The observance of Halloween, which dates from the Dark Ages, has long
been associated with thoughts of the dead, witches, ghosts, devils and
other hobgoblins. In the United States, the first recorded instance
of a Halloween celebration occurred in Anoka, Minn., in 1921.
“Trick or Treat!”
36.8 million
The estimated number of potential “trick-or-treaters” —
5- to 13-year-olds — across the United States in 2003, a decline
of 274,000 from 2000. Of course, many “kids” older than
13, and younger than 5, also dress up for the holiday.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001703.html>
14
Number of states that, contrary to the national trend, experienced an
increase in their elementary school-age population (children between
5 and 13) between 2000 and 2003. Texas (125,000), Florida (88,000) and
Arizona (66,000) — the latter two, traditionally, thought of as
retirement havens — led the way. North Carolina (36,000) and Nevada
(35,000) followed. Nevada, at 13 percent, led the nation in the rate
of increase in its elementary school-age population from 2000 to 2003.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001703.html>
In 2003, Utah and Alaska had the highest proportions of their populations
in the 5-to-13 age group (15 percent each). California had the highest
number of elementary school-age children (4.8 million) in 2003.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001703.html>
Jack O’ Lanterns and Pies
805 million pounds
Total production of major pumpkin-producing states in 2003. Illinois, with a production of 326 million pounds, led the country. There also were a whole lot of pumpkin patches in California,
Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. Each produced at least 70
million pounds of pumpkins. The value of all the pumpkins produced by these
states was $81 million. <http://www.usda.gov/nass/>
Where to Spend Halloween?
Some places around the country that may put you in the Halloween mood
are:
Candy and Costumes
1,040
Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and
cocoa products in 2001. These establishments employed 45,913 people and
shipped $12 billion worth of goods that year. California led the nation
in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments with
116, followed by Pennsylvania with 107.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-58.html>
and <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/m01as-2.pdf>
616
Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured nonchocolate confectionary
products in 2001. These establishments employed 26,400 people and shipped
$7 billion worth of goods that year. California also led the nation in
this category with 75 establishments. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-58.html>
and <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/m01as-2.pdf>
25 pounds
Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2003; it is believed a
large portion of this is consumed by kids around Halloween. But candy
consumption has actually declined over the last few years: in 1997, each
American gobbled or savored more than 27 pounds of the sweet stuff. <http://www.census.gov/industry/1/ma311d03.pdf>
2,715
Number of formal wear and costume rental establishments across the nation
in 2001. Trick-or-treaters rent, buy or invent the costumes they wear
on Halloween. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-58.html>
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