My Country Tis Of Thee

July 4, 1776: Our forefathers at the second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration Of Independence and broke free from the British empire by proclaiming themselves a sovereign nation. And so began life in these United States. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't until August 2 that John Hancock put his, er...John Hancock on the actual hand written Declaration. Here are some more Fun Facts from the US Census Bureau:

2.5 million: The estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation In July 1776. 304 million: the nation’s population on this July Fourth.

More than 1 in 4: The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 17.6 million market hogs and pigs on March 1, 2008. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s total. North Carolina (9 million) and Minnesota (6.7 million) were the runners-up.

About 4 in 10: The odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 42 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2007. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia and New York together accounted for 60 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2007.

52%: Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July barbecues. More than half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2007.

Nearly 3 in 4: The chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from Florida or California, which combined accounted for 73 percent of U.S. tomato production last year. The ketchup on your burger or hot dog probably came from California, which accounted for 96 percent of processed tomato production in 2007

$207 million: The value of fireworks imported from China in 2007, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($217 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $14.9 million in 2007, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($3.8 million).

$4.7 million: The 2007 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.

$107.2 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.

11: Number of Americans who died in 2006 from fireworks.

9,200: Number treated in U.S. emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries.

$21 million: Cost of direct property damage from the 2,200 reported structure, or vehicle, fires caused by fireworks in 2004.