Five Things to Know on Independence Day

"Five Things to Know Today" is a Radnor Patch feature published every day that provides a quick heads up on what's happening, today with a patriotic twist. Know any other fun facts about The Fourth? Add them in the comments section.

1.) While Philadelphia first celebrated Independence Day on July 8, 1776, the Bristol 4th of July Parade in Bristol, Road Island is the longest continuously running Independence Day celebration in the nation. They've held it since 1785.

2.) Think your town is patriotic? There are 52 places in the United States named either Liberty, Independence, Freedom, Patriot, or America. The largest is Independence Missouri, which has a population of 113,000.

Patriot, Indiana meanwhile has 202 residents. The probably have a really nice parade though.

3.) After applying their John Hancocks to the Declaration (the use of the expression "John Hancock" to mean signature originates from the fact that Hancock signed his name largest of all on the Declaration--apocryphally because he wanted King George to be able to read it without taking off his glasses, but more likely because he had signed it first and so had no reference point for how large to write his name), the names of the 56 signers were withheld from the public for six months to shield them from the ramifications of the treasonous act.

Oh, and the official signing itself, according to many historians, was on August 2, 1776, not July 4. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams all maintained that they signed the document on July 4 though--presumably because they understood August would be too hot for all these barbecues.

4.) The Massachusetts General Court was the first legislative body to designate July 4 as a state holiday. They did so in 1781.

Congress declared July 4 a federal legal holiday in 1941.

5.) Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence that went on to serve as president (they eventually became bitter political opponents as well), both died on July 4, 1826. James Monroe, the fifth president, also died on July 4 (albeit in 1831), while Calvin Coolidge, president number 30, was born on July 4, 1872.

And though Barack Obama was born a month after Independence Day in 1961, his daughter Malia was born July 4, 1998.

Fun facts (and also the less fun ones) courtesy of www.usa.gov, www.pueblo.gsa.gov, www.purpletrail.com, and www.oldeducator.com.