U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for April 21

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, APRIL 21: OUTBOARD MOTORS

Profile America -- Thursday, April 21st.  A young woman's wish for some ice cream led to the development of one of the most important pieces of boating equipment -- the outboard motor.  The young lady was picnicking on an island near Milwaukee with a young man originally from Norway, Ole Evinrude.  He gallantly rowed ashore to get the ice cream -- a round trip of five miles in the summer heat.  This led Evinrude, whose birthday is noted this week, to begin work on the first practical outboard motor.  He field tested his first engine in 1907 -- a 62 pound, 1-1/2 horsepower model.  There are more than 8 million outboard motor boats in the U.S.  Today's outboards range from tiny trolling motors to those with well over 200 horsepower.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Kane's Famous First Facts, 6951

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 1242

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau