Happy Fourth Of July

Here are some interesting facts about the Fourth Of July.

2.5 million: The number of people living in the newly independent United States in July 1776.

311.7 million: The estimated population of the United States on July 4, 2011.

Patriotic-sounding place names:

31: The number of places that 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.

35: The number of places that have "eagle" in their names. The most populous is Eagle Pass, Texas (26,248).

11: The number of places that have "independence" in their names. The most populous is Independence, Mo. (116,830).

9: The number of places with "freedom" in their names. The most populous is New Freedom, Pa., (4,464).

5: Number of places with "America" in their names. The most populous is American Fork, Utah (26,263).

1: The only place with "patriot" in its name. Patriot, Ind., (209).

Fourth of July Cookouts

More than 1 in 4: The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa, followed by North Carolina and Minnesota.

6.8 billion pounds: The total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2010, making the Lone Star State the largest producer of steaks and burgers in the country, or about one-sixth of the nation's production. Runner-up states are Nebraska (4.6 billion pounds) and Kansas (4.1 billion pounds).

6: The number of states in which the value of broiler chicken production was $1 billion or greater between December 2009 and November 2010. (Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.)

Over 1 in 3: Odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 36 percent of all the nation's dry, edible beans in 2010.

81 million: The number of Americans who said they have taken part in a barbecue during the previous year.

Have a great Fourth!