From the Annals of Leap Year – In 1988, the Chamber of Commerce of Anthony declared the town the Leap Year Capital of the World.  Local residents Mary Ann Brown and Birdie Lewis, both born on a leap day, approached the Chamber of Commerce with the idea of a leap year festival.   In connection with being the self-proclaimed Leap Year Capital, the town is also home to the Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club which is open to anyone born on a leap day.  On February 29, every 4th year (except for years divisible by 400) Anthony throws a birthday festival. People throughout the USA and overseas travel to this tiny town to take part in parades, birthday dinners, and hot air balloon lifts.

Anthony is a small community on the Texas-New Mexico border north of El Paso and is called Anthony because a chapel to St. Anthony of Padua was built after the Civil War.