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Nation Celebrates 242 Years of Independence
Parades, outdoor concerts, backyard barbecues and firework displays are the staple of July 4th celebrations. But on this 242nd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, here’s a look back at how the nation has changed since its founding and other fun facts in Census Bureau statistics.
- In July 1776, there were an estimated 2.5 million people living in the newly independent nation. According to most recent estimates [PDF <1.0 MB], today there are 326 million.
- There were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
- John Hancock, a merchant by trade, was the first signer. In 2016, 1.1 million business establishments with paid employees - like Hancock - were in the retail trade industry.
- Benjamin Franklin, who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest of the signers at age 70. Franklin County, Pa., had an estimated population of 154,234 as of July 1, 2017.
- Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina, was the youngest at age 26. South Carolina had an estimated population [PDF <1.0 MB] of 5,024,369 as of July 1, 2017.
- There were $368.6 million worth of fireworks sold through establishments classified as NAICS 453998 and all other miscellaneous retailers (except tobacco stores) in 2012.
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Page Last Revised - September 21, 2024
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