Anthony – Leap Year Capital of the World Home Calculators Anthony – Leap Year Capital of the World Anthony – Leap Year Capital of the World Anthony, Texas, in the United States, is known as the “Leap Capital of the World”. Every leap year, this tiny town hosts the Worldwide Leap Year Festival. Leap Year Festival February 29. ©iStockphoto.com/Christopher Stokes Leap Day – history & traditions Leap year birthday festivals Since 1988, Anthony throws birthday festivals every leap year for people born on February 29. People throughout the USA and overseas travel to this tiny town to take part in parades, birthday dinners, and hot air balloon lifts. Participants range from babies celebrating their first birthday to people in their 90s celebrating another leap day birthday. In 1992 a man registered his 104-year-old mother, born on a leap day, for the festival. Background In 1988 local resident Mary Ann Brown and her neighbor Birdie Lewis, both born on a leap day, approached the Chamber of Commerce with the idea of a leap year festival and a leap year birthday club for those born on a leap day.

They wanted to give the town local recognition and to help raise funds for the community. In February 1988 the town’s Chamber of Commerce voted to sponsor the festival and did so until 2011. The governors of both New Mexico and Texas later declared Anthony the “Leap Year Capital of the World”. Advertising Which cities share the title of "Leap Year Capital of the World"? | Reference.com Which cities share the title of "Leap Year Capital of the World"? A: Quick Answer Anthony, Texas, and Anthony, New Mexico are neighboring towns separated by a state line, and these two towns together are known as the Leap Year Capital of the World. The town's own chamber of commerce assigned it this lofty title thanks to their Leap Day festival. Full Answer The festival was first proposed in 1988, when a local resident and chamber of commerce member named Mary Ann Brown proposed a celebration on February 29 of that year. Brown's enthusiasm for the occasional holiday may stem from the fact that her own birthday falls on February 29. The chamber of commerce approved the festival and the Leap Year Capital of the World name, showing local enthusiasm for the idea.

The Big Apple: Leap Year Capital of the World (Anthony slogan) Entry from April 09, 2008 Leap Year Capital of the World (Anthony slogan) Anthony, Texas and Anthony, New Mexico (the so-called “best little town in two states” ) pronounced itself the “Leap Year Capital of the World” in February 1988. A Leap Year Birthday Club was formed, all the idea of Anthony resident Mary Ann Brown (who was born on February 29th). “Leap Year Capital”—perhaps because it is a “world” capital and not a “Texas” capital—is not on the list of official capital designations pronounced by the Texas legislature. Wikipedia: Leap year A leap year (or intercalary year) is a year containing one or more extra days (or, in the case of lunisolar calendars, an extra month) in order to keep the calendar year synchronised with the astronomical or seasonal year. For example, in the Gregorian calendar, February would have 29 days in a leap year instead of the usual 28 - and consequently, the whole year would last 366 days instead of the common 365.

Because seasons and astronomical events do not repeat at an exact number of full days, a calendar which had the same number of days in each year would, over time, drift with respect to the event it was supposed to track. By occasionally inserting (or intercalating) an additional day or month into the year, the drift can be corrected. A year which is not a leap year is called a common year. Wikipedia: Anthony, New Mexico Anthony is a census-designated place (CDP) in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA. The population was 7,904 at the 2000 census. It is located south of Las Cruces on the New Mexico-Texas state line in the Upper Mesilla Valley along Interstate 10. timeanddate.com Anthony – Leap Year Capital of the World Where would be the ideal place to celebrate a leap year? Anthony, of course! The self-proclaimed “Leap Capital of the World”, which borders Texas and New Mexico in the United States, is hosting the sixth Worldwide Leap Year Festival from February 28 to March 2 2008.

A town that celebrates leap year Every leap year the tiny town of Anthony, which has a population of about 4000 people, throws a birthday party for people born on February 29, also known as leap day. The event has grown since its inception in 1988, attracting people from within the United States and overseas. Attendees have been as young as babies celebrating their first birthday to people in their 90s celebrating another leap day birthday. In 1992 a man registered his 104-year-old mother, who was born on a leap day, to attend one of the festivals. Chaired by the town’s mayor Art Franco, the celebration includes a parade, birthday dinner, hot air balloon lifts and other attractions. This event has become a source of pride for the town, marking it as the leap year capital on the global map. History of the Leap Year Capital Concept It all started about 20 years ago when local resident Mary Ann Brown, proposed that the Anthony Chamber of Commerce host a festival centered on leap day.

Ms Brown and her neighbor Birdie Lewis, both born on a leap day, approached the Chamber of Commerce officials with the idea of a leap year festival and a leap year birthday club for those born on a leap day. The main purposes behind the proposals were to provide the town with local recognition and to help raise funds for the community. In February 1988 the town’s Chamber of Commerce voted to sponsor Ms Brown’s idea of the festival. The governors of both New Mexico and Texas later declared Anthony the “Leap Year Capital of the World”. Over the years, the event has attracted many people, including locals who come out to watch the parade and travelers from countries such as Germany and Switzerland. The town has come a long way since 1988 when only nine leap year birthday celebrants from neighboring towns in New Mexico and Texas attended the first festival. The Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club Membership for the leap year birthday club has grown from zero in 1988 to more than 400 members in 2003. Members who have joined come from countries such as the United States, Canada, England, Germany, Mexico and Norway.

Anthony TX/NM Leap Year Capital of the World BIRTHDAY PARTY TIME IN THE Leap Year Capital of the World Your Host, the Anthony Chamber of Commerce, assisted by local business and civic organizations will provide a variety of events, something for everyone! Mr. Art Franco, the Mayor of Anthony, Texas, has volunteered to be Chairman for the 2008 celebration. The fun will include a golf tournament followed that evening by registration and a ‘get acquainted session for Leapers’ from everywhere. A trip to the nearby Sunland Park Casino will be available for all who choose to go. Since this rare date comes but once every four years the press will likely be out bright and early on Friday, February 29th looking for a timely story to report (that is the way it usually happens). We will let you know where to ‘meet the press.’ Following breakfast, birthday folks can spend some time preparing signs boasting their age in Leap Years, to use in the parade. Since Leap Year Day falls on Friday this year the parade will be held after school, about 3:00 p.m. We encourage all Leap Year babies and Leap Year anniversary couples to join the parade.

A variety of vehicles will be provided for those who do not have their own or, if you prefer to walk the parade route is about a one and a half (1 1/2) mile trek. The day will be completed with a birthday dinner, cake and entertainment. Exact schedule is still developing. The weekend of March 1 and 2 will also be filled with fun events as part of the celebration. They will include Hot Air Balloon lift offs and rides, and a chuck wagon breakfast, followed by various events and activities at the park including games, a chile cook-off, and may a “juacha” tournament (similar to horseshoes), entertainment, and other competitions. Twenty years ago (in February, 1988) the Chamber of Commerce in the little state line town of Anthony, New Mexico/Texas voted to sponsor the one and only WORLDWIDE LEAP YEAR FESTIVAL and WORLDWIDE LEAP YEAR BIRTHDAY CLUB and, thereby proclaim ANTHONY Leap Year Capital of the World With every Leap Year since we began in 1988 our event has grown.

“Leapers” attend from every state in the union and have come from as far as Germany and Switzerland and from the utmost parts of the world. We have enjoyed the presence of honorees from hour year olds celebrating their 1st birthday to a 92 year old celebrating his 23rd birthday. In 1992 a gentleman registered his 104 year old Mother, Luz Bejarano, who celebrated her 26th birthday that year. TEXAS TOWN HAS FEB. 29 ON ITS MIND Anthony hopes to be Leap Year Capital Author: Holden Lewis Associated Press The Dallas Morning News Publish Date: February 11, 1988 EL PASO—Anthony has billed itself as the Best Little Town in Two States, and now the village straddling the Texas-New Mexico border is proclaiming itself the Leap Year Capital of the World. “We just voted arbitrarily to name this as the leap year capital of the world because no one else has,’ said Mary Ann Brown, who will celebrate her 14th—actually, her 56th—birthday Feb. 29. Mrs.

