At the time of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence in 1776, the US population was 2.5 million compared to over 315 million today. This means that it was less than 1% of what it is now. As of 2014, the US population is growing at 0.7% per year.
More about Independence Day in the US:
- More than 14,000 professional firework displays go off every year in celebration of Independence Day in the US.
- Independence Day became a paid, federal holiday in 1938.
- John Hancock, as President of Congress at the time, signed the Declaration of Independence with a large, iconic signature and thus became a synonym for "signature" in the US.