The Fourth of July 2006 Fun Facts

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, starting 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 fun facts for you and your family about the 4th of July…..

2.5 million

In July 1776, the number of people living in the colonies. (1776 population from Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970.)

300 million

On this July 4th, the population milestone our nation soon will be closing in on.

Fourth of July Cookouts

150 million

Number of hot dogs (all varieties) expected to be consumed by Americans on this holiday. (That’s one frankfurter for every two people.) There’s more than a 1-in-4 chance that the hot dogs made of pork originated in Iowa, as the Hawkeye State had a total inventory of 15.2 million market hogs and pigs on March 1, 2006. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s total. North Carolina (8.5 million) and Minnesota (5.8 million) were the runners-up. (Data on hot dog consumption courtesy of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.) Data on hogs and pigs at <www.nass.usda.gov>.

7.3 billion pounds

Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2005. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for over one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if they did not come from Texas, they very well may have come from Nebraska (4.5 billion pounds) or Kansas (4 billion pounds). <www.nass.usda.gov>

6

Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or greater between December 2004 and November 2005. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken. <www.nass.usda.gov>

Better than 50-50

The odds that the beans in your side dish of baked beans came from North Dakota, Michigan or Nebraska, which produced 60 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2005. Another popular July 4th side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California and Georgia together accounted for 51 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2005. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

Please Pass the Potato Salad

Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at July 4th barbecues. One-half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington in 2005. www.nass.usda.gov>

More than 68 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.

See Table 1230, 2006 edition: <www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html>

Fireworks

$201.9 million

The value of fireworks imported from China in 2005, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($211 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $14.9 million in 2005, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($4.4 million). <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

$17.3 million

The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks in 2002. <www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i325998t.pdf>

Flags

$5.5 million

In 2005, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags; the vast majority of this amount

($5 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

$993,000

Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2005. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $529,000 worth. <www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

$349 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 (2002) data. <www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i314999t.pdf>

Patriotic-Sounding Names

30

Number of places nationwide with “liberty” in its name. The most populous one is Liberty, Mo. (28,528). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

Thirty-two places are named “eagle” — after the majestic bird that serves as our national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages and census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle Pass, Texas, with 24,847 residents. There is also Eagle County, Colo., with a population of 47,530.

Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., with 111,023 residents. And don’t forget Independence, Oregon,

Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.

There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Ind., with a population of 195.

And what could be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 22,387.

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<factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

Coming to America

34 million

In 2004, the number of foreign-born residents in the United States; they accounted for 12 percent of the nation’s total population. Another 30 million Americans were “second-generation,” meaning that at least one of their parents was born abroad.

<www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/foreignborn_population/003969.html>

53%

As of 2004, the percentage of the nation’s foreign-born population born in Latin America. <www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/foreignborn_population/003969.html>

946,000

Number of immigrants granted legal permanent residence in the United States during fiscal year 2004. More than 1-in-4 settled in California. <uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/yearbook/YrBk04Im.htm>

537,000

Number of people who became naturalized U.S. citizens during fiscal 2004 (Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2004). Mexico contributed the highest number of naturalized citizens in 2004 (63,800), followed by India (38,000), the Philippines (31,400), Vietnam (27,500) and China (27,300). http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/publications/NaturalizationFlowReport2004.pdf

For local events, check the Salem-News.com calendar: http://salem-news.com/calendar.php

GOD BLESS THE U.S.A

If tomorrow all the things were gone I’d worked for all my life,

And I had to start again with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars to be living here today,

‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.

And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,

across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,

From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA,

Well, there’s pride in every American heart,

and it’s time to stand and say:

I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.

And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A