Brown and her neighbor across the street, Birdie Lewis, were born on leap… ASK THE GLOBE Published on April 9, 1988 Q. My grandson was born on Feb. 29 and I would like to enroll him in a leap year club. Is there such a thing?—R.W., Brookline A. There is. The chamber of commerce in Anthony, a town of 3,000 that straddles the Texas-New Mexico border, proclaimed itself “Leap Year Capital of the World” in February and has formed a worldwide leap year club. Its president, Mary Ann Brown, herself a “twenty-niner,” says the club has 27 members from as far away… Leap Year Capital of the World » Twelve Mile Circle » maps, geography, travel Leap Year Capital of the World On January 25, 2011 · 1 Comments Every town craves a little positive attention, maybe create a little local pride, distinguish itself from its neighbors and bring in a few tourist dollars if it’s particularly lucky. However the universe of remarkable events that puts a place on the map remains pretty limited.

What can a small town do when nobody of international fame ever lived there and no enormous historical event ever happened there? View Larger Map Anthony is actually two distinct town that bleed into each other. The Texas version has about 4,000 residents and incorporated in 1952. The New Mexico version is considerably smaller but has about twice the residents. It didn’t incorporated as a municipality until July 2010 so it’s one of the newest towns in the United States. I should extend my congratulations to the fine people of Anthony, NM, and I do, but that’s not my primary purpose today. View Larger Map It’s almost impossible to see the border and differentiate the two towns along Main Street. The sign in the foreground marks an invisible line. Rosa’s Western Wear and Casa de Musica (another example of confusion not fusion ?) falls on the New Mexico side of the boundary and the night club falls on the Texas side. The wall between them straddles the line of this self-proclaimed "best little town in two states." That would be enough right there to attract a geo-oddity freak such as myself.

However, it’s probably insufficient to convince the average American tourist to detour towards Anthony and spread the wealth. Anthony’s history is a bit unclear. The area was known originally as Halfway House because of its location halfway between Las Cruces, NM, and El Paso, TX ( thus revealing how I discovered this place ). The Texas State Historical Society speculates that it may have become Anthony sometime after a local resident built a chapel to St. Anthony of Padua in the late 19th Century. That’s fascinating background, but again, it’s hardly a major tourist draw. The Anthony Chamber of Commerce came up with a better idea. One of their members, Mary Ann Brown, convinced the Chamber to proclaim Anthony the “Leap Year Capital of the World” in 1988. They’ve grabbed a spot on the Intertubes so it must be true. Isn’t that how it works? Nobody has ever challenged them so they own the crown through force of will and squatters rights for now. They sponsor a parade, a festival, sports tournaments, political proclamations, and various other celebrations all centered on Anthony once every four years on leap year day, February 29. It generates a surprising amount of press coverage and attention.

Why select leap year day? Well, that’s Mary Ann Brown’s birthday of course. In an absolutely brilliant move, Ms. Brown convinced an entire town to throw a giant party on her very unusual birth date. Leap babies of all ages from around the nation and from a few foreign countries flock to Anthony on this special day. Their leap year birthday club now has more than four hundred members. Ms. Brown gets a party, local businesses find customers, the town makes a name for itself, and everyone leaves happy. I probably should have waited until 2012 to post this article, but honestly, I would have forgotten it by then. I was so excited when I discovered it that I had to share it now.

One Response to “Leap Year Capital of the World” Mike 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" - Beaver, OK - Cow Chip Capital of the World | Guff 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" Published January 5, 2015 · By Alan Denton 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" Beaver, OK - Cow Chip Capital of the World Beaver, OK - Cow Chip Capital of the World "Cow chips" are dried discs of bovine dung, and for some reason Beaver, Oklahoma wants you to know that it is full of them. People gather there every year for the annual Cow Chip Throw & Festival, where they take turns flinging the excrement into the air. When told this may not be the best way to draw tourists, Beaverites told me that's just a load of... bull. Bradford, TN - The Doodle Soup Capital of the World Bradford, TN - The Doodle Soup Capital of the World Usually, when you call yourself a "capital of the world," you claim it for something that people actually know of.

