10 fun facts about the United States of America
The United States of America is one of the biggest countries in the world, boasting a population of over 347 million people.
Here at BBC Bitesize, we've chronicled the strange and sublime from countries like France, Spain, Japan and China - and thought it was about time to show some love to our pals across the pond.
So, from the Founding Fathers to faecal festivals, here are 10 interesting facts about the USA.
1. America used to be British!
Well, sort of. Until the American War of Independence in 1775 – also known as the American Revolutionary War – parts of America were ruled by Great Britain, as one of its many colonies. But a rise in taxes imposed on America by the British led to unrest, which eventually led to fighting and to the 13 British colonies gaining independence and becoming the United States of America.
2. It is a country with ‘Founding Fathers’
The people who established the independent United States are called the Founding Fathers. They wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. They also created the US Constitution, which outlines the rights of American citizens and is the oldest constitution in the world. America now celebrates ‘Independence Day’ every year on 4 July with fireworks, parties and parades.
3. The Midwest is the nation’s ‘breadbasket’
A ‘nation’s breadbasket’ is a term meaning where a country’s grain and other food is predominantly grown. The Midwest is in the middle of the northern half of the United States, and is its ‘breadbasket’ or largest food-growing area. States within the Midwest region – such as Kansas, Iowa and Illinois – are also sometimes called the ‘Corn Belt’ due to how much corn is grown there.
4. The bald eagle is its national symbol
The bald eagle is a protected species and has been the national symbol of the United States, appearing on the Great Seal of the US - used on US documents, since 1782. But did you know it was only officially declared the national bird in 2024? Bald eagles can fly more than 3,000 metres (9,843ft) high and live up to 35 years in the wild.
Monarch butterflies in the United States are unique because they migrate to the south for the winter, just like many birds do.
Most butterflies survive the cold as adults, larvae or pupae, but monarch butterflies fly from western North America to California and from eastern North America to Mexico, the latter covering a distance of more than 4,828km (3,000 miles) . These butterflies then cluster together in trees in the forest.
Scientists still don’t know for sure how they find their way there each year but they think it includes using the sun and the magnetic pull of the Earth for directions!
6. It holds the record for most burgers eaten in a lifetime
Synonymous with fast food – with the first restaurant of its kind opening in the US in 1921 – America holds the Guinness World Record for the most Big Mac burgers eaten in a lifetime. 70-year-old Donald Gorske has so far eaten 35,000 of these burgers during his life (as of March 2025). In other burger-related facts, American Max Bonsall set the world record for the fastest time to eat a vegetarian burger in New York in June 2025, gobbling it down in one minute and 35.41 seconds.
7. America put the first humans on the Moon
The former Soviet Union wins the prize for putting the first person into space (in April 1961) but that spurred the Americans on to launch Project Mercury, the Gemini Program and then the Apollo programme, which saw Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong place the first human footstep on the lunar surface on 20 July 1969.
8. It has a cow dung throwing festival
From the Underwater Music Festival in Florida Keys and the Coney Island Mermaid Festival to the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival, America has its fair share of weird and wonderful events. At the Cow Chip Throw and Festival, contestants must throw a dry ‘chip’ (i.e. piece of cow dung) measuring more than 15cm (six inches). The ‘chip’ thrown furthest wins, and contestants are not allowed to wear gloves…
9. America has some pretty extreme weather
America has mountains, lakes and deserts, which all experience extremes of weather. The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 56.7°C (134°F) in Death Valley, California. Temperatures in Alaska, in northwestern America, can reach minus 62°C.
Parts of America also have hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes – sometimes with devastating consequences. The largest earthquake in America was a whopping magnitude of 9.2 at Prince William Sound in Alaska in 1964, only 0.3 below the largest ever recorded earthquake. Whilst not the fastest hurricane, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is classed as the ‘costliest’ hurricane to hit America; causing £148.3bn damage, killing 1800 people, and almost wiping out the city of New Orleans with floods.
10. It can lay claim to one of the world’s cutest animals
There are many contenders for the world’s cutest animal, but the Southern sea otter has to be among them… They live along the central coastline of California, use rocks to break open shells, store useful items under their armpit and they rest in groups, often wrapping themselves up in kelp or seagrass so they don’t float off whilst they’re sleeping. Cute or what?
