Excerpt
from an article currently appearing on the Internet website of the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C.
Years of the Gregorian calendar, which is currently in use today, are counted from AD
1. Thus, the 1st century comprised the years AD 1 through AD 100.
The second century began with AD 101 and continued through AD 200. By extrapolation we
find that the 20th century comprises the years AD 1901-2000. Therefore, the 21st century
will begin with 1 January 2001 and continue through 31 December 2100.
Similarly, the 1st millennium comprised the years AD 1-1000. The 2nd millennium
comprises the years AD 1001-2000. The 3rd millennium will begin with AD 2001 and continue
through AD 3000.
Did
Palestine Get Early Start on New Century?
The wording is not absolutely clear, but at least one local community
may have jumped the gun on the new century, according to this report from Palestine (now
Tawawa) in the Dec. 31, 1899, edition of the Sidney Daily News:
"PALESTINE: Old 1800 is almost spent. A happy New Year to all.
1900 is before us, although it is a closed book."
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