Fun Facts about the US

 There have been 27 different flag versions featuring the stars and stripes since the founding of the United
States in 1776. Each new flag represented the addition of one or several more states as the US grew
westward.
 Once the Constitution was ratified, New York City became America’s first capital (1785–1790).
 New York was originally called New Amsterdam after a Dutch settlement decided to settle in Manhattan in
the 17th century.
 Kentucky produces 95% of the world’s bourbon. Interestingly, there are 4.7M barrels of bourbon in the state
and just 4.3M people.
 There’s a city named “Boring” in Clackamas County, Oregon.
 The United States of America doesn’t have an official language, even though English is the de facto national
language spoken by ~78% of the population.
 In Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, Kansas, Idaho, Iowa, and Oklahoma, cattle
outnumber humans.
 Harvard University, founded in 1636, is the oldest college in the US.
 Oregon is the fastest-speaking state in the country. Most people in Oregon speak six words in the time it
takes the rest of America to say five words.
 Hawaii and Arizona are the only states that don’t observe daylight saving time.
 Ohio is home to America’s worst drivers.
 The Empire State Building has its own zip code: 10188.
 Americans eat 100+ acres of pizza every day.
 St. Augustine, FL (founded 1565) is the oldest city in the US.
 Robert G. Heft designed today’s official flag of the United States while he was still a high school junior.
Surprisingly, he got a B- as a grade for his work back in 1958.
 Enslaved people helped build the White House.
 The United States has won the highest number of Nobel Prizes: 400.
 By 2045, the US will likely become a “minority white” country (at 49.7%).
 The three colors in the American flag – red, white, and blue – represent different meanings. The red stands
for courage and resilience; the white symbolizes innocence, and the blue represents justice and
perseverance.
 Alaska once belonged to Russia, but in 1867, the United States purchased the territory for $7.2M. In other
words, for less than two cents per acre, America acquired ~600,000 square miles (1,553,990 km2).
 San Francisco banned burials in the city in 1900 because the cemeteries were out of space, imposed health
risks, and sat on prime real estate.
 American women were allowed vote in 1920.
 California’s official state animal is the grizzly bear. Yet, no grizzly bears have been spotted in the state since
1922.
 35% of Americans aren’t very superstitious, and 31% aren’t superstitious at all. Just 9% of US adults say
they are very superstitious.
 There are ~61K people in American airspace at any given time.
 41.9% of adults in the US are obese.
 The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the US from France to commemorate 100 years of
Franco-American friendship.
 The average American throws away 4.9 pounds (2.2 kg) of trash daily.
 The happiest state in America in 2022 was Hawaii, followed by Maryland and Minnesota.
 In Michigan, it’s possible to get a unicorn hunting license.