Here, in a generally useless order, are generally useless facts about American history, U.S.geography, the fifty states and U.S. territories, and the American people. Nothing here will help you pass a history class or citizenship exam, but some of it will make you mutter, "what a country."

Hawaii is the only state in which coffee is grown.

When Americans are asked the national origins of their ancestors, German heritage is claimed more than any other. Irish is second.

In 1914 (the first year of the income tax), the top tax rate was 1%. By 1919 it had been raised to 77%.

Most Americans own pets.

For 27 years, the Department of Energy studied the effect of radiation on dogs, resulting in an unusual radioactive waste - dog feces.

The American yew tree is used as shrubbery around most Federal buildings in Washington, D.C. Its scientific name is Taxus taxus.

Only two people, John Hancock and Charles Thompson, signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Most of the rest signed on August 2.

According to the Census Bureau, there are now more elected public officials in the United States than bank tellers..

In 1995, the interest on the Federal debt was over $260 billion. That amount is more than the entire 1973 Federal government budget.

The National Education Association is the largest union in the United States, with over two million members (2.2 million in 1996).

The largest bank in the United States (Citicorp) is not even one of the largest 25 banks in the world.

New York City has had virtually no growth in its population since 1990. Los Angeles and Chicago have both experienced population decreases since 1990.

The Pentagon spends millions of dollars each year to renovate Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine bases that have been closed or that soon will be closed.

By 1996, the percentage of an average family's income that went to federal taxes was more than double what it had been in 1955.

The trilobite has been voted the official state fossil in both Wisconsin and Ohio

In 1990, the Federal government spent $1.7 million for a bee lab.

Between 1980 and 1989, the population of the United States rose 9 percent, but the number of employees of state governments rose by 19%.

A boat can sail under a train travelling under a car driving under an airplane in Boston (at the Boston University Bridge, Commonwealth Ave.).

Parts of Florida are farther west than parts of Wisconsin.

There are about twice as many chickens living in the U.S. as people.

In 1996, households with incomes of $100,000 donated 2% of their income to charity. Those with incomes between $100,000 and $150,000 gave 3.6%, and those making $1 million or more gave about 5%.

Aloha, y'all! The southernmost state in the U.S. is Hawaii.

In 1993, the U.S. Treasury issued a gold coin commemorating the 80th anniversary of the income tax.

The first coin minted by the U.S. Government had the motto, "Mind Your Business."

The largest Gothic cathedral in the world is in New York City.

In 1995, Mississippi finally ratified the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery.

25% of all the cookies baked in the U.S. are chocolate chip.

Every Mother's Day, the U.S. Postal Service returns thousands of Mother's Day cards to senders who don't know the correct address of their mothers.

No U.S. coin shows its denomination in numerals.

The tallest building in the U.S., the Sears Tower, has the same number of floors as the World Trade Center did. Both were built with 110 floors, but the Sears tower is 77 feet higher than the WTC was.

Idaho is the only state in the Union never to have a belonged to a foreign power.

Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote.

Illegitimate births in the U.S. went from 5% of all births in 1960 to 32% of all births in 1995.

About 96% of all American children can recognize Ronald McDonald.

More men than women commit suicide in the United States. Women attempt suicide more frequently than men.

A typical couple who retired in 1982 has received about a 17% return on their Social Security payments. Everyone born after 1937 will receive a negative return.

Reno, Nevada is farther west than Los Angeles, California.

In 1898, a temporary Federal Telephone Excise Tax was imposed on all telephones in the country. It was intended to finance the Spanish American War (1898-99). The tax was finally repealed in 2006.

About two-thirds of the divorces in the U.S. are filed by the wives.