Fun Facts About the Fourth of July

• Editor's note: As we celebrate the Fourth of July here in Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles, here are some fun facts, courtesy of the 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. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

Here are some interesting numbers for you to regale your friends on this Fourth of July, 2011.

2.5 million—In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation. Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970.

311.7 million—The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth.

Source: Population clock

Flags

$3.2 million—In 2010, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($2.8 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. Source: Foreign Trade Statistics

$486,026—Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2010. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $256,407 worth. Source: Foreign Trade Statistics 

$302.7 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 data. Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code

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) in 2007.
Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code325998J108

Food

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

6.8 billion pounds—Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2010. 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 (4.6 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.1 billion pounds). Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

6—Number of states in which the value of broiler chicken production was $1 billion or greater between December 2009 and November 2010. There is a good chance that one of these states—Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas—is the source of your barbecued chicken. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

More than 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. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Spud Facts—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

More than three-fourths—Amount of the nation’s head lettuce production in 2010 that came from California. This lettuce may end up in your salad or on your burger. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

7 in 10—The chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from Florida or California, which combined accounted for 71 percent of U.S. fresh market tomato production last year. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Florida—The state that led the nation in watermelon production last year (750 million pounds). Other leading producers of this popular fruit included California, Georgia and Texas, each had an estimate of more than 600 million pounds. 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. Source: Mediamark Research & Intelligence, as cited in the Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 2011