132 million Ghosts and Goblins Can't Be Wrong

Happy Halloween

Native News Network Staff in Entertainment. Discussion »

WASHINGTON – Children throughout the country will celebrate Halloween with parties at schools and other activities on Wednesday.

$113 million in Pumpkin Sales

Halloween dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, associated with images of goblins and vampires.

Over the years, Halloween customs 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.

The US Census Bureau released the following fun facts about Halloween:

Trick or Treat!

41 million

The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2011 - 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.

132 million

The number of occupied housing units across the nation in 2011 - all potential stops for trick-or-treaters.

Jack-o'-Lanterns and Pumpkin Pies

$113 million

Value of pumpkins harvested from the top six pumpkin-producing states, Illinois, California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan in 2011.

Where to Spend Halloween?

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

Candy and Costumes

1,155

Number of US manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2010, employing 35,074 people. Pennsylvania led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 102, followed by California, with 100.

409

Number of US establishments that manufactured non-chocolate confectionary products in 2010. These establishments employed 17,526 people. California led the nation in this category, with 49 establishments.

1,634

Number of costume rental and formal wear establishments across the nation in 2010.

posted October 31, 2012 7:20 am edt