U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 2

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

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FRIDAY, MARCH 2: YELLOWSTONE PARK

Profile America — Friday, March 2nd.  This week in 1872, one of the nation's most beautiful natural areas was protected for future generations to enjoy, as Congress made Yellowstone the country's first national park.  Lawmakers were inspired by the watercolors and paintings of Thomas Moran, who explored the area, capturing the grandeur and extraordinary terrain of Yellowstone in his images.  The park covers some 2 million acres, primarily in Wyoming but with some parts in Montana and Idaho.  Yellowstone remains one of the crown jewels in a national park system that encompasses more than 84 million acres; visited by over 281 million people each year.  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. 153
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1254, 1255

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