Halloween Facts from the U.S. Census

Don’t be scared now, but according to U.S. Census Bureau goblin counters, the first recorded Halloween celebration in the United States took place in 1921 in Anoka, Minn. Today, as many as 36.4 million potential “trick-or-treaters” -- 5- to 13-year-olds – don scary disguises or ones “that may bring on smiles” as they go door-to-door among about 106 million occupied housing units in search of treats.

Along their way, the merry or mischievous trick-or-treaters, many dressed in scary garb rented from one of America's 2,581 costume rental stores, encounter much of the 998 million pounds of pumpkins produced annually in the United States. Illinois, with a production of 457 million pounds, leads the country. Pumpkin patches in California, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York also produce a lot of pumpkins: each state produces at least 70 million pounds worth. The value of all the pumpkins produced by these states is about $100 million a year.

Naturally, the goal of those 36.4 million trick-or-treaters is the acquisition of a generous share of the some $19 billion dollars worth of candy produced by nearly 1800 U.S. candy makers. Between trick-or-treaters and plain old adults, Americans consume about 25 pounds of candy each annually, a large portion of which is probably consumed by kids on Halloween.

So, whether you're celebrating in Transylvania County, N.C., Tombstone, Ariz., Pumpkin Center, N.C., Cape Fear, N.C. or Skull Creek, N.B. (population 291, no known zombies), have a safe and happy Halloween.