On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As we celebrate this Independence Day, we reflect on how our Founding Fathers enshrined in our Constitution the importance of statistics as a vital tool for measuring America.

The following facts are possible thanks to responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we continuously measure our people, places and economy.  

2.5 million

The estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation in July 1776.
Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: 1789-1945

331,449,281

The nation’s population on April 1, 2020.
Source: 2020 Census

56

The number of signers of the Declaration of Independence.

It is also worth noting that:

• John Hancock, a merchant by trade, was the first signer. In 2019, more than 1 million business establishments nationally with paid employees like Hancock were in the retail trade industry.
  Source: 2019 Geography Area Series: County Business Patterns, Table CB1900CBP

• Benjamin Franklin, who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence at age 70. Pennsylvania had a resident population of 13,002,700 on April 1, 2020. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest signer at age 26. South Carolina had a resident population of 5,118,425 on April 1, 2020
  Source: 2020 Census

• Counties and census incorporated places that contain the word “Liberty” in the name.
  Source: Vintage 2019 Population Estimates
• Counties that have “Union” in the name.
  Source: Vintage 2019 Population Estimates

Previous Facts for Features

• FFF: The Fourth of July: 2020
• FFF. The Fourth of July: 2019
• FFF: The Fourth of July: 2018
• FFF: The Fourth of July: 2017
• FFF: The Fourth of July: 2016

Stats for Stories

• Bill of Rights Day
• Rhode Island 230th Anniversary of Statehood (1790): May 29, 2020
• Maine 200th Anniversary (23rd state): March 15, 2020
• Florida 175th Anniversary (27th state): March 3, 2020
• Pennsylvania 230th State Admission Anniversary
• Georgia 230th State Admission Anniversary
• Delaware 230th State Admission Anniversary
• Maryland 230th State Admission Anniversary

Previous Graphics

• Fun Facts: Fourth of July (2020)
• Fun Facts: Fourth of July (2019)
• The Fourth of July (2018)
• Declaring Independence (2017)
• Greetings From Liberty USA (2016)

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