The United States is not just about baseball, hip-hop music, and the mega-scale brands, from Coca-Cola to Apple, that have won the hearts of millions worldwide. There is much more that makes this economic powerhouse unique and fascinating.
Here are ten interesting facts about the US you likely didn’t know.
1. The US Doesn’t Have an Official Language
Many people assume that English is Americans’ official language. But it is not. In fact, they don’t have one, at least at a federal level.
Only 32 states have made English their official language, although it is spoken widely by the majority of the population.
The fact is, the US boasts a multicultural society. Over one-fifth of Americans, 21.6% to be precise, don’t speak English at home. This percentage varies among states. In California, for instance, it rises to 43.9%.
Spanish, Chinese dialects, and Tagalog are the most spoken languages after English.
2. Virginia Has Produced More Presidents Than Other States
The US has had 46 presidents since 1789, when George Washington became America’s first ever president.
Surprisingly, eight of them, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, James Madison, and Woodrow Wilson, were born in the state of Virginia.
Seven came from Ohio, and five from New York.
Together, these three states have produced nearly half of the US presidents—certainly a fascinating observation for a nation with 50 states.
3. The Statue of Liberty Sways With the Wind
The 305-foot structure on Liberty Island in New York is one of the largest statues in the world. In 2023, it attracted over 3.7 million visitors.
Made from copper, you would hardly expect this national monument to move. But it does.
During strong winds, the statue can sway up to three inches and the torch moves up to six.
4. The US Has 357 Area Codes
Based on the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), 357 area codes are assigned to the US, each consisting of three digits preceding a seven-digit phone number.
US area codes don’t include zero and one as their first digit. So, they typically follow a 2XX to 9XX format. However, codes containing nine in the second position of this format are not yet assigned. This is because they are reserved for future expansions of the NANP.
Some states have only one area code, such as Alaska, Idaho, and North Dakota, just to name a few, while others may have multiple ones. California has the highest with 36.
Most area codes are assigned based on geographic location. But this rule has a few exceptions. For instance, 900 is a premium service code, and 710 is for government use. Area codes such as 800, 822, and 889 are assigned for toll-free services.
5. Alaska Used to Be Part of Russia
What we now know as Alaska has been under Russian rule since the late 1700s before the US purchased it for $7.2 million in 1887.
Then, in 1872, gold was discovered in the region. The Klondike Gold Rush, in particular, drew thousands of people into the area, creating booming towns.
However, Alaska only became a US state in 1959 during President Eisenhower’s time.
6. America Once Had a $10,000 Bill
Yes, you read it right, the US used to have a $10,000 bill in public circulation.
This was issued by the Treasury in 1918. Unlike regular bills you see today, it didn’t, however, carry a president’s portrait. Instead, it featured Salmon P. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury of President Lincoln’s government.
The bill was taken out of circulation in 1969, understandably due to lack of use.
But interest in it still has not waned. At an auction last year, one of the last-printed versions of the $10,000 bill managed to rake in a record $480,000.
7. Columbus Didn’t Exactly Discover America
According to historians, Columbus was not the first European sailor to reach Continental America. Many believe Viking Leif Erickson, who created a settlement in Canada in the 11th century, was the first to arrive—around 500 years before Columbus’s time.
Besides, based on historical accounts, Columbus never set foot in the US. His voyages only took him to different Caribbean islands and parts of Central and South America.
8. America Shares the World’s Longest Land Border With Canada
At 8,893 kilometers, the vast border the US shares with Canada is recorded as the longest land border on the planet.
Thirteen American states and eight of Canada’s provinces and territories are located alongside this border that stretches between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
9. The First Hollywood Sign Had Nothing to Do With the Movie Industry
The famous Hollywood sign stands as a national landmark that attracts 50 million visitors each year. It is an iconic symbol that has represented American entertainment for decades, becoming the backdrop for a thriving industry.
But did you know that the sign initially read Hollywoodland? This is because it was meant to advertise a real-estate development of the same name when it was first set up in 1923 by Harvey Henry Wilcox, the property’s owner at the time.
With the great depression, the project floundered, and the land’s ownership was passed on to the city, which restored the sign as “Hollywood”, removing the last four letters.
The sign you see today, however, is a new one that replaced the old sign in 1978.
10. The McDonald’s Drive-Through Was Inspired by the US Military
McDonald’s is one of the most recognized American brands in the world. But its famous drive-throughs have a backstory only a few would know.
It all started in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
At Fort Huachuca located near the town, military officers were prohibited from being in public in uniform when on duty, which prevented them from grabbing lunch at diners.
This inspired Dave Rich, who ran the local McDonald’s franchise, to set up a window to take orders so military officers could collect their lunches without getting out of their vehicles.
And so started the fast-food chain’s drive-throughs.
Wrapping Up
Every country has fascinating stories and facts that are part of its history, culture, people, and their way of life. The US is no different.
The interesting facts discussed in this article provide a glimpse into a lesser-known side of the US that makes it uniquely American.