June 16, 2015 — On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. This most American of holidays will be marked with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues across the country.
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
<//www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/HistoricalStatisticsoftheUnitedStates1789-1945.pdf>
The nation’s estimated population on this July Fourth.
Source: U.S. and World Population Clock <//www.census.gov/popclock/>
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Numbers of signers to the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston comprised the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration. Jefferson, regarded as the strongest and most eloquent writer, wrote most of the document.
It’s also worth noting that:
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2014, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($257.8 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $11.9 million in 2014, with Israel purchasing more than any other country ($5.4 million).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics, Code 360410
<https://usatrade.census.gov/>
Fireworks sales by retailers in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census.
<//factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2012_US/44I3//prodsvc~20874>
Sales of fireworks and firecrackers by wholesalers in 2012. There were 162 wholesalers who sold these items in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census
<//factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2012_US/42I3//prodsvc~12815>
In 2014, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($3.5 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics, Code 6307909825
<https://usatrade.census.gov/>
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2014. Turkey was the leading customer, purchasing $673,000 worth.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics, Code 6307909825
<https://usatrade.census.gov/>
Fifty-nine counties and census places contain the word “liberty” in the name. Pennsylvania, with 11, has more of these places than any other state. Of the 59 places, four are counties: Liberty County, Ga. (65,198), Liberty County, Fla. (8,360), Liberty County, Mont. (2,359) and Liberty County, Texas (78,117).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, TIGER Shapefiles, the Census Bureau’s geographic database (Place/MCD/County combined “used within name” count), unpublished and Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014, Table PEPANNRES
<//factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPANNRES/0500000US12077|0500000US13179|0500000US30051|0500000US48291>
Only one census place has “patriot” in its name: Patriot, Ind., has an estimated population of 205.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 Population Estimates
<//factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPANNRES/1620000US1858392>
The most common patriotic sounding name used within counties and census places is “union” with 137. Pennsylvania, with 33, has more of these places than any other state. Other such words most commonly used in place names are Washington (127), Franklin (118) and Lincoln (95).
Sources: TIGER Shapefiles, the Census Bureau's geographic database (Place/MCD/County combined “used within name” count) and Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014, Table PEPANNRES
<//factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2014/PEPANNRES/0100000US.05000.003>
Dollar value of trade in 2014 between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our seventh-leading trading partner today.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics
<//www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top1412yr.html>
The following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series:
Black (African American) History Month (February) Super Bowl Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) Women's History Month (March) Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ St. Patrick's Day (March 17) Earth Day (April 22) Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) Older Americans Month (May) Mother's Day Hurricane Season Begins (June 1) Father's Day |
The Fourth of July (July 4) Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act (July 26) Back to School (August) Labor Day Grandparents Day Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) Unmarried and Single Americans Week Halloween (Oct. 31) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November) Veterans Day (Nov. 11) Thanksgiving Day The Holiday Season (December) |
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. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; or e-mail: pio@census.gov.