Bradford, Tennessee bucks that trend by hitching their star to "doodle soup," a dish so regional that it appears Bradford is the only place where it's actually eaten. Guess they don't have to worry about competition. Gilroy, CA - Garlic Capital of the World Gilroy, CA - Garlic Capital of the World Gilroy, California loves their garlic. They love it so much that they have an annual Garlic Festival, where pilgrims flock to sample such treats as garlic peanut butter cups and garlic ice cream... and then immediately throw them out and wonder what they were thinking. Rayne, LA - The Frog Capital of the World Rayne, LA - The Frog Capital of the World Rayne, Louisiana gained its reputation as the "Frog Capital of the World" when some local entrepreneurs started the country's very first frog export business. Today, the town has frog races, frog murals, and... well, that's basically it. It doesn't take much to be the world's frog capital.

Pearsonville, CA - Hub Cap Capital of the World Pearsonville, CA - Hub Cap Capital of the World With a population of just 17 people, Pearsonville, California is the definition of a "small town." And how many hubcaps would you expect this town of 17 to have? 50, maybe 60 in total? Try 80,000. Yeah, they've earned this moniker. Caldwell, KS - Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World Caldwell, KS - Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World For when regular box turtles just aren't fancy enough, head to Caldwell, Kansas, the Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World. They enjoy such a distinction because, back in 1986, some middle school class successfully lobbied the governor to make it the state's official reptile. Caldwell's middle school years are just like my own: full of questionable decisions. Hidalgo, TX - Killer Bee Capital of the World Hidalgo, TX - Killer Bee Capital of the World In 1990, the nation was gripped with fear of killer bees.

The deadly insects were slowly migrating north through Mexico, and officially crossed the border into the United States at Hidalgo, Texas. Hidalgo decided to honor its moment in the national news spotlight by naming itself the Killer Bee Capital of the World, and erecting this statue of the world's largest killer bee. We can't wait to see the statue Dallas builds to honor Ebola panic. Sac CIty, IA - Barn Quilt Capital of the World Sac CIty, IA - Barn Quilt Capital of the World Barn quilts are exactly what they sound like: giant quilt patterns that are on the sides of barns. And in Sac City, Iowa, they're everywhere. The good news is, if spending the whole day looking at quilts makes you hungry, Sac City is also home to the world's largest popcorn ball. You can find it sitting in its own custom barn... with a quilt on the side. Claxton, GA - Fruitcake Capital of the World Claxton, GA - Fruitcake Capital of the World When you inevitably see that uneaten brick of fruitcake on your table this December, you'll have Claxton, Georgia to blame.

There, two companies produce over four million pounds of the dense, barely-edible dessert every year. Pilgrims from all over the country descend onto Claxton around holiday time... presumably to beg them to please stop baking terrible cakes. Douglas, WY - Jackalope Capital of the World Douglas, WY - Jackalope Capital of the World Fast as fast can be, you'll never catch him. Even still, the people of Douglas, Wyoming are a determined breed, as they've declared themselves to be the world's jackalope capital. Those looking to spy the creature in the wild, though, may end up leaving disappointed, because the jackalope is a fictional creature, as fake as those photos of Kim Kardashian's waistline. Montpelier, VT - Rotten Sneaker Capital of the World Montpelier, VT - Rotten Sneaker Capital of the World Every year, the city of Montpelier and its 8,000 residents host a contest for the world's smelliest shoe. This is all part of their duty as the Rotten Sneaker Capital of the World. Side note- Montpelier is also the capital of the state of Vermont, but who cares about that?

