U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 10

 

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10: UMBRELLA MONTH

Profile America -- Wednesday, March 10th. With spring a little over a week away, a device that's been around since time immemorial is being honored -- it's National Umbrella Month. No one knows who invented the umbrella, or exactly when, but it's estimated that it was being used as much as 4,000 years ago. Umbrellas have been found in the artifacts of ancient Egypt, Greece, and China. It's thought the original purpose of the umbrella was to provide a shield from the sun -- the name comes from the Latin word for shade -- "umbra." However, in many U.S. cities trusty umbrellas will be popped open to keep people from being drenched. Mobile, Alabama has the highest annual rainfall at more than 66 inches. New Orleans is next at 64 inches, and Miami registers over 58 inches a year. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, conducting the 2010 Census beginning April 1st.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 155

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 381

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 under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau