Happy Birthday to the United States of America!

This 4th of July is special for Thrive. We are grateful for the opportunity to build a company founded on independence, honesty, and hard work. Thank you for helping us live the “American Dream!”

Here are 10 fun facts about the 4th:

1. The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence was 45
2. The first celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776
3. In 1870, Congress made Independence Day an official unpaid holiday for federal employees. Later in 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a PAID federal holiday
4. Both Thomas Jefferson & John Adams died on July 4th 1826
5. 155 million hot dogs are consumed on the 4th
6. Due to concerns about cracking the iconic instrument, the Liberty Bell has not been rung since 1846. Instead, every year, to mark the Fourth of July, the 2,000-pound bell is tapped 13 times, a signal for bells across the country to start ringing
7. The longest standing 4th of July parade is in Bristol, Rhode Island (began in 1785)
8. The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence
9. The Liberty Bell was made in England and the Statue of Liberty in France
10. In 1776 about 2.5 million people lived in the newly independent United States. Today more than 317 million people call the USA home!

Enjoy your holiday!