4th of July Facts

The Fourth of July 2008

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 millionIn 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>
304 millionThe nation’s population on this July Fourth.Source: Population clock <http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html>

Flags

$4.7 millionIn 2007, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($4.3 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
$2.4 millionDollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2007. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $1.2 million worth.Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
$349.2 millionAnnual 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: 2002 Economic Census <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i314999t.pdf>

"I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."