Reader poll
$193 million: The value of fireworks imported from China in 2008, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($202 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $28.1 million in 2008, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($5.8 million).
The Fourth of July is all about numbers.
After all, there aren’t that many holidays named after a number to begin with.
And then there are other numbers — how many beers you have at the lake, how much your kids want to spend on fireworks, etc.
Here are some numbers that define Independence Day, according to the Census Bureau.
2.5 million: In 1776, the estimated number of people living in the United States.
307 million: The number of people iving in the United States this July 4.
Cookouts
78 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.
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 19.3 million hogs and pigs on March 1, 2009. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s total. North Carolina (9.4 million) and Minnesota (7.3 million) were the runners-up.
About 4 in 10: The odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 39 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2008. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia and New York together accounted for 61 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2008.
861 million: The amount of watermelons produced in nation-leading Florida last year. Other leading producers of this popular fruit included California, Texas and Georgia, each with more than 500 million pounds.
More than 7 in 10: The chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from California or Florida, which combined accounted for 71 percent of U.S. tomato production last year.
6 states: Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or greater between December 2006 and November 2007. Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas is likely the source of your barbecued chicken.
More than three-fourths: Amount of the nation’s head lettuce production in 2008 that came from California. This lettuce may end up in your salad or on your burger.
6.8 billion pounds: Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2007. 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.
Fireworks
$193 million: The value of fireworks imported from China in 2008, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($202 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $28.1 million in 2008, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($5.8 million).
$17.3 billion: The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks in 2002.
Flags
$569,400: Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2008. Belgium was the leading customer, purchasing $186,400 worth.
$349.2 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.
$3.4 million: In 2008, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($3.0 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
Patriotic-Sounding Names
31: Number of places nationwide with “liberty” in their name. The most populous one as of July 1, 2007, was Liberty, Mo. (29,993). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
5: Number of places that have adopted the name “Freedom.” Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.
1: Number of places named “patriot” — Patriot, Ind., with a population of 190.
5: Number of places called “America,” with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 26,472.
11: Number of places that have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., the hometown of former President Harry S Truman, with 110,704 residents.
Comments
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mh3808 (anonymous) says…
1. It's funny we import American flags and
2. It's even funnier most of them are made in China.
And why does Belgium buy so many of our flags? With $186,000, what is that, like 60,000 flags?
GardenMomma (anonymous) says…
Yes, I agree it's funny to import American flags made in China. Of all things, you'd think that the making of the American flag would stay in America!
chargdup (anonymous) says…
The holiday's name is Independence Day, not the Fourth of July.
I'm surprised this was omitted from the article. Maybe not, since the first sentence got it wrong.
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
I propose July 24th as Interdependence Day... "20 Days into the Future."
geekin_topekan (anonymous) says…
2.5 million: In 1776
++++
Does this include the tribes or just the white people? Since natives weren't considered to be human, much less citizens, I question this number.
mike_blur (Mike Blur) says…
Indians, as well as non Indians living in remote, sparsely populated areas, weren't counted in the first census in 1790. The census total for 1790 was 3.9 million, and since the census didn't exist before then, a count of 2.5 million in 1776 sounds entirely reasonable.
jayhawks71 (anonymous) says…
Amen chargdup! When in the world did we start celebrating a "date." Independence Day it is. Don't get mad at me when I (and businesses) start wishing you a "Happy 25th of December!" May you all have a Happy third Thursday this November! :-)
livingstone (anonymous) says…
Well, why is "Made-in-China" such a big deal?
I contributed this in my previous posting but thought of sharing this here: "It's always fascinating to me how many Americans who go to work in China never bother to learn proper Chinese, yet Chinese don't really bother if Americans learn Chinese or not, they're busier learning English to communicate with Americans, so they can get all the outsourced work. Most Americans don't bother to learn Chinese, and thus leave out the opportunity to correct the trade deficits, and basically blame the trade deficit on China alone. It takes two hands to clap. Before you laugh at Chinese's English, and before you laugh at how they laugh at their own English… take a look at yourself and make that change…"
It's always fascinating how Americans look at how important they are. No one ever thought how important a foreign market can be. Ever thought that there are potential markets in China where we can sell stuffs they want? Sure. The Japanese basically sell them all their cosmetics. It's so sad to see that we even have to make our flags in China, not because we do not want to make it, but, we don't bother to learn what other people want, and then ship them what they really want.
Larry (anonymous) says…
Worthless article! How about # of soldiers that have sacrificed their lives in the fight for freedom? How about the # of soldiers currently serving over seas and away from their families? How about the number of countries that can thank the United States soldier that they aren't speaking German or Russian today? Why on earth would I expect anything different from the LJW? Let's do a ridiculous story that has nothing to do with Independence Day rather than honor the American soldier. To thank the US soldier or speak positively about the Unites States would go against our current administration's policy and by golly, we don't want to do that.