Table of Contents

Learn Unexpected facts about the history, culture, and people of the USA

Introduction

40 Unknown Facts About America: The United States of America has history, culture, and variety that very few places in the world can compare with. People visiting the USA are supplied with sights of the iconic face of the USA, similar to the Statue of Liberty or the White House. But, there are still great places to visit and extraordinary facts that will continue to go unnoticed. This article investigates 40 unknown facts about America into everything from strange laws to disappearing historical landmarks, uncovering the unexpected story of our unique nation.

1. The United States lacks an officially designated national language

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40 Unknown Facts About America, 40 Unknown Facts About America, 40 Unknown Facts About America

Although many individuals speak English, the United States has never designated an official national language.

2. Russia was once the owner of Alaska

The United States paid $7.2 million in 1867 for Alaska, about 2 cents an acre, from Russia.

3. No city in Michigan lies below sea level.

New Orleans is not the only U.S. A portion of Detroit, Michigan, is actually below sea level!

4. The U.S. Flag has changed forms 27 times

Each star that was added to the flag reflected a new state coming into the Union.

5. The Liberty Bell has a typo

40 Unknown Facts About America
40 Unknown Facts About America, 40 Unknown Facts About America, 40 Unknown Facts About America

This well-known sampling from Philadelphia spells “Pennsylvania” as “Pensylvania”.

6. You can send yard goods–coconuts by U.S. Mail

In Hawaii, it’s common for tourists to send coconuts in the mail by simply putting stamps and an address on the shell.

7. There is a town called “Boring”

Boring, Oregon, is a real town! Boring is paired with Dull, Scotland, creating a fun and engaging tourism duo.

8. Montana has more cows than people

Montana has over 2.6 million cattle and 1 million people (cattle outnumber people).

9. There are more libraries than McDonald’s in the U.S

Est. 17,000 public libraries vs. 13,000 McDonald’s.

10. The tallest mountain in the U.S. is not located in the Rockies

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40 Unknown Facts About America, 40 Unknown Facts About America, 40 Unknown Facts About America

Denali (Mount McKinley), located in Alaska, stands at 20,310 feet.

11. The U.S. Government has poisoned alcohol

Since prohibition, the alcohol industry has purposely added toxic chemicals to industrial alcohol to deter drinking. This made thousands of people ill and killed many.

12. The U.S. has the largest economy in the world

The U.S. has the largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, China is close in terms of purchasing power parity.

13. The original American cookbook was published in 1796

Named “American Cookery”, it was released.

14. Americans eat around 3 billion pizzas annually

Approximately 100 acres of pizza are eaten worldwide every day!

15. There are more than 1,500 festivals across the U.S.

From Burning Man to Mardi Gras, there’s a celebration of every cultural niche.

16. The White House has 132 rooms

There are also 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, and 28 fireplaces.

17. There is a UFO Festival in Roswell, New Mexico

Celebrating the UFO event of 1947, the festival attracts thousands of believers and skeptics alike.

18. There are a desert and a rainforest in the U.S.

The Olympic Peninsula, Washington, has a rainforest, and the Mojave in California is a desert.

19. The U.S. At one point, there were considerations or discussions about nuking the moon, but it never materialized into an actual plan.

Operation A119 was a Cold War plan to detonate a nuclear device on the moon as a demonstration.

20. Thomas Jefferson developed the swivel chair

He even drafted the Declaration of Independence while sitting in it.

21. The average American throws away 4.4 pounds of trash every single day

That’s over 1,600 pounds per year per person.

22. The Empire State Building has its ZIP code

10118 is exclusively reserved for the iconic skyscraper.

23. Over 2 billion popsicles are eaten by Americans every year

America has a frozen treat obsession.

24. The nation’s mascot is the bald eagle, but that wasn’t the original

Benjamin Franklin preferred the turkey over the bald eagle as a symbol for America, considering it a more respectable and patriotic bird.

25.  “In God We Trust” was officially adopted as the national motto of the United States in 1956.

Before that, E pluribus unum (“From many, one”) was like our unofficial motto.

26. The first university was founded before the U.S.

Harvard University was founded in 1636, long before 1776.

27. There’s a ghost town in every state in America

Every state has at least one abandoned town that is left over from the gold rush or industrial boom.

28. The U.S. military owns way more land than you realize

The Department of Defense owns over 25 million acres of land throughout the nation.

29. There’s a corn palace

Yes, the Corn Palace in South Dakota is famous for its elaborate murals made from thousands of ears of corn and gets a new design each year, celebrating agriculture and community.

30. The original U.S. Capitol building was burned down

During the War of 1812, the British burned it to the ground.

31. Route 20 is the longest road in America

Route 20 is more than 3,365 miles long, stretching from Oregon to Massachusetts.

32. California’s population surpasses that of Canada, making it one of the most populous regions in North America.

California has about 39 million people, and Canada has 38 million.

33. The United States is currently the only country that has successfully sent astronauts to the Moon and returned them safely.

Yes, to date, 12 American astronauts have walked on the Moon during the Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972.

34. The U.S. has more than 45 million immigrants

More than any other country in the world.

35. Virginia has produced more U.S. presidents than any other state

There are eight presidents from the Old Dominion.

36. Someone paid $6,000 for one watermelon

That’s what it costs for the world’s most expensive watermelon, grown in Arkansas.

37. There is no publicly verified information indicating that the Pentagon has twice the number of bathrooms it needs.

It was built during segregation, which required separate restrooms for different races.

38. Historically, U.S. coins were crafted from genuine silver and gold, reflecting their value and intrinsic worth during earlier eras.

Until 1965, dimes and quarters had a composition that was 90% silver.

39. In Arizona, there is a town called “Nothing”

Population: 0. There’s a sign that boldly declares, “Welcome to Nothing,” creating a mysterious or humorous impression

40. The U.S. has the world’s largest ball of twine

It is located in Kansas and weighs over 20,000 pounds, and is still growing.

Conclusion: 40 Unknown Facts About America

40 Unknown Facts About America: From quirky towns to historical oddities, these 40 unknown facts about America could show you precisely how strange, amazing, and diverse the USA is. Beyond its politics and pop culture, the U.S. has an endless supply of surprises that are mere reflections of the depth of history and imagination that lies within it, and whether you are a trivia master or a cultural backpacker, knowing these facts should help add those extra aspects of what makes America what it is!

FAQs About 40 Unknown Facts About America

1. Why are these facts about America considered “unknown”?
These facts are termed “unknown” because numerous facts are neglected in regular history and media, and thus are a surprise to many readers.

2. Are the facts a good source for cultural studies?
Definitely! These facts reveal some of the unknowns of American culture, places, and history.

3. Are the facts useful for education?
Certainly. These facts are perfect ice-breakers for breaking into any classroom, blog, or travel stories.

4. What fact was the biggest surprise?
Most folks cite the nuclear moon plan and Montana with one cow for every three people as the biggest surprises!

 

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