Community Corner

Valentine's Day Stats and Facts

Americans consumed just under 25 pounds of candy per capita in 2010.

Today is the day to show love and affection to sweethearts, friends and family. The day has been recognized since A.D. 496 when Pope Gelasius I declared the day as Valentine Day. Esther Howland of Massachusetts sold the first mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards in the 1840s.

 

• There were 1,177 manufacturers in the United States that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2009. They employed 34,252 people.

Find out what's happening in Herndonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

• In 2009 there were 409 U.S. manufacturers of non-chocolate candy products, employing 16,974 people.

• U.S. chocolate manufacturers shipped $12.6 billion in chocolate and cocoa products in 2009. Non-chocolate candy manufacturers shipped $7.4 billion in sweets. 

Find out what's happening in Herndonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

• In the U.S. in 2009 there were 3,386 candy and nut stores.

• Americans consumed 24.7 pounds of candy per capita in 2010.

• Growers in the U.S. sold a combined wholesale value of $375 million in domestically-produced cut flowers in 2010 for flower-producing companies with more than $100,000 in sales. Of that roses made up $17 million in sales.

• In 2009 there were 17,124 florists in the U.S. employing 75,855 people.

• There were 24,973 jewelry stores in the U.S. in 2009. In February 2011 jewelry stores sold $2.27 billion in merchandise. There are 1,547 jewelry manufacturers in the U.S.

• In 2009 there were 2.1 million marriages that took place, or about 5,800 marriages each day.

• The median age for marriage in 2011 was 28.7 for men and 26.5 for women.

• In 2011 53.1 percent of adults reported to the Census Bureau they were married.

• As of 2007 there were 393 establishments throughout the U.S. including Internet dating services. They employ 3,125 people and created $928 million in revenue.

• Romantically named cities in the U.S. include: Rose City, Texas; Loveland, Colorado; Darling, Minnesota; South Heart, North Dakota; Loveland, Ohio; Lovejoy, Georgia; Loves Park, Illinois; Romeo, Michigan; Rosemont, Maryland; Valentine, Nebraska; Lovelock, Nevada; Loving, New Mexico; Love Valley, North Carolina; and Loveland, Oklahoma, among many others.

 

* All facts and statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here