CB11-FF.20

August 31, 2011

Halloween

Oct. 31, 2011

The observance of 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.

Trick or Treat!

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.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml>

116.7 million

Number of occupied housing units across the nation in 2010 — all potential stops for trick-ortreaters. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml>

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.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the 

United States, 2005, Table 4, <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/extended05.html> 

Follow @uscensusbureau on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Ustream.
Jack-o’-Lanterns and Pumpkin Pies

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.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service 

<http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-01-27-2011.pdf>

Where to Spend Halloween?

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

• Transylvania County, N.C. (population 33,090) 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml>

• Tombstone, Ariz. (population 1,380)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml>

• Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,222); and Pumpkin Bend, Ark. (population 276)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml>

• Cape Fear in New Hanover County, N.C. (population 18,388); and Cape Fear in Chatham 

County, N.C. (population 1,323).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml>

• Skull Creek, Neb. (population 271)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 

<http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml>

Candy and Costumes

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. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2009, NAICS codes (31132 & 31133), 

<http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>
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.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2009, NAICS code (31134), 

<http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>

24.7 pounds

Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2010. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Industrial Reports, Confectionery: 2010, Table 1, 

<http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/cir/historical_data/ma311d/index.html>

1,719

Number of costume rental and formal wear establishments across the nation in 2009. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 County Business Patterns, NAICS code (53222),

<http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>

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

series:

African-American History Month (February) Labor Day 

Super Bowl Grandparents Day 

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)

Women’s History Month (March) Unmarried and Single Americans Week 

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ Halloween (Oct. 31)

 St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) (November) 

Older Americans Month (May) Veterans Day (Nov. 11)

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) Thanksgiving Day 

Mother’s Day The Holiday Season (December) 

Father’s Day 

The Fourth of July (July 4)

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)

Back to School (August)

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; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: 

<pio@census.gov>.