America's Birthday By the Numbers

2009 you plan to celebrate July 4th this year? On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be 2010 Cookout/barbecue/picnic How do 62.6% 4th 61.9% 42.7% 42.4% July 4 Fireworks/community celebration Attending a parade 11.5% 12.2% Totals spent on various holiday items in millions of US$, in 2009. $600 Fireworks Travel/vacation in Numbers marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues 11.4% 11.5% 11.7% 11.2% $341.4 Beer Other $203 Mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard $193.6 Hamburger patties across the country. Will you purchase any additional patriotic 12.8% Will not celebrate 12.2% merchandise within the next 30 days? |2.5 million 309.6 million The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth. No 49.5% United States on the Picnic Table In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation. $167.5 Watermelon $161.5 Lettuce, tomatoes, relish and onions Population Yes 16.2% 6.5 billion pounds $111.1 Charcoal Unsure 34.3% $107.7 Popsicles Flags Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2008. Florida $3,000,000 In 2009, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($2.5 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burger $101 Sodas The state that led the nation in watermelon production last on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for about one-sixth of the nation's total production. Kansas 3.9 billion. pounds There is more than 1/4 chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages $94.3 Lighter fluid $92 Chips year (818 million pounds). $320,277 Other leading producers of this popular fruit included California, Georgia and Texas, each with more than 500 million pounds. Nebraska 4.6 billion, pounds you consume on Fourth of July originated in Iowa. Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2009. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $333,882 worth. The Hawkeye State was home to 18.9 million hogs and pigs on March 1, 2010. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation's total. North Carolina (9.1 million) and Minnesota (7.2 million) were the runners-up. $86.2 Cheese 7 in 10 $70.4 Hamburger and hotdog buns $301,500,000 The chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from Florida or California. $63 Dips Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation's manufacturers, according to the latest published economic census data. Combined they account for 70 percent of U.S. fresh market tomato production last year. The ketchup on your burger or hot dog probably came from California, which accounted for 95 percent of processed tomato production in 2009. |2009 Which of the following patriotic | 2010 items do you or your family own? *Fireworks Please Pass the Potato Salad Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items Fourth of July barbecues. Half of the nation's spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2009. American flag 60.4% 60.4% Apparel (t-shirt, hat, etc.) 44.5% 44.5% Corn on the Cob Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia, Washington and New York together accounted for 66 percent of the fresh market sweet corn produced nationally in 2009. $209,000,000 29.1% Decorations 29.1% 22.0% 22.0% The value of fireworks imported from China in 2009, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($217 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $42.9 million in 2009, with the United Arab Emirates purchasing more than any other country ($14.5 million). Music SIX Number of states in which the value of broiler chicken production was $1 billion or greater between December 2007 and November 2008. Bumper sticker or car decal 12,2% 12.2% 5.39 Other About 1 in 3 The odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 34 percent of the nation's dry, edible beans in 2009. More than three-fourths Amount of the nation's head lettuce production in 2009 that came from California. This lettuce may end up in your salad or on your burger. $331,400,000 There is a good chance that one of these states Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas - is the source of your barbecued chicken. Do not own patriotic merchandise 21.1% 21.1% The value of U.S. manufacturers' shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007. Sources: Money Times, Census Bureau, Forbes 2010 1776