Valentine's Day: February 14
Marriage
2.3 million
Number of marriages that take place in the United States annually. That breaks down to nearly
6,400 a day. <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/>
75
The number of marriages performed in Nevada per every 1,000 residents annually. The Silver
State is by far the national marriage leader. Hawaii is ranked second, with 20 marriages per
every 1,000 residents, and Arkansas third, with 15.
<http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/datawh/statab/unpubd/nvstab50.htm>
25.1 and 26.8
The estimated U.S. median ages at first marriage for women and men, respectively. The age for
women is up 4.3 years since 1970. The age for men, 3.6 years since 1970.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-113.html>
52 and 57
The percentages of American women and men, respectively, who are 15 and over and married,
but not separated. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
Flowers
$424 million
The wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2001. Among states, California was
the leading producer, alone accounting for more than two-thirds of this amount ($292 million).
<http://www.usda.gov/nass/>
$68 million
The wholesale value of domestically produced roses in 2001. Roses generated the highest
receipts of any type of cut flower, followed by lilies ($58 million). <http://www.usda.gov/nass/>
24,197
The number of florists nationwide. These businesses employed 122,224 people.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-76.html>
$246 million
Value of U.S. imports of cut flowers from Colombia during a recent 10-month period. Colombia
was the leading foreign supplier of cut flowers for the United States.
<http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
Chocolate and Other Candy
995
Number of locations that produce chocolate and cocoa products. These locations employed
43,234 people. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-76.html>
600
Number of locations that produce nonchocolate confectionery products. These locations
employed 24,800 people. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-76.html>
107
Number of establishments in Pennsylvania and California that churn out chocolate and cocoa
products. These two states are the national coleaders in chocolate-making. California, with 74,
leads the United States in the number of locations that produce nonchocolate confectionery
products.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-76.html>
$418 million
Value of U.S. imports of chocolate from Canada, the leading country of origin for such imports,
during a recent 10-month period. Similarly, Canada was the leading foreign source of
nonchocolate candy in the United States ($232 million worth in shipments). <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
3,961
Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States. Often referred to as "candy stores,"
they are among the best sources of sweets around Valentine's Day.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-76.html>
24 lbs.
Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2001; it is believed a large portion is
consumed around Valentine's Day. Candy consumption has actually declined the last few years:
four years earlier, each American ate more than 27 pounds a year.
<http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/industry/1/ma311d01.pdf>
Jewelry
29,303
Number of jewelry stores in the United States. Jewelry stores sell wedding, engagement and
other rings and other baubles to lovers of all ages. Last February, these stores sold $2.1 billion in
merchandise; over a recent 12-month period, sales were at a higher level only in December.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-76.html>
<http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html>
The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation's 2,266
jewelry manufacturing establishments. Jewelry manufacturing was a $6.8 billion industry.
Another $1.2 billion in jewelry was imported from Italy, the leading foreign source, over a recent
10-month period. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-76.html>
<http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/m00as-1.pdf> <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
Romantic-Sounding Places
2
The number of places in the United States named Valentine. Valentine, Neb., was the more
populous of the two, with 2,820 residents; Valentine, Texas, had just 187. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
9
Number of places nationwide with "love" in their name. Loveland, Colo., was the most
populous, with 50,608 residents. The others: Lovejoy, Ga., Loves Park, Ill.; Lovelock, Nev.;
Love Valley, N.C.; Loveland, Ohio; Loveland Park, Ohio; Loveland, Okla.; and Lovelady,
Texas. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
- Still haven't had your fill of love? Then visit Loving County, deep in the "heart" of
Texas, with 67 residents. Or cross the border into New Mexico to the city of Lovington
(population, 9,471) or the village of Loving (population, 1,326) or into Oklahoma to
Love County (population, 8,831). And don't forget Lovington, Ill., with 1,222 residents.
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
If you really have your heart set on Shakespeare, you might
consider starting the day by
paying a visit to Romeo (Romeo, Colo.; Romeo, Mich.; or Romeoville, Ill., with 375,
3,721 and 21,153 residents, respectively) and ending it by traveling to Mount Juliet,
Tenn. (population, 12,366). <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
Singleness
119
The number of single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) who are in their 20s for
every 100 single women of the same ages. This ratio declines somewhat for unmarried adults 30
to 44 (107 men per 100 women), but dramatically declines for 45- to 64-year-olds (72 single men
for every 100 single women). For those age 65 and over, the ratio drops even further, to 31
single men for every 100 single women. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
13.6 million
The number of people, ages 25 to 34, who have never been married; this number represents 34
percent of all people in this age group. The total of never-been-marrieds among the 35-to-44 age
bracket is 7.2 million or 16 percent. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
4.9 million
Number of opposite-sex, unmarried partner households. Of these, 2.6 million were maintained
by the man and 2.3 million by the woman.
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
205.4
The number of men per 100 women in Crowley County, Colo., — the
highest
male-female ratio of any county or county equivalent in the nation. Conversely,
the independent city of Clifton Forge, Va., has the lowest male-female ratio
(78.9 men per 100 women).
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01cn181.html>
Editor's note: The data presented are the latest available. Some of the preceding data were collected in surveys and,
therefore, are subject to sampling error. All data may be subject to nonsampling error. The dollar value estimates
have not been adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday or trading day differences or price changes. Observances
typically covered by the Census Bureau's Facts for Features series include African-American History Month,
Women's History Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Mother's Day, the Fourth of July, Hispanic
Heritage Month, American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month, Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season. For a
complete list, see <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/factsheets.html>. For quotes and radio sound bites,
see <http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/radio/actualities.html>. 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>.
