Fun Facts About July 4

On July 4, 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. But listed below are some facts about the day that you might not have known, courtesy of the Census Bureau:

Population -  In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation was 2.5 million. (The estimated population today is more than 311 million).

Flags -  In 2010, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags was $3.2 million. The vast majority of this amount ($2.8 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. $486,026 - Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2010. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing
$256,407 worth.
                          
Fireworks -  $190.7 million - The value of fireworks imported from China in 2010, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($197.3 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $37.0 million in 2010, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($6.3 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.

Patriotic-Sounding Place Names - Thirty-one places have "liberty" in their names. The most populous one as of April 1, 2010, is 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 (26,248). Eleven places have "independence" in their names. The most populous one is Independence, Mo. (116,830)

Nine places have "freedom" in their names. The most populous one is New Freedom, Pa. (4,464). One place with "patriot" in the name. Patriot, Ind. (209) Five places have "America" in their names. The most populous is American Fork, Utah (26,263). Source: American FactFinder.
           
Fourth of July Cookouts - More than 1 in 4 - The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 19.0 million hogs and pigs on March 1, 2011. This estimate represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s estimated total. North Carolina (8.6 million) and Minnesota (7.6 million) were also homes to large numbers of pigs.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Over 1 in 3 -The odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 36 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2010. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia, Washington and New York together accounted for 68 percent of the fresh market sweet corn produced nationally in 2010.

Please Pass the Potato - Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July barbecues. Approximately half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2010. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

81 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.