Petaluma, CA - Wrist Wrestling Capital of the World Petaluma, CA - Wrist Wrestling Capital of the World Petaluma, California is the birthplace to the sport of wrist wrestling (known today as 'arm wrestling.') For over 50 years, Petaluma hosted the national wrist wrestling championships, helping the sport grow in popularity. So, I guess they're the ones to blame for that Stallone movie Over the Top. La Crosse, KS - Barbed Wire Capital of the World La Crosse, KS - Barbed Wire Capital of the World The city of La Crosse, Kansas loves barbed wire so much that they decided to make themselves the world's capital for the spiny metal. They even built the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum, which, according to snobby barbed wire connoisseurs on the Internet, isn't quite as good as the Devil's Rope Museum in MacLean, Texas, but worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood. Anthony, TX - Leap Year Capital of the World Anthony, TX - Leap Year Capital of the World Right on the border of Texas and New Mexico, the little town of Anthony hosts a quadrennial celebration of the leap year.

They also hold a birthday party for anyone born on the leap day of February 29th, resulting in the most elderly Sweet 16 party ever. Colon, MI - Magic Capital of the World Colon, MI - Magic Capital of the World Welcome to Colon, Michigan, a land of such wonder and enchantment, that they don't even have to correctly spell the word "capital" on their sign. Their grammar mistakes will leave you amazed and mystified! Suggested What's Hot Published January 5, 2015 | By Alan Denton 1. Beaver, OK - Cow Chip Capital of the World 1/15 "Cow chips" are dried discs of bovine dung, and for some reason Beaver, Oklahoma wants you to know that it is full of them. People gather there every year for the annual Cow Chip Throw & Festival, where they take turns flinging the excrement into the air. When told this may not be the best way to draw tourists, Beaverites told me that's just a load of... bull.

By Alan Denton January 5, 2015 1 Beaver, OK - Cow Chip Capital of the World "Cow chips" are dried discs of bovine dung, and for some reason Beaver, Oklahoma wants you to know that it is full of them. People gather there every year for the annual Cow Chip Throw & Festival, where they take turns flinging the excrement into the air. When told this may not be the best way to draw tourists, Beaverites told me that's just a load of... bull. 1/15 By Alan Denton January 5, 2015 Beaver, OK - Cow Chip Capital of the World 1/15 "Cow chips" are dried discs of bovine dung, and for some reason Beaver, Oklahoma wants you to know that it is full of them. People gather there every year for the annual Cow Chip Throw & Festival, where they take turns flinging the excrement into the air. When told this may not be the best way to draw tourists, Beaverites told me that's just a load of... bull. 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 1.

Beaver, OK - Cow Chip Capital of the World "Cow chips" are dried discs of bovine dung, and for some reason Beaver, Oklahoma wants you to know that it is full of them. People gather there every year for the annual Cow Chip Throw & Festival, where they take turns flinging the excrement into the air. When told this may not be the best way to draw tourists, Beaverites told me that's just a load of... bull. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 2. Bradford, TN - The Doodle Soup Capital of the World Usually, when you call yourself a "capital of the world," you claim it for something that people actually know of. Bradford, Tennessee bucks that trend by hitching their star to "doodle soup," a dish so regional that it appears Bradford is the only place where it's actually eaten. Guess they don't have to worry about competition. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 3. Gilroy, CA - Garlic Capital of the World Gilroy, California loves their garlic.

They love it so much that they have an annual Garlic Festival, where pilgrims flock to sample such treats as garlic peanut butter cups and garlic ice cream... and then immediately throw them out and wonder what they were thinking. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 4. Rayne, LA - The Frog Capital of the World Rayne, Louisiana gained its reputation as the "Frog Capital of the World" when some local entrepreneurs started the country's very first frog export business. Today, the town has frog races, frog murals, and... well, that's basically it. It doesn't take much to be the world's frog capital. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 5. Pearsonville, CA - Hub Cap Capital of the World With a population of just 17 people, Pearsonville, California is the definition of a "small town." And how many hubcaps would you expect this town of 17 to have? 50, maybe 60 in total? Try 80,000. Yeah, they've earned this moniker. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 6.

