U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for January 12

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12: PAPER CUPS

Profile America -- Wednesday, January 12th.  An invention that helped combat disease and provided convenience came on the scene this month in 1908 -- the paper cup.  The idea, developed by Hugh Moore, was to have a one time use, disposable paper cup.  For centuries before, the public drank from the same tin cup or ladle at a well or barrel, sharing their germs.  The paper cup took off during the great influenza epidemic of 1918.  Soon, the name was changed to the Dixie Cup and was found to be ideal for containing ice cream.  Now, special paper cups are used to hold hot coffee at the nation's thousands of gourmet coffee shops.  Paper cups are among the $176 billion worth of products produced annually by the U.S. paper industry.  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, 4310

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 849

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