WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30: 2012 ANNIVERSARIES

Profile America — Sunday, December 30th.  Before closing the book on this eventful year, it's worth noting some of the anniversaries of 2012.  Two-hundred years ago, tensions between the U.S. and Britain boiled over into the War of 1812, which basically ended in a stalemate.  One-hundred years ago, the National Biscuit Company introduced the long-running favorite, Oreos.  Fifty years ago, the U.S. faced down the Soviet Union as the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world close to nuclear war.  A century ago, the average life expectancy was 56 years for a baby girl and 52 years for a boy.  Now, those figures are 81 years for girls and 76 for boys.  You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, "Spotlight on the Past"
Historical Statistics of the United States:  Colonial Times to 1970, p. 5
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 104

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions 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