U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for February 22

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Feb 22, 2011, 12:01 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22: BUYING FLORIDA

Profile America -- Tuesday, February 22nd. Land that would become one of the nation's largest states was acquired by the U.S. on this date in 1819, when Secretary of State John Quincy Adams signed the Florida Purchase Treaty. This called for Spain to cede the area to the young United States in return for which the U.S. assumed $5 million in claims by U.S. citizens against Spain. Florida became the 27th state in 1845, with a population of about 55,000. The 2010 Census showed Florida is now home to 18.8 million, making it the fourth most populous state. With the number of residents continuing to grow, Florida is projected to pass New York's population in the next few years to become the nation's third largest state. 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 2011, p. 140

Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 26

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Apportionment Results

U.S. Census Bureau, State Population Projections

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