Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has evolved into a celebration characterized by child-friendly activities, such as costumes, trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns. Yet it is not a real holiday, and it’s not just for kids. Here, the U.S. Census Bureau disgorges a passel of demographic factoids about the holiday, which, while not of particular significance, are most certainly interesting:
41.1 million
The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2015 — children ages 5 to 14 — across the U.S. Of course, many other children — older than age 15 and younger than age 5 — also go trick-or-treating.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates, PEPASR6H
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPASR6H?slice=year~est72015
118.3 million
The number of occupied housing units across the nation in the second quarter 2016 — all potential stops for trick-or-treaters.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership, Table 8
www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html
78.7%
The percentage of U.S. households that agreed their neighbors could be trusted in 2013.
Source: 2013 American Housing Survey
www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-61.html
37,128
The number of people employed by U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2014. This industry’s value of shipments totaled $16.0 billion, up from $15.2 billion in 2013.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 Annual Survey of Manufactures, NAICS 311351, 311352
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ASM/2014/31GS101//naics~311351|311352
17,815
The number of people employed by U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced non-chocolate confectionary products. This industry’s value of shipments totaled $8.2 billion in 2014.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 Annual Survey of Manufactures, NAICS 311340
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ASM/2014/31GS101//naics~311340
3,217
The number of U.S. confectionary and nut stores that sell candy and other confectionary products, employing 22,086 people in 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 County Business Patterns, NAICS 445292
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2014/00A1//naics~445292
A sampling of occupations that one may dress up as for Halloween:
Occupation/
Number of Full-Time,
Year-Round Employees
Athletes, coaches, umpires and related workers
109,943
Bailiffs, correctional officers and jailers
376,460
Dentists
95,713
Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers
478,065
Firefighters
254,678
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers
662,619
Registered nurses
2,227,835
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 American Community Survey, B24124
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_1YR/B24124
Places to Spend Halloween
Tombstone, Ariz. (estimated population 1,312)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPANNRES/1620000US0474400
Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. (estimated population 10,242)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPANNRES/1620000US3667638
Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (estimated population 7,058)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPANNRES/1620000US3735720
Yellville, Ark. (estimated population 1,169)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPANNRES/1620000US0577330
Transylvania County, N.C. (estimated population 33,211)|
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPANNRES/0500000US37175
Slaughter Beach, Del. (estimated population 230)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPANNRES/1620000US1067050
Casper, Wyo. (estimated population 60,285)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPANNRES/1620000US5613150
Scarville, Iowa (estimated population 71)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPANNRES/1620000US1971040
Truth or Consequences, N.M. (estimated population 6,079)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPANNRES/1620000US3579840
And More:
4,449
The number of motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) in the U.S. in 2014 where one could possibly enjoy a horror movie. California (511), Texas (326), New York (265) and Florida (195) had the most of such establishments. There were 219 drive-in motion picture theaters in 2014 — Ohio had 23, and California and Pennsylvania each had 19 drive-in motion picture theaters.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 County Business Patterns, NAICS 512131 & 512132
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2014/00A1/0100000US|0100000US.04000/naics~512131|512132
40,900
The number of acres of pumpkins harvested in the U.S. in 2015, with a total estimated production value of $90.2 million. Of the top six pumpkin-producing states, Illinois led the country by producing an estimated 318.0 million pounds of this vined gourd, followed by California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York. Pumpkins are frequently carved as decorations around Halloween.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Page 8
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-02-04-2016.pdf
$1.04 Billion
The estimated construction spending on theme/amusement parks in 2015. Halloween events at theme/amusement parks can be frighteningly fun..
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Value of Construction Put in Place Survey
www.census.gov/construction/c30/xls/private.xls
1,078
The number of formal wear and costume rental establishments in the U.S. This industry had 6,611 paid employees across the nation in 2014 (for the pay period including March 12, 2014).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 County Business Patterns, NAICS 532220
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2014/00A1/0100000US|0100000US.04000/naics~532220
302
The number of broom, brush, and mop and casket manufacturing establishments (for the more authentic witches and vampires). Combined, these two industries employed 12,627 people and had a total value of shipments of $3.6 billion in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census, NAICS 339994 and NAICS 339995
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2012_US/31SG1//naics~339994|339995
$1.03 billion
Dollar value of U.S. fresh apples exported in 2015. Whether bobbing for or dipping in caramel, apples can be a fun treat around Halloween.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade Statistics, Commodity Code 080810
https://usatrade.census.gov/
89.0%
The percentage of households that had a cellular phone in 2011, compared with only 36.0 percent in 1998. The percentage of households with a cellular phone only (no landline) rose from less than 1.0 percent in 1998 to 28.0 percent in 2011.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States, 2011
www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf
