by Shilo Dawn Goodson

Created on: June 26, 2008

Many people know that July 4th is considered "America's birthday" and that it is celebrated with fireworks, parades, barbeques, and other activities. Yet, there are some facts about this day that might surprise or interest you. Here are ten things you may not already know about Independence Day:

1. John Hancock was the only person to actually sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The other 55 signers did not sign it until August 2nd or even later.

2. The youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence was 26-year-old Edward Rutledge. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin. He was 70. Most of the signers were in their 30s and 40s.

3. When the United States became a country, there were approximately 2.5 million people living in the country. Today the population is around 304 million.

4. In 1778, General George Washington celebrated the 4th of July by giving his soldiers a double ration of rum. On this same day, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, who were in Paris, France, held a dinner for fellow Americans in celebration of this day.

5. Independence Day was first celebrated on July 4, 1777 in Philadelphia.

6. The first recorded use of the words "Independence Day" was in 1791.

7. In 1870, Independence Day was made an unpaid holiday for all federal employees.

8. The 4th of July was not a legal federal holiday until 1941. At this time, it was made a paid holiday.

9. Bristol, Rhode Island has the oldest, continuous 4th of July celebration dating back to 1785.

10. America's Freedom Festival, held in Provo, Utah, is one of the biggest freedom festivals and includes one of the largest parades, a balloon launch, and in the evening the Stadium of Fire. Stadium of Fire is a fireworks display hosted at Brigham Young University's LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Beach Boy, Gladys Knight, Alabama, and Reba McIntire are among performers who have participated in this celebration. Parts of the celebration have been broadcast to troops overseas.

There are also some things that have happened on July 4th that don't necessary have to do with Independence Day but are interesting to note. I'll list them in chronological order.

1. Three U.S. president have died on July 4th. Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the singing of the Declaration of Independence. Five years later, James Monroe died on July 4, 1831.

2. James Anthony Bailey, of Barnum and Bailey's Circus fame was born July 4, 1847.

3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was published on this date in 1865.

4. Calvin Coolidge is the only U.S. president born on the 4th of July. He was born in 1872.

5. Western Samoa had two July 4ths in 1892 as the International Date Line was changed on that date.

6. Ann Landers and twin sister Abigail VanBuren, both advice columnists, were born on July 4, 1918.

7. Marie Curie, the only woman to win two Nobel Prizes and the only person to win two in two different science fields, died on July 4, 1934.

8, In 1968, the Zodiac killers first known victims, two teenagers were killed on the 4th of July.

9. Not only is July 4th the American Independence Day, but it is also Filipino-American Friendship Day.

10. July 4th is the 185th day of the year (186th for leap year).

Resources:

http://americanholidaycalendar.com

http://e n.wikipedia.org

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jul 04.html

http://www.constitutionfacts.com

http://www.us a.gov/Topics/Independence_Day.shtml

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