Fourth Facts: Independence Day by the Numbers

Happy 235th America. It's been a long road, but you've accomplished a lot in your two-plus centuries.

The U.S. Census has been keeping track of our nation's progress since the United States of America only meant 12 states and on this Fourth of July, we have some of those numbers for you.

2.5 million – The estimated number of people living in the newly
independent nation in July 1776.

311.7 million – The nation's estimated population on this July 4.

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). The U.S. exported just $37 million worth of fireworks in 2010, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($6.3 million).

$231.8 million – The value of U.S. manufacturers' shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007.

Patriotic-Sounding Place Names

• 31 – Places that have "liberty" in their names. The most populous one as of April 1, 2010, is Liberty, MO (29,149). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
• 35 – Places that have "eagle" in their names. The most populous one is Eagle Pass, TX (26,248).
• 11 – Places that have "independence" in their names. The most populous one is Independence, MO (116,830).
• 9 – Places that have "freedom" in their names. The most populous one is New Freedom, PA (4,464).
• 1 – Place that has "patriot" in the name. Patriot, IN (209).
• 5 – Places that have "America" in their names. The most populous is American Fork, Utah (26,263).

Fourth of July Cookouts

There is a more than 1 in 4 chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 19 million hogs and pigs on March 1.

6.8 billion pounds – The 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.

The odds are 1 in 3 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.

Approximately half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2010.

The chances are 7 in 10 that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from Florida or California, which together accounted for 71 percent of U.S. fresh market tomato production last year.

Florida is 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 of which had an estimate of more than 600 million pounds.

Some 81 million Americans said they took part in a barbecue last year.