BY AMY-MAE TURNER — Mashable.com — We’re huge fans of Wikipedia. The nonprofit organization represents the largest collection of knowledge collaboratively accumulated in one place — ever. While the concept of a free, community-managed, online encyclopedia had been around for some time, Wikipedia, as we know it now, officially began with its first edit on Jan. 15, 2001, two days after the domain was registered by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Whether over the last 20 years you’ve used Wikipedia for study or for work, to satisfy random bursts of curiosity, to settle arguments, or to cheat at Zoom quiz nights, we’re all indebted to the amazing free service. In order to celebrate Wikipedia’s 20th anniversary, we’re sharing 20-plus facts about the free encyclopedia that you never knew you never knew…
1. Wikipedia’s stats are jaw-dropping. It currently has more than 55 million articles across more than 300 languages.
2. There are more than 280,000 editors who take time to contribute to Wikipedia every month.