Caldwell, KS - Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World For when regular box turtles just aren't fancy enough, head to Caldwell, Kansas, the Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World. They enjoy such a distinction because, back in 1986, some middle school class successfully lobbied the governor to make it the state's official reptile. Caldwell's middle school years are just like my own: full of questionable decisions. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 7. Hidalgo, TX - Killer Bee Capital of the World In 1990, the nation was gripped with fear of killer bees. The deadly insects were slowly migrating north through Mexico, and officially crossed the border into the United States at Hidalgo, Texas. Hidalgo decided to honor its moment in the national news spotlight by naming itself the Killer Bee Capital of the World, and erecting this statue of the world's largest killer bee. We can't wait to see the statue Dallas builds to honor Ebola panic. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 8.

Sac CIty, IA - Barn Quilt Capital of the World Barn quilts are exactly what they sound like: giant quilt patterns that are on the sides of barns. And in Sac City, Iowa, they're everywhere. The good news is, if spending the whole day looking at quilts makes you hungry, Sac City is also home to the world's largest popcorn ball. You can find it sitting in its own custom barn... with a quilt on the side. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 9. Claxton, GA - Fruitcake Capital of the World When you inevitably see that uneaten brick of fruitcake on your table this December, you'll have Claxton, Georgia to blame. There, two companies produce over four million pounds of the dense, barely-edible dessert every year. Pilgrims from all over the country descend onto Claxton around holiday time... presumably to beg them to please stop baking terrible cakes. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 10. Douglas, WY - Jackalope Capital of the World Fast as fast can be, you'll never catch him.

Even still, the people of Douglas, Wyoming are a determined breed, as they've declared themselves to be the world's jackalope capital. Those looking to spy the creature in the wild, though, may end up leaving disappointed, because the jackalope is a fictional creature, as fake as those photos of Kim Kardashian's waistline. 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 11. Montpelier, VT - Rotten Sneaker Capital of the World Every year, the city of Montpelier and its 8,000 residents host a contest for the world's smelliest shoe. This is all part of their duty as the Rotten Sneaker Capital of the World. Side note- Montpelier is also the capital of the state of Vermont, but who cares about that? 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 12. Petaluma, CA - Wrist Wrestling Capital of the World Petaluma, California is the birthplace to the sport of wrist wrestling (known today as 'arm wrestling.') For over 50 years, Petaluma hosted the national wrist wrestling championships, helping the sport grow in popularity.

So, I guess they're the ones to blame for that Stallone movie Over the Top. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 13. La Crosse, KS - Barbed Wire Capital of the World The city of La Crosse, Kansas loves barbed wire so much that they decided to make themselves the world's capital for the spiny metal. They even built the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum, which, according to snobby barbed wire connoisseurs on the Internet, isn't quite as good as the Devil's Rope Museum in MacLean, Texas, but worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 14. Anthony, TX - Leap Year Capital of the World Right on the border of Texas and New Mexico, the little town of Anthony hosts a quadrennial celebration of the leap year. They also hold a birthday party for anyone born on the leap day of February 29th, resulting in the most elderly Sweet 16 party ever. source 15 Oddest Small Town "Capitals of the World" 15.

Colon, MI - Magic Capital of the World Welcome to Colon, Michigan, a land of such wonder and enchantment, that they don't even have to correctly spell the word "capital" on their sign. Their grammar mistakes will leave you amazed and mystified! source Texas, The Lone Star State: Leap Year Capital of the World (Anthony slogan) This site is edited by Barry Popik . Technical matters are handled by Grant Barrett of Double-Tongued Word Wrester Dictionary . Entry from April 09, 2008 Leap Year Capital of the World (Anthony slogan) Anthony, Texas and Anthony, New Mexico (the so-called “best little town in two states” ) pronounced itself the “Leap Year Capital of the World” in February 1988. A Leap Year Birthday Club was formed, all the idea of Anthony resident Mary Ann Brown (who was born on February 29th). “Leap Year Capital”—perhaps because it is a “world” capital and not a “Texas” capital—is not on the list of official capital designations pronounced by the Texas legislature.

Wikipedia: Leap year A leap year (or intercalary year) is a year containing one or more extra days (or, in the case of lunisolar calendars, an extra month) in order to keep the calendar year synchronised with the astronomical or seasonal year. For example, in the Gregorian calendar, February would have 29 days in a leap year instead of the usual 28 - and consequently, the whole year would last 366 days instead of the common 365. Because seasons and astronomical events do not repeat at an exact number of full days, a calendar which had the same number of days in each year would, over time, drift with respect to the event it was supposed to track. By occasionally inserting (or intercalating) an additional day or month into the year, the drift can be corrected. A year which is not a leap year is called a common year. Wikipedia: Anthony, New Mexico Anthony is a census-designated place (CDP) in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA. The population was 7,904 at the 2000 census.

It is located south of Las Cruces on the New Mexico-Texas state line in the Upper Mesilla Valley along Interstate 10. timeanddate.com Anthony – Leap Year Capital of the World Where would be the ideal place to celebrate a leap year? Anthony, of course! The self-proclaimed “Leap Capital of the World”, which borders Texas and New Mexico in the United States, is hosting the sixth Worldwide Leap Year Festival from February 28 to March 2 2008. A town that celebrates leap year Every leap year the tiny town of Anthony, which has a population of about 4000 people, throws a birthday party for people born on February 29, also known as leap day. The event has grown since its inception in 1988, attracting people from within the United States and overseas. Attendees have been as young as babies celebrating their first birthday to people in their 90s celebrating another leap day birthday. In 1992 a man registered his 104-year-old mother, who was born on a leap day, to attend one of the festivals.

Chaired by the town’s mayor Art Franco, the celebration includes a parade, birthday dinner, hot air balloon lifts and other attractions. This event has become a source of pride for the town, marking it as the leap year capital on the global map. History of the Leap Year Capital Concept It all started about 20 years ago when local resident Mary Ann Brown, proposed that the Anthony Chamber of Commerce host a festival centered on leap day. Ms Brown and her neighbor Birdie Lewis, both born on a leap day, approached the Chamber of Commerce officials with the idea of a leap year festival and a leap year birthday club for those born on a leap day. The main purposes behind the proposals were to provide the town with local recognition and to help raise funds for the community. In February 1988 the town’s Chamber of Commerce voted to sponsor Ms Brown’s idea of the festival. The governors of both New Mexico and Texas later declared Anthony the “Leap Year Capital of the World”. Over the years, the event has attracted many people, including locals who come out to watch the parade and travelers from countries such as Germany and Switzerland.

The town has come a long way since 1988 when only nine leap year birthday celebrants from neighboring towns in New Mexico and Texas attended the first festival. The Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club Membership for the leap year birthday club has grown from zero in 1988 to more than 400 members in 2003. Members who have joined come from countries such as the United States, Canada, England, Germany, Mexico and Norway. Anthony TX/NM Leap Year Capital of the World BIRTHDAY PARTY TIME IN THE Leap Year Capital of the World Your Host, the Anthony Chamber of Commerce, assisted by local business and civic organizations will provide a variety of events, something for everyone! Mr. Art Franco, the Mayor of Anthony, Texas, has volunteered to be Chairman for the 2008 celebration. The fun will include a golf tournament followed that evening by registration and a ‘get acquainted session for Leapers’ from everywhere. A trip to the nearby Sunland Park Casino will be available for all who choose to go.

Since this rare date comes but once every four years the press will likely be out bright and early on Friday, February 29th looking for a timely story to report (that is the way it usually happens). We will let you know where to ‘meet the press.’ Following breakfast, birthday folks can spend some time preparing signs boasting their age in Leap Years, to use in the parade. Since Leap Year Day falls on Friday this year the parade will be held after school, about 3:00 p.m. We encourage all Leap Year babies and Leap Year anniversary couples to join the parade. A variety of vehicles will be provided for those who do not have their own or, if you prefer to walk the parade route is about a one and a half (1 1/2) mile trek. The day will be completed with a birthday dinner, cake and entertainment. Exact schedule is still developing. The weekend of March 1 and 2 will also be filled with fun events as part of the celebration.

