Life in 1776

Obviously it was different, but when you go by the numbers, it's striking. Also, 7 other things worth your time.

This weekend, we’ll mark the 245th Independence Day celebration in the United States.

We’re still a young nation in the grand scheme. Let’s put it this way: If you’re 50 years old, you’ve been alive for more than 20% of the entire history of the independent United States.

Still, it’s fun to go back and point out just how different life was in the colonies in 1776 compared to now. One the one hand: yes, obviously.

But on the other, sometimes the numbers tell an interesting tale.

So here are 10 facts about the new nation the Founding Fathers were building that demonstrate just how different it was from our country today.

1. It was very small.

The entire population of the United States in 1776 was about 2.5 million people, well under 1% of what it is today, according to the U.S. Census.

That's about the size of the metro area around San Antonio now, or halfway between the populations of Kansas and New Mexico. 

2. It was only partially free.

A massive number of people were enslaved. The Census…