Public Spark

Happy 4th of July! Independence day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals and picnics. Usually I spend independence day with family and friends, enjoying a barbecue. Sometimes we would climb up to the rooftop to watch fireworks.

Here are some interesting statistics (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.

• The nation’s population on this July Fourth is 304 million.

• Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July barbecues. More than half (52 percent) of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2007.

• In 2007, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags was $4.7 million. The vast majority of this amount ($4.3 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.

• In 2007, the dollar value of U.S. flags exported was $2.4 million. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $1.2 million worth.

• 31 places nationwide have “liberty” in their name.

• 31 places are named “eagle.”

• 12 places have “independence” in their name.

• 9 places adopted the name “freedom.”

• There is one place named patriot and it is in Patriot, Indiana.

• 5 places in the country that have the name “America.”

• $107.2 billion is the 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.

Additional Resources:

• US Government

• Kaboose

• Family Fun