4th of July Fun Facts:
- 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.
- 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 <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html> - 309.6 million: The nation’s estimated population on this July Fourth.
Source: Population clock <http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html> - $209 million: The value of fireworks imported from China in 2009, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($217 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $42.9 million in 2009, with the United Arab Emirates purchasing more than any other country ($14.5 million).
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/> - $331.4 million: The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007. Source: 2007 Economic Census <http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/>
- 76 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: 2010
<http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab>, Table 1203
Wi-Ex wishes you a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!
Visit USA.gov for more history about Independence Day, fireworks information, and safety tips to make sure everyone has a great weekend!
