July 4th Factoids: Is Your Hot Dog From Iowa?

This most American of holidays, July 4th, will be marked as usual by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

Yet in 1776, the day was about the Declaration of Independence and 13 British colonies on the road to a sovereign state.

The U.S. Census Bureau gives you 19 fun facts/numbers here about the Fourth of July, to toss around at the barbecue.

Almost 1 in 3: The chance thaton the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 19.7 million hogs and pigs on March 1, 2012. This estimate represents almost one-third of the nation's estimated total. North Carolina (8.6 million) and Minnesota (7.6 million) were also homes to large numbers of pigs. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

7.2 billion pounds: Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2011. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for about one-sixth of the nation's total production. And if the beef did not come from Texas, it very well may have come from Nebraska (4.6 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.0 billion pounds). Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

6: Number of states in whichwas estimated at $1 billion or greater between December 2010 and November 2011. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service 

2.5 million: In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation. Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970

313.9 million: The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth. Source: Population clock 

Thirty-one places have “liberty” in their names. The most populous one as of April 1, 2010, was Liberty, Mo. (29,149). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

Thirty-five places have “eagle” in their names. The most populous one is Eagle Pass, Texas, with a population of 26,248.

Eleven places have “independence” in their names. The most populous one is Independence, Mo., with a population of 116,830.

Nine places have “freedom” in their names. The most populous one is New Freedom, Pa., with a population of 4,464.

One place has “patriot” in its name. Patriot, Ind., has a population of 209.

Five places have “America” in their names. The most populous is American Fork, Utah, with a population of 26,263.   Source: American FactFinder

138: Ranking of the frequency of the surname of our first president, George Washington, among all last names tabulated in the 2000 Census. Other early presidential names that appear on the list, along with their ranking, were Adams (39), Jefferson (594), Madison (1,209) and Monroe (567). Source: Census 2000 Genealogy 

$3.6 million: In 2011, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($3.3 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. Source: Foreign Trade Statistics

$663,071: Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2011. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $80,349 worth. Source: Foreign Trade Statistics

$302.7 million: Dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation's manufacturers in 2007, according to the latest published economic census statistics. Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 3149998231

$232.3 million: The value of fireworks imported from China in 2011, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($223.4 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $15.8 million in 2011, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($4.5 million). Source: Foreign Trade Statistics 

$231.8 million: The value of U.S. manufacturers' shipments of (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007. Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 325998J108

$107.1 billion: Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading trading partner today. Source: Foreign Trade Statistics 

Please Pass the Potato:  Approximately half of the nation's spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2011. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service