U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for February 2

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2: GROUNDHOG DAY

Profile America — Thursday, February 2nd.  One of the annual seasonal rites occurs today, when supposedly grown-up people watch to see if the groundhog sees his shadow or not.  The outcome is said to determine if winter will be around for another six weeks.  Most of the activity centers around a groundhog from Pennsylvania, named Punxsutawney Phil, even though he has competition from Jimmy the Groundhog in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The idea goes all the way back to Roman times.  While the event generates a lot of good humor, many record low temperatures have been set in February, including 30 below zero in Denver and 26 below in Des Moines.  And Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan once had almost 19 inches of snow and ice pellets in February.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 112
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 394, 395

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