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Valentine's Day by the Numbers

From the U.S. Census Bureau

Find fun facts about Valentine's Day—a holiday centuries old that celebrates love—from who sent the first valentine to how many Americans send love messages today.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Related Links Candy Hearts Candy Quiz Famous Love Stories in History Fictional Love Stories Weddings 101 Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gift List

Candy is Dandy

1,170
Number of locations producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2006. These establishments employed 39,457 people. California led the nation in the number of such establishments with 128, followed by Pennsylvania with 116.

473
Number of locations that produced nonchocolate confectionary products in 2006. These establishments employed 18,733 people.

$13.9 billion
Total value of shipments in 2006 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a $7.2 billion industry.

3,563
Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2006.

24.5 pounds
Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2007.

Flowers

$416 million
The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2007 for all flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales. Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for about three-quarters of this amount ($320 million).

$29 million
The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2007 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales.

20,227
The number of florists nationwide in 2006. These businesses employed 98,373 people.

Jewelry

28,300
Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2006. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2008, these stores sold $2.6 billion in merchandise.

The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation’s 1,777 jewelry manufacturing establishments.

Be Mine

2.2 million
The number of marriages that took place in the United States in 2007. That breaks down to a little more than 6,000 a day.

126,354
The number of marriages performed in Nevada during 2007. So many couples tie the knot in the Silver State that it ranked fifth nationally in marriages, even though its total population that year among states was 35th. (California ranked first in marriages.)

57% and 60%
The percentages of American women and men, respectively, who are 18 or older and married (includes those who are separated).

72%
Percentage of people 30 to 34 in 2007 who had been married at some point in their lives — either currently or formerly.

73%
Among women who married for the first time between 1985 and 1989, the percentage who marked their 10th anniversary. This compares with 87 percent of women who married for the first time between 1955 and 1959.

6%
The percentage of currently married women who have been married for at least 50 years. A little more than half of currently married women have been married for at least 15 years.

Looking for Love

120
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.

34
Number of single men (i.e., never married, widowed, or divorced) age 65 or older for every 100 single women of the same ages.

904
The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2002. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed nearly 4,300 people and pulled in $489 million in revenues.

Try Looking Here . . .

Giving Love a Second Chance

8
Average length, in years, of first marriages ending in divorce.

3 1/2
The median time in years between divorce and a second marriage.

12% and 13%
Percentage of men and women, respectively, 15 and older who have married twice. Three percent each have married three or more times. By comparison, 54 percent of men and 58 percent of women have made only one trip down the aisle.

52% and 44%
Among adults 25 and older who have ever divorced, the percentage of men and women, respectively, who were currently married.

• More Valentine's Day Features