Ten Fun Facts About the USA
Think you know the USA? Think again. We’ve rounded up ten of the most fascinating and fun facts about the USA, from bizarre laws to impressive pizza consumption. So, whether you're planning a USA trip or just want to impress friends with a nugget of knowledge, read on for some unexpected titbits about the United States...
1. It’s the fourth-largest country in the world by land area and third by population
At 3.8 million square miles, the USA falls behind only Russia, China and Canada as the largest country by land mass. It’s also the third largest in terms of population (beaten to first and second spots by China and India), with around 340 million people calling the country home.
2. Despite its size, the USA only shares land borders with Canada and Mexico
It’s a little lonely out there for the USA – it’s flanked by the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean on two sides, and its only neighbours on the other sides are Canada and Mexico. However, at 5,525 miles long, the border shared with Canada is the longest international border in the world.
3. Most of the world’s tornadoes occur in Tornado Alley
A climatic cocktail of cold, dry air from Canada and warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico creates tip-top tornado conditions and gives Tornado Alley (in the centre of the country) its menacing name. These severe weather events, spanning Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas and South Dakota, are most likely to occur from April to June (due to the stronger contrasts in temperature and humidity). However, they can (and do) happen throughout the rest of the year.
4. The Mississippi River and the Missouri River combine to form the biggest river system in the USA and the fourth biggest in the world
When combined, the Missouri-Mississippi river system extends over a whopping 3,710 miles, the fourth longest in the world behind the Nile, Amazon and Yangtze rivers. The Missouri River begins in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, winding through seven states before meeting the Mississippi River in Missouri.
5. Montana has twice as many cows as people
Our next fact about the USA is all about the incredible cow population in Montana. While the population of humans sits at around one million, just over two million cows graze in the state’s wide-open spaces. Despite cattle ranching playing a pivotal role in Montana’s economy, most of their beef is imported from Brazil, due to cheaper production costs and year-round availability.
6. Over eight million slices of pizza are served in the USA every day
The USA’s pizza consumption puts Italy to shame. Three billion pizzas are sold each year, which equates to over eight million a day – that’s one pizza per day for every 41 people. If you’re a visual learner, then picture over 100 acres of pizza, and that’s roughly what’s gobbled up every day across the country. Delicious.
7. No grizzly bears have been spotted in California since 1922
Despite being the state’s official animal, grizzly bears have been all but missing from California since 1922. Their road to extinction began in the 1700s when humans moved in large numbers to California, driving animals out of their territory – but not the grizzly bear. They stayed and tried to defend themselves, but were sadly seen as a threat and were relentlessly hunted, with the last known grizzly in California killed in 1922.
8. The seven rays on the crown of the Statue of Liberty have multiple interpretations
Gifted by the French in 1884, the Statue of Liberty is one of New York’s most iconic monuments – but nobody can agree on what its crown’s seven rays represent. Some believe they depict sun beams (and enlightenment), others think they’re a halo and some say they represent the seven continents (or seven seas). Whatever their meaning, climbing inside the crown and admiring Lady Liberty’s intricate architecture is a thrilling experience.
9. No official language exists in the USA
Well, sort of. In March 2025, Donald Trump declared English as the USA’s official language. Up until then, because the country is a melting pot of languages – with around 430 spoken, 177 of which are indigenous – there was no official language set by the government. The decision was met with both support and criticism, reflecting deep-seated debates about national identity in the USA.
10. It was once illegal to serve cherry pie with ice cream in Kansas
In 1905, Kansas made the questionable decision to ban restaurants from serving cherry pie with ice cream. This bizarre law was linked to the temperance movement, which aimed to reduce indulgence and promote modesty – and, naturally, cherry pie with ice cream was seen as far too indulgent. It was rarely enforced, however, and was completely overturned in 2004. Phew.
