Independence Day

[Т А Кузнецова]

234th anniversary of Independence Day (July, 4th)

On July,4th the USA will celebrate 234th anniversary of Independence Day, here is an interesting recourse for using in the classroom www.usa.gov/Topics/Independence_Day.shtml

You may also find extra informative links for further exploration:

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 marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

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 <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html>

309.6 million

The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth.

Source: Population clock <http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html>

Flags

$3.0 million

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.

Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/>'>http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/>'>http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/>

$920,277

Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2009. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $333,882 worth.

Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/>

$301.5 million

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.

Source: 2007 Economic Census <http://www.census.gov/econ/census07>

Fireworks

$209 million

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).

Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/>

$331.4 million

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

Source: 2007 Economic Census <http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/>

Patriotic-Sounding Place Names

31

Number of places nationwide with "liberty" in their name. The most populous one as of July 1, 2008, is Liberty, Mo. (30,568). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

• Thirty places have "eagle" in their name -- after the majestic bird that serves as our national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages and census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle Pass, Texas, with 26,668 residents.

• Eleven places have "independence" in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., with 110,440 residents.

• Five places adopted the name "freedom." Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these. (This population total is as of the 2000 Census; no population estimate is available for Freedom because it is a census designated place.)

• There is one place named "patriot" -- Patriot, Ind., with a population of 189.

• And what could be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called "America"? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 27,064.

Sources: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2008-4.html> and American FactFinder <www.census.gov>

Early Presidential Last Names

138

Ranking of the frequency of the surname of our first president, George Washington, among all last names tabulated in the 2000 Census. Other early presidential names that appear on the list, along with their ranking, were Adams (39), Jefferson (594), Madison (1,209) and Monroe (567).

Source: Census 2000 Genealogy <http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/data/2000surnames/>

The British are Coming!

$93.2 billion

Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading trading partner today.

Sources: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top0912yr.html#total>