U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for August 15

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 15: ACTUAL RAILROAD COMPLETION

Profile America — Sunday, August 15th.  Most history books say the railroad spanning the U.S. was completed in May 1869 — at the famous driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah.  The actual linking of the transcontinental lines occurred a year later in another state.  It was on this date in 1870 that the two lines were joined at Strasburg, Colorado, with no ceremony.  For many decades after, the nation's railroads enjoyed a near monopoly on moving freight and passengers, connecting every town and city in the country.  Today, even with competition from cars, trucks, airlines and pipelines, U.S. railroads carry 26.5 million passengers a year and move 2.4 billion tons of freight.  Profile America is in its 14th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  Chases' Calendar of Events 2010, p. 417

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 1085

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

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