4th of July Fun Facts

As we celebrate our country's birthday, here are some fun facts to enjoy about the 4th of July.

Eleven towns in the U.S. have "independence" in their name.  The most populous is Independence Missouri.

Incredible, but the 4th of July did not become a national holiday until 1941.

When the first Independence Day celebration took place in 1776, two and a half million people lived in the U.S.  Today, about 314 million people reside in America.

87 percent of American homes have an outdoor grill.

76 million Americans will celebrate the 4th with a barbecue.

It's estimated that 155 million hot dogs will be consumed today.  That's enough wieners to stretch five times from Los Angeles to  Washington D.C.

700 million pounds of chicken is purchased the week prior to the 4th.

The U.S. imports almost 200 million dollars worth of fireworks per year from China.

The stars on the original American flag were in a circle so all the Colonies would appear equal.

And finally, this crazy fact...

John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe all died on the 4th of July.  Adams and Jefferson died on the same day, within hours of each other, in 1826.

Have a happy and safe 4th!