U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for February 2

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

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2: GROUNDHOG DAY

Profile America — Tuesday, February 2nd. One of the annual seasonal rites occurs today, when supposedly grownup 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.  The idea goes all the way back to Roman times.  Most of today's activity centers around a groundhog from Pennsylvania, named Punxsutawney Phil, even though he has competition from Jimmy the groundhog in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.  Even though the event generates a lot of good humor, the fact is that many record low temperatures have been set in February, including 30 below zero in Denver and 26 below in Des Moines, Iowa, and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, once had more than 18 inches of snow and ice pellets in February.  Profile America is in its 13th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 115

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 375, 378    

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).  For further information, contact Rick Reed:  301-763-2812; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: <[email protected]>.

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau