Smithfield, the Only Maine Town Incorporated on Leap Day

Since today is Leap Day 2016 , it is notable that not many people were born on a leap Day. The odds are 1 in 1461 to be born on a Leap Day. There are, worldwide, about 4 million people having a birthday today.

Needless to say it is rare to have birthday on February 29. It is even rarer to have a town in your community incorporate on February 29^th, as far as I can tell there have only been 84 of them. Maine is one state that has a town that incorporated on February 29, Smithfield.

Smithfield was incorporated on February 29^th, 1840, in fact, when you enter the town, take a close look at the sign and right across the bottom it says: “Maine’s Only Leap Year Town."

This year is the 176 anniversary of the town incorporating on February 29^th, but in Leap Year birthdays it’s only 43 years old. Since it is such a unique distinction, what does the town do to celebrate Leap year every 4 years? Nothing!

They did hold a Leap Year Town Parade in 2015 when they celebrated their 175^th anniversary, but that was held in the summer, not in February. But all of that could change soon.

There is a proposal, which will be considered during a Town Meeting on March 12^th, to have regular Leap Year Celebrations. The item proposes raising $500 for the celebration which comes once every 4 years.

Some residents do agree, a Leap Year celebration could be something that would bring the town together and anything that can do that would be a good thing.

pressherald.com