Halloween numbers add up to billions of pumpkin pounds
Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts and vampires. Over the years, Halloween customs and rituals have changed dramatically. Today, Halloween is celebrated many different ways, including wearing costumes, children trick or treating, carving pumpkins, and going to haunted houses and parties.
Here are some facts and figures about Halloween from the U.S. Census Burea.
41 million
The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2010 — children age 5 to 14 — across the United States. Of course, many other children — older than 14 and younger than 5 — also go trick-or-treating.
116.7 million
Number of occupied housing units across the nation in 2010 — all potential stops for trick-or-treaters.
92%
Percentage of households with residents who consider their neighborhood safe. In addition, 78 percent said there was no place within a mile of their homes where they would be afraid to walk alone at night.
1.1 billion pounds
Pumpkin production by major pumpkin-producing states in 2010. Illinois produced an estimated 427 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. California, New York and Ohio were also major pumpkin-producing states, each with an estimate of more than 100 million pounds.
1,177
Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2009, employing 34,252 people. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 135, followed by Pennsylvania, with 111.
409
Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured nonchocolate confectionary products in 2009. These establishments employed 16,974 people. California led the nation in this category, with 45 establishments.
24.7 pounds
Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2010.
1,719
Number of costume rental and formal wear establishments across the nation in 2009.
‘Scary’ towns
Ÿ Transylvania County, N.C. (population 33,090)
Ÿ Tombstone, Ariz. (population 1,380)
Ÿ Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,222); and Pumpkin Bend, Ark. (population 276)
Ÿ Cape Fear in New Hanover County, N.C. (population 18,388); and Cape Fear in Chatham County, N.C. (population 1,323)
Ÿ Skull Creek, Neb. (population 271)