This July 4th isn’t an ordinary one. It’s America’s 250th birthday.
Two hundred fifty years ago, the Declaration of Independence was first read aloud. That moment is what we mark in 2026 — the semiquincentennial. A mouthful of a word for a pretty simple idea: the country is turning 250, and it’s worth celebrating.
It’s bigger than fireworks and parades. The national America250 effort, along with local commissions and cultural groups, is planning a full year of things to do. Museum exhibits. Community programs. Classroom projects. Conversations around the dinner table about where we started and how far we’ve come.
Here in Collin County, that’s a real opportunity. Visit a heritage site. Join a neighborhood gathering. Talk history at home. However you mark it, it’s a chance to feel more rooted in where you live.
And if you’re making a move this year? Consider it good timing. Personal milestones have a way of landing in big years. 2026 might just be one to remember — for the country, and for you.