We The People: This Day in History, February 29

ANTHONY, Texas (KWTX) - On February 29, 1988, Anthony, Texas, a small town on the Texas-New Mexico border in El Paso County, declared itself the Leap Year Capital of the World.

The chamber of commerce made the declaration to celebrate the rare day that occurs only every four years.

The town’s declaration led to the creation of the Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club, headquartered in the town and open to anyone born on February 29.

Leap years exist because Earth takes slightly longer than 365 days to orbit the sun, about 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds, according to NASA.

Without adding an extra day every four years, our calendars would slowly drift out of sync with the seasons.