When the Seattle Post-Intelligencer dropped its print edition a year ago today, many thought the Hearst-owned news outlet would not last.

Well, here it is, a year later, and the newsroom is still going. Although the staffing dropped from hundreds to about 20, the site remains. Those in charge have also planned a big public party for today to ring in the second year of online-only reporting.

“We're turning one!” the online invitation says. “Can you believe it? We're growing up so fast.”

Hearst officials responded to the celebration with this statement offering positive news:

“We are pleased that our flagship site the SeattlePI.com is garnering about 40 million page views and 4 million users each month -- about the same as were visiting the Post-Intelligencer's site before the print version ceased publication. This in addition to the other online audiences we can deliver from Yahoo's audience, Facebook, Zillow and search provides a compelling proposition to businesses. We are also encouraged by the response we are getting from advertisers after running with us. The feedback has been that our online audience is delivering results for businesses and the service we are providing in managing the online campaign is exceeding expectations.”

And if you think the rival Seattle Times is ignoring this birthday of its former print competitor, think again.

Not only did the Times run an Associated Press story on the anniversary, its resident sketch artist, Gabriel Campanario, posted an artistic homage to the P-I's past, noting: “Former readers of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer may still miss their paper, which was printed for the last time a year ago today. Even though I wasn't a regular reader, I miss it too. And I miss the sight of the ubiquitous P-I red newsracks around the city.”