October 31, 2014 - Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts and vampires. Today, Halloween has evolved into a celebration characterized by child-friendly activities, such as costumes, trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns.

Trick or Treat!

41.2 million

The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2013 — children age 5 to 14 — across the U.S. Of course, many other children — older than 14 and younger than 5 — also go trick-or-treating.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates, PEPASR6H
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPASR6H>

115 million

Number of occupied housing units across the nation in first quarter 2014 — all potential stops for trick-or-treaters.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership, Table 8
<http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html>

93.3%

Percentage of households with residents who considered their neighborhood safe in 2011. In addition, 79.5 percent said there was no place within a mile of their homes where they would be afraid to walk alone at night.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States, 2011, <http://www.census.gov/library/publications/2013/demo/p70-136.html>

Hauntingly Delicious

1,333

Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products, in 2012, employing 37,150 employees. This industry’s value of shipments totaled $14.4 billion, up slightly from $14.1 billion in 2007.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census, NAICS 2012: 311351, 311352 and 2007: 311320, 311330
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2012_US/00A1//naics~311351%7C311352>,
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2007_US/00A1//naics~311320%7C311330>

439

Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced nonchocolate confectionary products employing 19,141 employees. This industry’s value of shipments totaled $8.0 billion in 2012.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census, NAICS 311340
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2012_US/00A1//naics~311340>

Dressed to Thrill

A sampling of occupations that one may dress up as for a Halloween costume:

PDF Version [PDF - <1.0 MB]

Occupation	Number of Full-Time, Year-Round Employees
Athletes, coaches, umpires and related workers	102,274
Bailiffs, correctional officers and jailers	389,786
Dentists	101,614
Detectives and criminal investigators	119,075
Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers	499,022
Firefighters	262,997
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers	641,208
Registered nurses	2,058,961

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, B24124
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B24124>

Where to Spend Halloween?

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

Tombstone, Ariz. (estimated population 1,338)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates 
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US0474400>

Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. (estimated population 10,017)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US3667638>

Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (estimated population 6,920)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US3735720>

Yellville, Ark. (estimated population 1,185)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US0577330>

Transylvania County, N.C. (estimated population 32,903)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/0500000US37175>

Slaughter Beach, Del. (estimated population 218)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US1067050>

Casper, Wyo. (estimated population 59,628)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US5613150>

Scarville, Iowa (estimated population 71)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US1971040>

Truth or Consequences, N.M. (estimated population 6,246)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Population Estimates
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNRES/1620000US3579840>

4,540

The number of motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) where one could possibly enjoy a horrorfest. California (519), Texas (297), New York (272) and Florida (213) had the most of such establishments. There were 225 drive-in motion picture theaters in 2012 — both Pennsylvania and Ohio tied for the most, with 22 in each state.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 County Business Patterns, NAICS 512131 & 512132
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2012/00A1/0100000US|0100000US.04000/naics~512131|512132>

50,900

Acres of pumpkins harvested in the U.S. in 2013, with a total estimated production value of $149.9 million. Of the top six pumpkin-producing states, Illinois led the country by producing an estimated 547.6 million pounds of this vined gourd, followed by California, Ohio, Michigan, New York and then Pennsylvania. Pumpkins are frequently carved as decorations around Halloween.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Page 9 and 38
<http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-03-27-2014.pdf>

$686 million

The estimated construction spending on theme/amusement parks in 2013. Halloween events at theme/amusement parks can be frighteningly fun. For more information about construction spending, please visit: <http://www.census.gov/constructionspending>.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturing and Construction Statistics
<http://www.census.gov/construction/c30/xls/privsatime.xls>

1,216

The number of costume rental and formal wear establishments; they had a total of 6,348 paid employees across the nation in 2012 (for the pay period including March 12, 2012).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 County Business Patterns, NAICS 532220
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2012/00A1/0100000US|0100000US.04000/naics~532220>

$1.1 billion

Dollar value of U.S. fresh apples exported in 2013. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $332 million worth. Whether bobbing for or dipping in caramel, apples can be a fun treat around Halloween.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics, Commodity Code 080810
<http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/index.html>