They will include Hot Air Balloon lift offs and rides, and a chuck wagon breakfast, followed by various events and activities at the park including games, a chile cook-off, and may a “juacha” tournament (similar to horseshoes), entertainment, and other competitions. Twenty years ago (in February, 1988) the Chamber of Commerce in the little state line town of Anthony, New Mexico/Texas voted to sponsor the one and only WORLDWIDE LEAP YEAR FESTIVAL and WORLDWIDE LEAP YEAR BIRTHDAY CLUB and, thereby proclaim ANTHONY Leap Year Capital of the World With every Leap Year since we began in 1988 our event has grown. “Leapers” attend from every state in the union and have come from as far as Germany and Switzerland and from the utmost parts of the world. We have enjoyed the presence of honorees from hour year olds celebrating their 1st birthday to a 92 year old celebrating his 23rd birthday. In 1992 a gentleman registered his 104 year old Mother, Luz Bejarano, who celebrated her 26th birthday that year. TEXAS TOWN HAS FEB.

29 ON ITS MIND Anthony hopes to be Leap Year Capital Author: Holden Lewis Associated Press The Dallas Morning News Publish Date: February 11, 1988 EL PASO—Anthony has billed itself as the Best Little Town in Two States, and now the village straddling the Texas-New Mexico border is proclaiming itself the Leap Year Capital of the World. “We just voted arbitrarily to name this as the leap year capital of the world because no one else has,’ said Mary Ann Brown, who will celebrate her 14th—actually, her 56th—birthday Feb. 29. Mrs. Brown and her neighbor across the street, Birdie Lewis, were born on leap… ASK THE GLOBE Published on April 9, 1988 Q. My grandson was born on Feb. 29 and I would like to enroll him in a leap year club. Is there such a thing?—R.W., Brookline A. There is. The chamber of commerce in Anthony, a town of 3,000 that straddles the Texas-New Mexico border, proclaimed itself “Leap Year Capital of the World” in February and has formed a worldwide leap year club.

Its president, Mary Ann Brown, herself a “twenty-niner,” says the club has 27 members from as far away… Of Hyperbole And Geography: A Map Of The World's 'Other' Capitals : NPR To be named "world capital" of something is both a badge of honor, yet also something of a badge of shame, writer George Pendle tells NPR's Robert Siegel. It means your city revolves entirely around a single product, like gravel or toothpicks. Pendle should know: He's reported on a series of random but rather amusing list of "Other Capitals of the World" for Atlas Obscura — not the capitals of countries but of products, games and states of mind. Here's a list of some that made us chuckle. The Toilet Paper Capital Of The World: Green Bay, Wis. "Up until the early 20th century, there was some toilet paper, but it had a devastating problem: the paper had splinters in it. And there was no way of getting the splinters out," says Pendle. "So every trip to the outhouse was a game of Russian roulette.

But Northern Paper Mills, one of Green Bay's finest toilet paper manufacturers, came up with the splinter-free toilet paper. ... It helped mankind immeasurably." The Carpet *And* Former Bedspread Capital Of The World: Dalton, Ga. A strange hobby of Pendle's — collecting photos of airport carpets from around the world — led him to discover this town north of Atlanta, which is now the capital of carpets. Further research revealed that Dalton is something of a "world capital" overachiever: during the Victorian era, it was "the bedspread capital of the world." Article continues after sponsorship The Jeans Capital Of The World: Xintang, China The city in southern China produces 800,000 pairs of jeans a day. A DAY! And it might have some subcontractors in .... The Zipper Capital Of The World: Kurobe, Japan It's home to the world's largest manufacturer of zippers, Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha. "Of course you can't fit onto a zipper, so they shortened it down to YKK. So if you look down at your trousers, it's more than likely that you will see those letters on your zipper," says Pendle.

"But don't do it in public." The Leap Year Capital Of The World: Anthony, Texas/N.M. The city on the Texas-New Mexico border doesn't lie anywhere near a dateline. So what gives? According to Pendle's research, a member of the local chamber of commerce was born on Feb. 29 and thought it would be, as Pendle says in that inimitable British way, "a great wheeze" to name the town "leap-year capital." "And literally, I think tens of people have flooded from around the world to celebrate their birthday there," he says.

Question: The town of Anthony in which US state was known as ‘The Leap Year Capital of the World’?
Answer: Texas