Fourth of July!

Here are some interesting facts about the July 4th holiday from the Census Bureau's Facts for Features.

• In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation was 2.5 million.
• The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth is 313.9 million!
• $232.3 million: The value of fireworks imported from China in 2011, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($223.4 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $15.8 million in 2011, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($4.5 million). Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www> <http://www.usatradeonline.gov>
• 6: Number of states in which the value of broiler chicken production was estimated at $1 billion or greater between December 2010 and November 2011. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/PoulProdVa/PoulProdVa-04-26-2012.pdf>

Although most of Arkansas is under burn restrictions and fireworks bans due to the extremely dry conditions, many cities around the state are still holding Fourth of July fireworks displays. For more information about cities near you, check out this list.

The Arkansas State Library will be closed on July 4th in celebration of the holiday. Normal hours will resume on Thursday July 5th. Any reference questions sent after the close of business on July 3rd will be answered as soon as possible on the 5th.

4th of July Facts

This coming Monday is the 4th of July, when Americans celebrate the approval of the Declaration of Independence. To get you prepared for the holiday, here are some facts from the U.S. Census Bureau about the 4th of July:

Population

2.5 million: In 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 

311.7 million: The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth. Source: Population clock http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html;

Patriotic-Sounding Place Names:

*Thirty-one places have “liberty” in their names. The most populous one as of April 1, 2010, is Liberty, Mo. (29,149) Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

*Thirty-five places have “eagle” in their names. The most populous one is Eagle Pass, Texas (26,248).

*Eleven places have “independence” in their names. The most populous one is Independence, Mo. (116,830). Nine places have “freedom” in their names. The most populous one is New Freedom, Pa. (4,464).

*One place with “patriot” in the name. Patriot, Ind. (209).

*Five places have “America” in their names. The most populous is American Fork, Utah (26,263). Source: American FactFinder; www.census.gov

There are many more facts where those came from at the Facts for Features page at the U.S. Census Bureau.

And for those of you who would like to read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution this weekend, you can visit the Charters of Freedom page from the National Archives, and download a high-resolution version on your computer.

Finally, the Arkansas State Library will be closed on Monday, in celebration of the holiday.If you have any reference questions that need prompt assistance, please give us a call by Thursday of this week, or come back on Tuesday.