Halloween 2003: By the Numbers

Don't be scared. These are just some interesting Halloween-related statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau. Why did the census folks compile these numbers? I guess they were just "afraid" you might ask.

"Trick or Treat!"
41.0 million
The estimated number of potential "trick-or-treaters" 5- to 14-year-olds across the United States in 2002, down by about 40,000 from 2000. This number is greater than the "baby boom" children in this age range counted in the 1970 census (40.7 million). Of course, many "kids" older than 14, and younger than 5, also dress up for the holiday.

106 million
Number of potential stops for "trick-or-treaters" i.e., housing units occupied year-round.

Jack O' Lanterns and Pies
790.7 million pounds
Total U.S. pumpkin production in 2002. Illinois, with a production of 299 million pounds, led the country. There also were big pumpkin patches in California (150 million pounds produced), Pennsylvania (117 million), New York (107 million) and Michigan (60 million). The value of all these pumpkins was $83 million.

Candy and Costumes
1,040
Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments producing 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).

2,715
Number of formal wear and costume rental establishments across the nation in 2001.

Where to Spend Halloween?
Some places around the country that may get you into the Halloween spirit are:

Transylvania County, N.C., with 29,499 residents.

Tombstone, Ariz., with a population of 1,537.

Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,228) and Pumpkin Bend township, Ark. (population 307).

Cape Fear township (New Hanover Co.), N.C.; and Cape Fear township (Chatham Co.), N.C. (populations of 15,711 and 1,170, respectively).

Skull Creek township, Neb., with a population of 295.

(Source: The U.S. Census Zombies)