U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features: Halloween, Oct. 31, 2014

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts and vampires. Today, Halloween has evolved into a celebration characterized by child-friendly activities, such as costumes, trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns.

Trick or Treat!

41.2 million
The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2013 — children age 5 to 14 — across the U.S. Of course, many other children — older than 14 and younger than 5 — also go trick-or-treating.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates, PEPASR6H
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPASR6H>

115 million
Number of occupied housing units across the nation in first quarter 2014 — all potential stops for trick-or-treaters.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership, Table 8 <http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html>

93.3%
Percentage of households with residents who considered their neighborhood safe in 2011. In addition, 79.5 percent said there was no place within a mile of their homes where they would be afraid to walk alone at night. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States, 2011, <http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf>

Hauntingly Delicious

1,333
Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2012, employing 37,150 employees. This industry's value of shipments totaled $14.4 billion, up slightly from $14.1 billion in 2007.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census, NAICS 2012: 311351, 311352 and 2007: 311320, 311330
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2012_US/00A1//naics~311351%7C311352>, <http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2007_US/00A1//naics~311320%7C311330>

439
Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced nonchocolate confectionary products, employing 19,141 employees. This industry's value of shipments totaled $8.0 billion in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census, NAICS 311340
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2012_US/00A1//naics~311340>

Dressed to Thrill
A sampling of occupations that one may dress up as for a Halloween costume:

http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/B24124 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey, B24124
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/B24124>

Where to Spend Halloween?

Some places around the country that may put you in the Halloween mood:

Tombstone, Ariz. (estimated population 1,338)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates  <http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US0474400>

Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. (estimated population 10,017)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates 
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US3667638>

Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (estimated population 6,920)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates 
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US3735720>

Yellville, Ark. (estimated population 1,185)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates 
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US0577330>

Transylvania County, N.C. (estimated population 32,903)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates 
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/0500000US37175>

Slaughter Beach, Del. (estimated population 218)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates  <http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US1067050>

Casper, Wyo. (estimated population 59,628)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates  <http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US5613150>

Scarville, Iowa (estimated population 71)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates  <http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US1971040>

Truth or Consequences, N.M. (estimated population 6,246)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates  <http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US3579840>

Spooktacular

4,540
The number of motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) where one could possibly enjoy a horrorfest. California (519), Texas (297), New York (272) and Florida (213) had the most of such establishments. There were 225 drive-in motion picture theaters in 2012 — both Pennsylvania and Ohio tied for the most, with 22 in each state.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 County Business Patterns, NAICS 512131 & 512132
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2012/00A1/0100000US|0100000US.04000/naics~512131|512132>

50,900
Acres of pumpkins harvested in the U.S. in 2013, with a total estimated production value of $149.9 million. Of the top six pumpkin-producing states, Illinois led the country by producing an estimated 547.6 million pounds of this vined gourd, followed by California, Ohio, Michigan, New York and then Pennsylvania. Pumpkins are frequently carved as decorations around Halloween.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Page 9 and 38
<http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-03-27-2014.pdf>

$686 million
The estimated construction spending on theme/amusement parks in 2013. Halloween events at theme/amusement parks can be frighteningly fun. For more information about construction spending, please visit: <http://www.census.gov/constructionspending>.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturing and ConstructionStatistics
<http://www.census.gov/construction/c30/xls/privsatime.xls>

1,216
The number of costume rental and formal wear establishments; they had a total of 6,348 paid employees across the nation in 2012 (for the pay period including March 12, 2012).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 County Business Patterns, NAICS 532220
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2012/00A1/0100000US|0100000US.04000/naics~532220>

$1.1 billion
Dollar value of U.S. fresh apples exported in 2013. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $332 million worth. Whether bobbing for or dipping in caramel, apples can be a fun treat around Halloween.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics, Commodity Code 080810
<http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/index.html >

Who You Gonna Call?

89%
Percent of all households had a cellular phone in 2011 compared with only 36 percent in 1998. The percentage of households with a cellular phone only (no landline) rose from less than 1 percent in 1998 to 28 percent in 2011.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States, 2011, <http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf>

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau's Facts for Features series:

Editor's note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; or e-mail: <[email protected]>.

CB14-FF.23

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SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

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