When American independence was declared in July of 1776, an estimated 2.5 million people were living in the new nation. In July 2009 the U.S. population is approximately 307 million. Farmers compromised almost 90 percent of the American labor force in 1776. In 2009, 1 percent of the U.S. population claim farming as their occupation, and 2 percent live on a farm.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Agriculture.