From forgotten quirks in the Constitution to unusual state laws, the United States is packed with oddities and overlooked truths.
Here are ten facts about America that might surprise you.
America Has No Official Language
Despite English dominance, the U.S. never designated an official national language. Congress has debated it, but nothing has ever passed.
The U.S. Has More Guns Than People
With roughly 120 firearms for every 100 residents, America is the only country where civilian-owned guns outnumber its population.
Alaska Is Bigger Than You Think
At 663,000 square miles, Alaska is twice the size of Texas and could fit California, Montana, and New Mexico inside it.
The $2 Bill Still Exists
Rarely seen in circulation, the $2 bill is still printed by the Treasury — often used for novelty, but still legal tender.
The First Capital Wasn’t Washington, D.C.
Philadelphia served as the U.S. capital after independence, but New York City was officially the first capital under the Constitution.
Americans Eat 3 Billion Pizzas a Year
That’s about 23 pounds of pizza per person annually — making it one of the most consumed foods in the country.
There’s a Palace in Kentucky
The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina is America’s largest private home, but Kentucky has “Castle Post,” a full medieval-style castle near Lexington.
You Can Own Property on the Moon
Thanks to a legal loophole in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, Americans have tried to sell lunar land deeds. They’re not valid, but people still buy them.
One State Has More Cows Than People
Wyoming’s cattle population outnumbers humans by nearly 2 to 1, making ranching central to its economy.
There’s a Town With Only One Resident
Monowi, Nebraska, has a population of one. Elsie Eiler is the mayor, bartender, and librarian of her one-woman town.
Prediction
America thrives on contradictions — vast wealth alongside small-town quirks, cutting-edge laws next to 18th-century holdovers. Expect more oddities to emerge as states and cities keep writing their own rules.
