As Americans get ready to celebrate July 4^th, we thought it would be fun to share some interesting Independence Day trivia.

How many years of independence are we celebrating in 2023?

This 4th of July we are celebrating 247 years of freedom!

Of course, all the celebrations culminate with a fireworks display – so how much do Americans spend on fireworks?

In 2021 it was estimated that Americans spent $2.2 billion – that’s 428.8 million pounds sold!

Who was the first founding father to sign the Declaration of Independence? 

John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration.  Ben Franklin was the oldest to sign at age 70 and Edward Rutledge was the youngest at age 26. There is a total of 56 signatures on the Declaration.

Is there a U.S. County named Independence? 

Yes, there actually is and it’s in Arkansas. Across the U.S. there are also 26 cities named Independence.

What was the population in 1776 compared to today’s number?

According to the U.S. Census, the nation’s population across the 13 colonies in 1776 was 2.5 million. Compare that to January 1, 2023, when the U.S. Census Bureau projected the U.S. population to be 334,233,854.

The American flag is a symbol of the fabric of our society and an emblem of our patriotism. How many versions have there been since 1777? 

27 versions and the current one was created by a 17-year-old high school student, Robert G. Heft, of Lancaster, Ohio who submitted the design in a contest in 1958. It was chosen from over 1,500 submissions by President Dwight Eisenhower.

How many American flags are bought each year?

According to the Flag Manufacturers’ Association of America, there are approximately 150 million American flags sold every year.

And last, but not least, how many hot dogs are consumed on July 4^th during all those picnics across the U.S.A.? 

According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, Americans eat approximately 150 million hot dogs on the 4th of July. That’s enough hot dogs to stretch across the country, from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles, more than five times!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this Independence Day trivia and that you’ll even share these interesting facts at your July 4th picnic. And most importantly, because you know that simpleQuE is an advocate for occupational health and safety (as in ISO 45001), we also want you to be safe when you’re away from work. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shares this sobering statistic, that in 2021 at least nine people died, and an estimated 11,500 were injured in incidents involving fireworks. For helpful fireworks safety tips, visit  Fireworks | CPSC.gov and please stay safe this holiday.