LocalNewsOnly
Linda Baker, Reporter
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 data as a vital tool for measuring America.
Most of the following facts are possible thanks to responses to U.S. Census Bureau censuses and surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we continuously measure our people, places and economy.
Did You Know?
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
The nation’s population on July 1, 2023.
Source: Vintage 2023 Population Estimates
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 2021, more than 1 million business establishments nationally with paid employees were in the retail trade industry like Hancock.
Source: 2021 County Business Patterns, Table CB2100CBP
- Benjamin Franklin, who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence at age 70. Pennsylvania had a resident population of 12,972,008 on July 1, 2022. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest signer at age 26. South Carolina had a resident population of 5,282,634 on July 1, 2022.
Source: Vintage 2023 Population Estimates
- Places with the word “liberty” in their names.
Source: Vintage 2023 Population Estimates
- Places with the word “union” in their names.
Source: Vintage 2023 Population Estimates
