CB03-FF.15	October 17, 2003
	Quotes  & radio sound bites
	Profile America
	Kids radio sound bites
Halloween 2003: Oct. 31

The observance of Halloween, dating from the dark ages, has long been associated with the thoughts of the dead, spirits, witches, ghosts and devils. In the United States, the first recorded instance of a Halloween celebration occurred in Anoka, Minn., in 1921.

"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. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-100.html>

147,000
The number of school-age children added to the population of Florida between Census Day, April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2002 more than any other state. The Sunshine State, one of only 15 where the number of school-age children increased over the period, ranked fourth in the total number of these children in 2002 (2.8 million); California was first (6.9 million). <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-144.html>

Florida also was one of four states where the school-age population grew by a rate of at least 5 percent between 2000 and 2002; Nevada, Arizona and Connecticut were the others. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-144.html>

106 million
Number of potential stops for "trick-or-treaters" i.e., housing units occupied year-round. <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/ahs/ahs01/tab1a1.html>

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. <http://www.usda.gov/nass/>

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. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-65.html>
• Tombstone, Ariz., with a population of 1,537. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-106.html>
• Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,228); and Pumpkin Bend township, Ark. (population 307). <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
• Cape Fear township (New Hanover Co.), N.C.; and Cape Fear township (Chatham Co.), N.C. (populations of 15,711 and 1,170, respectively). <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
• Skull Creek township, Neb., with a population of 295. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-106.html>

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).
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-58.html>
<http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/m01as-2.pdf>

616
Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured nonchocolate confectionary products in 2001. These establishments employed 26,400 people and shipped $7 billion worth of goods that year. California also led the nation in this category (with 75 establishments).
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-58.html>
<http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/m01as-2.pdf>

24 pounds
Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2002; it is believed a large portion is consumed by kids on and during the days immediately following Halloween. Candy consumption has actually declined over the last few years: in 1997, each American gobbled or savored more than 27 pounds a year. <http://www.census.gov/industry/1/ma311d02.pdf>

2,715
Number of formal wear and costume rental establishments across the nation in 2001. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-58.html

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series:
African-American History Month (February)	Back to School (August)
Valentine's Day (Feb. 14)	Labor Day (Sept. 1)
Women's History Month (March)	Grandparents Day (Sept. 7)
St. Patrick's Day (March 17)	Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May)	Halloween (Oct. 31)
Older Americans Month (May)	American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)
Mother's Day (May 11)	Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
Father's Day (June 15)	Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27)
The Fourth of July (July 4)	The Holiday Season (December)
Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act (July 26)

Editor's note: Some of the preceding data were collected in surveys and, therefore, are subject to sampling error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone: (301) 763-3030; fax: (301) 457-3670; or e-mail: pio@census.gov.