Story 36

Valentine’s Day – the U.S. Census bureau

Through the centuries, the Christian holiday became a time to exchange love messages, and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. Esther Howland, a native of Massachusetts, is given credit for selling the first mass-produced valentine cards in the 1840s. The spirit of love continues today as valentines are sent with sentimental verses, from and to young and old romantics.
Read more about the history of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day Candy Facts:

23.8 Pounds of Candy - The average amount consumed per capita by Americans in 2008, down a bit compared to 2006 – where it was estimated 24.5 pounds were consumed by Americans per capita
Source: Current Industrial Reports

1,170 Chocolate Producers – The number of locations producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2007. These establishments employed 38,794 people. California led the nation with 143 establishments, followed by Pennsylvania with 115.
Source: County Business Patterns

3,643 Candy Stores – The number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2007.
Source: County Business Patterns


Valentine’s Day Flower Facts:

19,759 - Florists Nationwide
The number of florists nation wide as of 2007. These businesses employed 93,779 people.
Source: County Business Patterns

$403 million - Domestically Produced Cut Flowers
The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2008 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 ($314 million).
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

$24 million – Cut Roses Produced
The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2008 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service


Valentine’s Day Jewelry Facts:

27,484 - Jewelry Stores
Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2007. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2009, these stores sold $2.2 billion in merchandise.
Source: County Business Patterns and Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services
The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation’s 1,753 jewelry manufacturing establishments.
Source: County Business Patterns


Be Mine – Valentine Marriages

2.16 million Marriages in 2008
The number of marriages that took place in the United States in 2008. That breaks down to a little less than 6,000 a day.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics
112,185 – Vegas Weddings!
The number of marriages performed in Nevada during 2008. So many couples tie the knot in the Silver State that it ranked fifth nationally in marriages, even though it’s total population that year among states was 35th. (California ranked first in marriages.)
Source: National Center for Health Statistics and population estimates
73% - Marriages that Made it to their 10th Anniversary
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.
Source: Marriage and Divorce: 2004
6% Made it to Their 50th Wedding Anniversary
Sad, but true: As of 2004, the percentage of currently married women who had been married for at least 50 years is 6%.
Source: Marriage and Divorce: 2004
A First, Second, Third Chance at Love:
19% - As of 2008, 19% represents women and men who have married once, and those 15 and older who have married twice. Five percent each have married three or more times. By comparison, 76 percent of women and 75 percent of men who have ever been married have made only one trip down the aisle.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey


Online Dating

904 - Available Online Dating Services 2002
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 revenue.
Source: 2002 Economic Census
26% Internet Users Visited Personals Websites in the US
26% accounts for about 39 million Americans, visited personals website in December, 2003.
It has been found from the survey that 26 percent of internet users in the US visited personal websites in December 2003.
Source: COM score media matrix.
$302 Million Spent
It has been found from the study that in 2002, consumers spent nearly $302 million for online dating services.
Source: Online Publishers Association
The $302 million spent in 2002 is three times more than the previous year (2001). It has been found from online dating statistics that online dating services are increasing at 154% every year.
Source: US report and world report.
Love Letters / Email Relationships
Another online dating statistics from the survey by The Sunday Times indicate that “that email relationships can be far more intimate than normal dating. Women are most likely to find a potential lover online, with 72% admitting to have had an online romance, compared to 52% of men. The online dating statistics report also found that 33% of all online relationships led to a date.
Online dating statistics illustrates that email dating is more interactive than normal dating. An interesting finding from online dating stats; women are more likely to find potential lover online; men are more interested in an online romance. The study also illustrated that about 33% surveyed were able to convert online relationships to an actual date.