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/PresselRease/www/r
eleases/archives/population/007001.html
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/
releases/archives/population/009756.html,
and American FactFinder)
