washington in 2006. http://www.nass.usda.gov/
More than 70 percent
Amount of the nation's head lettuce production in 2006 that came from
California. This lettuce may end up in your salad or on your hamburger.
http://www.nass.usda.gov/
About 2 in 3
The chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from Florida or
California, which combined accounted for 68 percent of U.S. tomato
production last year. The ketchup on your hamburger or hot dog probably
came from California, which accounted for 95 percent of processed tomato
production in 2006. http://www.nass.usda.gov/
Florida
The state that led the nation in watermelon production last year (835
million pounds). Other leading producers of this popular Fourth of July
dessert include California, Georgia and Texas, each with more than 600
million pounds. http://www.nass.usda.gov/
More than 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.
See Table 1225, 2007 edition:
http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html
Fireworks
$206.3 million
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2006, representing the bulk
of all U.S. fireworks imported ($216 million). U.S. exports of fireworks,
by comparison, came to just $22.6 million in 2006, with Japan purchasing
more than any other country ($8 million).
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/
$17.3 million
The value of U.S. manufacturers' shipments of fireworks in 2002.
http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i325998t.pdf
Flags
$5.3 million
In 2006, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags; the vast
majority of this amount
($5 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/
$1.7 million
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2006. Trinidad and Tobago was the
leading customer, purchasing $661,498 worth.
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/
$349.2 million
Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar
emblems by the nation's manufacturers, according to the latest published
Economic Census (2002) data.
http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i314999t.pdf
Patriotic-Sounding Names
30
Number of places nationwide with "liberty" in its name. The most populous
one is Liberty, Mo. (29,042). Iowa, with four, has more of these places
than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West
Liberty.
-- Thirty-two places are named "eagle" -- after the majestic bird that
serves as our national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages
and census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle
Pass, Texas, with 25,571 residents. There is also Eagle County, Colo.,
with a population of 49,085.
-- Eleven places have "independence" in their name. The most populous of
these is Independence, Mo., with 110,208 residents.
-- Five places adopted the name "freedom." Freedom, Calif., with 6,000
residents, has the largest population among these.
-- There is one place named "patriot" -- Patriot, Ind., with a population
of 195.
-- 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 21,372.
(Sources: http://www.census.gov/Press-
Release/www/releases/archives/population/007001.html,
http://www.census.gov/Press-
Release/www/releases/archives/population/009756.html, and American
FactFinder)
The British are Coming!
$99 billion
Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the
United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-
leading trading partner today. http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/
The following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau's Facts for Features series:
Black History Month (February) Labor Day (Sept. 3)
Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) Grandparents Day (Sept. 9)
Women's History Month (March) Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept.
Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ 15-Oct. 15)
St. Patrick's Day (March 17) Halloween (Oct. 31)
Asian/Pacific American American Indian/Alaska Native
Heritage Month (May) Heritage Month (November)
Older Americans Month (May) Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
Mother's Day (May 13) Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22)
Father's Day (June 17) The Holiday Season (December)
The Fourth of July (July 4)
Anniversary of Americans with
Disabilities Act (July 26)
Back to School (August)
Editor's note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: pio@census.gov.
U.S. Census Bureau
CONTACT: U.S. Census Bureau Public Information Office, +1-301-763-3030,
pio@census.gov
Web site: http://www.census.gov/
