July2026 Newsletter

How well do you know America? Spanning 50 states and over two centuries, the United States is full of fascinating surprises and a trove of intriguing facts. You might recall a few details from history class, but there’s still so much more to explore and our country’s story goes far beyond your history books. 

As we mark this milestone of America’s 250th birthday here are 20 facts about our country you may or may not have known. 

1. Unlike many countries, and even though English is the de facto language in the U.S, America did not have an officially designated national language … until 2025. On March 1, 2025, an executive order was issued declaring English as the official language of the United States. 

2. George Washington helped spark the French and Indian War. At the age of 22, Washington led a Virginia colonial militia and Native allies in a surprise attack on a small French reconnaissance force near present-day Jumonville Glen, Pennsylvania, killing French officer Joseph Coulon de Jumonville and several of his men. This skirmish, known as the Jumonville Glen affair, is widely regarded as the opening action of the French and Indian War.

3. In the American Civil War, the Union Army Balloon Corps pioneered airborne surveillance by using balloons as an aerial reconnaissance system before the invention of airplanes. 

4. “American Cookery” is the first known cookbook written and published in 1769. Until then Americans relied heavily on British cookbooks. The cookbook not only marked a turning point in culinary independence. It was the first to adapt recipes specifically for American ingredients, tastes and available resources.  American Cookery also introduced dishes like pumpkin pie and turkey with cranberries, signaling a shift toward a distinctly American cuisine. 

5. Americans eat an estimated 3 billion pizzas annually. 

6. Americans eat over 2 billion popsicles every year. 

7. The current U.S flag was designed in 1958 by Robert G. Heft, a high school student, who got a B for his assignment. 

8. Everglades National Park is the ONLY place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles co-exist. 

9. The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. 

10. The U.S Postal Service is the busiest mail delivery service in the world. 

11. St. Augustine, Flordia is the oldest city in the U.S. 

12. Monowi, Nebraska is the smallest town in America. 

13. Buffalo, NY was the frist electrified city in the U.S. 

14. In Michigan, you can legally obtain a license to hunt unicorns. 

15. In New Mexico, you can’t sing just part of the national anthem in public – it’s a petty misdemeanor under § 30‑21‑5. 

16. It is illegal to wrestle a bear in Alabama. 

17. Standing at 630 feet, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, is the tallest monument in America. 

18. Over 90% of American homes have at least one TV. 

19. While the bald eagle is the nation bird of America, the American bison is the national mammal. 

20. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is operated and maintained by the U.S. Air Force.