On This Day in History: February 2

A lot happened on this particular day.  These are some of the more notable events:

1653 -- The Dutch colonial settlement called New Amsterdam is established.  The area is known today as New York City.

1790 -- The Supreme Court of the United States convened for the first time in Philadelphia's City Hall.  The bench consisted of Chief Justice John Jay, and Associate Justices John Blair, William Cushing, James Iredell, John Rutledge, and James Wilson.  The Court itself did not get a building of its own until 1935.

1876 -- The National League of Profession Baseball Leagues, better known today as the National League (or "Senior Circuit"), is formed in New York City.  It remains the world's oldest extant professional team sports league.

1887 -- With origins throughout Europe, the first Groundhog Day is observed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

1922 -- Initially serialized in numerous portions by The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, the novel Ulysses by James Joyce is published in its entirety.  It is widely considered the greatest fictional work of the 20th century.

1967 -- The American Basketball Association (ABA) is founded.  Its freewheeling style over the league's 10-year existence led to, among other things, the slam dunk competition.  Several dozen players continued successful careers in the National Basketball Association when the two leagues merged in 1976.  Additionally four ABA teams joined the NBA, but its most dominant team -- the four-time champion Indiana Pacers -- have yet to win another title.

1974 -- The F-16 Fighting Falcon took flight for the first time.  Entering service for the U.S. Air Force five years later, the Falcon has been kicking enemy ass whenever and wherever it is called.