Halloween Facts

Yea, I know it's a tad bit early to talk about Halloween but don't tell my kiddies that; as our local drug store already did that for us via the Halloween candy displayed on the shelves! But anyway, we have to deal with it; so having said that, here are some interesting Halloween facts according to the U.S Census Bureau:

1.) 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.

2.) 14 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.

3.) Jack O' Lanterns and Pies-85 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 was $81 million.

4.) Candy and Costumes.1,040 is the 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.

5.) 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

6.) 2,715 is the 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.

7.) Where to Spend Halloween? Transylvania County, N.C. (29,406 residents). Tombstone, Ariz. (population 1,547). Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,228); and Pumpkin Bend township, Ark. (population 307). Skull Creek township, Neb. (population 296). Cape Fear in New Hanover County, N.C.; and Cape Fear township in Chatham County, N.C. (with populations of 15,711 and 1,170, respectively).

Source: http://www.census.gov