Halloween: Fun Facts

How Did Halloween Get its Start?

Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts 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.

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. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates

115 million: Number of occupied housing units across the nation in 2011 — all potential stops for trick-or-treaters. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder

$113 million: Value of pumpkins harvested from the top six pumpkin-producing states, Illinois, California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan in 2011. Source: Agricultural Marketing Resource Center

1,155: Number of U.S. 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. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2010

409: Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured non-chocolate confectionery products in 2010. These establishments employed 17,526 people. California led the nation in this category, with 49 establishments. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2010

1,634: Number of costume rental and formal wear establishments across the nation in 2010. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 County Business Patterns

Where to Spend Halloween?

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

• Transylvania County, N.C. (population 32,820) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 Population Estimates
• Tombstone, Ariz. (population 1,396) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 Population Estimates
• Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,222) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Table DP-1
• Pumpkin Bend, Ark. (population 276) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Table DP-1
• Cape Fear in New Hanover County, N.C. (population 18,388) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Table DP-1
• Cape Fear in Chatham County, N.C. (population 1,323) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, Table DP-1
• Skull Creek, Neb. (population 268) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 Population Estimates

Looking for more Halloween Stories?

• Danger Lurks for Pets at Halloween Time
• Halloween Happenings at Clearwater Public Library
• Going Green for Halloween
• Enter to Win Patch's Best Halloween Costume in America Contest