See
Facts for Features for this year's version of the Census Bureau's annual release of Fourth of July statistics. Some excerpts:
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
307 million
The nation’s population on this July Fourth.
Source: Population Clock
$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.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics
$569,400
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2008. Belgium was the leading customer, purchasing $186,400 worth.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics
Belgium? Can someone explain that one?
But the U.S. Census Bureau is not the only source of Fourth of July statistics out there. Here's a Mark Twain quote:
July 4. Statistics show that we lose more fools on this day than in all the other days of the year put together. This proves, by the number left in stock, that one fourth of July per year is now inadequate, the country has grown so.
So where did he get those statistics? Perhaps he found them in
The New York Times?
Happy Fourth of July everyone!