Fourth of July: Did you know?

 Today there are 323,341,000 people living in the U.S.. In 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed, there were 2.5 million people in the new nation. 

Approximately 41.5 million Americans will spend the holiday at someone else's home.

The Fourth was not declared a national holiday until 1941.

 700 million pounds of chicken are purchased for 4th of July celebrations. Americans also consume approximately 150 million hotdogs on the holiday. 

The White House held it's first 4th of July party in 1801. However, the first Independence Day celebration was held on July 8, 1776 in Philadelphia after the people were summoned by the Liberty Bell and read the Declaration of Independence.  

Only John Hancock actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. All the others signed later.

Over $670 million dollars are spent by American consumers on fireworks for 4th of July weekend. 

The famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest started in 1916.  It was supposedly started as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic.