Well, here we are, the 233th birthday for the U.S. of A. And any animosity the Brits have felt over that time is clearly water under the bridge. In 2008, trade between the U.S and the United Kingdom was $112.4 billion, making the

UK our sixth-leading trading partner.

Would you like some more facts this Independence Day? Sure you would.

307 MILLION: The nation's population this July Fourth.

$193 MILLION worth of fireworks were imported from China in 2008.

$28.1 MILLION of American fireworks were exported in 2008, with Australia being the biggest volume purchaser.

53 U.S. CITIES have patriotic-sounding names: Eagle, 31; Independence, 11; Freedom, 5; Patriot, 1; and American, 5.

$3.4 MILLION worth of American flags were imported by the U.S., with the vast majority ($3 million) coming from China.

$569,400 WORTH of U.S. flags were exported last year, with Belgium being the most enthusiastic buyer ($186,400).

78 MILLION Americans said they went to a barbecue in 2008.

6.8 BILLION pounds of beef - that's the top cookout item - is produced each year in Texas. Other items of note include hot dogs and pork sausages (more than 25 percent are produced in Iowa) while Florida leads the nation in growing watermelons at 861 million pounds.