4th July or Independence Day

Here we have 10 facts about the 4th July.

• The oldest established July 4th celebrations which have continued without interruption have been held in Bristol, Rhode Island since 1777 as outlined in dispatches about ‘celebratory cannon and musket firing heard over the waters’ by a British Officer stationed over in the US.

• Since 1868, Seward, Nebraska has held their 4th July celebrations in the same spot in the Town Square.

• Since 1972 there has been an annual hot dog eating competition which is televised nationally from Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY. Did you know that the USA spends 7 BILLION dollars annually on hot dogs JUST for this event.

• Baseball is the national sport and never more so than on the 4th when many Major and Minor league games are scheduled – more family time.

• Macy’s Fireworks have been held since 1976. In 2009, in recognition of the route taken by Henry Hudson in 1609, the fireworks were moved from their usual site over the East River to the Hudson. Controversially, they were said to be returning the following year and it never happened but in the news recently, following a massive number of continued complaints about the change of venue, this year’s event will be moved back to the East River, much to the delight of the residents of the Brooklyn area.

• More than 74 million Americans will spark up the BBQ for July 4th.

• When America achieved independence the population was some 2.5 million and in the census of 2010, it stood at around 300 million.

• An average of $2 billion spent on food for 4th July.

• Over 68 million cases of beer are sold on Independence Day annually.

• They spend an INCREDIBLE $600,000,000 on FIREWORKS just for the 4th July.