10 Interesting Facts about Independence Day

By Dani Blackwood

Independence Day is celebrated this month as the nation commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The founding fathers declared the 13 colonies were no longer subject to the monarch of Britain but were now free, independent states.

Today, that independence is often celebrated with fireworks, picnics, parades, fairs, and a variety of other public and private events. As the nation prepares to once again honor its heritage, it is fun to review these interesting facts about Fourth of July.

• John Adams, Founding Father, argued the official holiday should be celebrated on July 2, not July 4. His reasoning was due to the fact the Continental Congress voted on independence on July 2, 1776; however, they did not approve the document until July 4, 1776.
• There was an estimated 2.5 million people living in the 13 colonies on July 4, 1776.
• According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans will eat 150 million hot dogs, or enough to stretch from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles more than five times. There are not any organizations that track how many hamburgers will be consumed, however, it is estimated Americans eat roughly 140 million burgers per day, and that number is two-and-a-half times as many hotdogs. Overall, that could mean that the burger tally for Independence Day is around 375 million.
• Americans take pride in their flag and it shows. It is estimated that around 64 percent of the population owns an American flag, and 51 percent own some type of apparel showing patriotic imagery or symbols.
• The 50^th star on the United States flag was added in 1960 for the state of Hawaii, but overall, there have been 27 different versions of the flag.
• Emergency rooms see an increase in the number of injuries on Independence Day, with fireworks injuries among the most common reason for visits. According to the NPR, 10,200 people were injured by fireworks in 2022.
• Large Fourth of July events can be livestreamed from the comfort of your own home, including A Capitol Fourth from Washington, D.C.
• The Declaration of Independence was written on a laptop, but obviously not a modern laptop. Thomas Jefferson is said to have drafted the document on a writing desk that could fit over one’s lap, known at the time as a ‘laptop.’
• Americans spend more than one billion dollars on a fireworks each year according to the American Pyrotechnics Association, with only 10 percent of those fireworks set off professionally, and the tradition of celebrating fireworks might just date back to 1777. John Adams is said to have written in a letter to his wife that he wanted the day to be celebrated with pomp, parade, shows, and illuminations.
• The United States of America is not alone in celebrating independence. Other countries also celebrate, including Norway, Denmark, Ireland, and Australia.

References

Brunicardi, T. (n.d.). 15 fun facts about the fourth of july. The Hocking College Experience. https://blog.hocking.edu/15-fun-facts-about-the-fourth-of-july

Statista Research Department, & 26, M. (2024, March 26). Adults proud to be American U.S. 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/261561/proud-to-be-american/#:~:text=American%20patriotism,branding%20patriotic%20imagery%20or%20symbols.

Walden, L. (2023, July 4). 9 fun conversation starters for your Fourth of july. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/07/04/1185844372/july-4th-fun-facts