United States Facts for Kids

United States Facts for Kids

• The United States of America is also called the USA, US, United States or sometimes America.
  
• On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was issued, establishing the United States of America.
  
• The US is the 4th largest country in the world by land area and 3rd by population.
  
• On February 25, 2013, the estimated population of the US was 315,568,000.   

                                                                                                                

• The US is a diverse country with a multicultural society.
  
• The US has the world's largest economy.
  
• The US developed the first nuclear weapons, using them on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki near the end of World War 2.
  
• The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers combine to form the longest river system in the US and the fourth longest in the world.
  
• The tallest mountain the US is Mt McKinley, located in the state of Alaska it reaches 20,320 ft (6,194 m) above sea level.
  
• Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and is the largest state in the US by land area.
  
• Hawaii is the most recent of the 50 states in the US (joining in 1959) and is the only one made up entirely of islands.
  
• Most of the world's tornadoes occur in the Midwest region of the US known as Tornado Alley.
  
• The most populated city in the US is New York City, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago.
  
• English is the most commonly spoken language in the US, followed by Spanish.
  
• The first man to walk on the moon was American Neil Armstrong (July 21, 1969).
  
• The US was the leading force behind the development of the Internet.
  
• The US consumes more petroleum than any other country in the world.
  
• The most popular team sports in the US are American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey.
  
• For more information, check out maps of the United States or take a closer look at the US flag.