Census Bureau Facts for Features
A product of the U.S. Census Bureau's Public Information Office
Census Bureau Facts for Features:
A product of the U.S. Census Bureau's Public Information Office CB98-FS.02 January 29, 1998 Valentine's Day: February 14 Marriage and Divorce - During 1995, 2.3 million marriages and 1.2 million divorces took place in the United States. That meant 6,400 marriages and 3,200 divorces on a typical day. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-199.html - Between 1990 and 1995, the annual number of marriages dropped by 107,000, while the annual number of divorces fell 13,000. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-199.html - Nevada was the nation's marriage and divorce capital, racking up both the highest marriage rate (88.1 marriages per 1,000 population) and divorce rate (8.1 divorces per 1,000 population) of any state in 1995. Hawaii was a distant runner-up in the marriage rate (15.8) while Oklahoma, Wyoming and New Mexico (each at 6.7) tied for second place in divorce rate. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-199.html - Among 18- to 24-year-olds, 24 percent of women and 14 percent of men were married as of 1995. The figures rose to 64 percent and 55 percent for 25- to 34-year-olds, and 74 percent each for 35- to 54-year-olds. For persons 55 and over, the percentage falls to 53 percent for women, but increases to 79 percent for men. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-200.html - The estimated median age at first marriage in 1995 was 24.5 years for women and 26.9 years for men. http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/ms-la.html Singleness - There were 119 unmarried men (i.e. never married, widowed, or divorced) ages 18 to 34 for every 100 unmarried women those ages in 1995. At older ages, however, the ratio reverses, to 105 unmarried women for every 100 unmarried men among 35- to 54-year-olds and 291 unmarried women for every 100 unmarried men among persons 55 and over. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-200.html - In 1995, 13.6 million persons 25 to 34 had never been married, representing 33 percent of all persons in this age group. The respective totals dropped to 5.9 million and 14 percent for those 35 to 44. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-200.html Chocolate and Candy - The chocolate and candy you give or receive probably were made in one of our nation's manufacturing establishments. In 1995, 169 such establishments employing 10,200 people produced chocolate and cocoa products. These manufacturers shipped $3.3 billion worth of goods that year. Meanwhile, 762 U.S. establishments, employing 53,700 people, manufactured candy and other confectionary products. They shipped $11.3 billion worth of goods. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-183.html http://www.census.gov/econ/www/manumenu.html - In many respects, Pennsylvania could be called the nation's sweetest state. It has more establishments making candy and other confectionary products (83) and chocolate and cocoa products (25) than any other state. The Keystone State also leads the way in the number of persons employed in establishments manufacturing chocolate and cocoa products, 4,891 about four times more than the next leading state, Wisconsin, with 1,294. Pennsylvania trails Illinois, however, in employees who make candy and other confectionary products -- 7,289 compared with 13,006. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-183.html - Then again, these sugary delights could have been made somewhere outside the United States. Between January and October, 1997, the United States imported $250.1 million worth of chocolate from Canada, more than from anywhere else. Likewise, the United Kingdom was the leading supplier of non-chocolate candy to the United States during the same period, with shipments totaling $75.7 million. http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/ Flowers - There is no shortage of places where you can buy flowers for your valentine: there were 26,400 florists nationwide, employing 123,600 persons, in 1995. Data on 1995 Valentine's Day flower sales were not available. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-183.html - It's possible the flowers you buy this year came from Colombia, our nation's leading supplier of cut flowers. U.S. imports of cut flowers from Colombia totaled $301.2 million between January and October 1997. http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/ The preceding facts come from the Statistical Abstract of the United States, Current Population Survey, Annual Survey of Manufactures, County Business Patterns, and U.S. Imports of Merchandise and U.S. Exports of Merchandise CD-ROMs. Data in this report are subject to nonsampling errors. Some also are subject to sampling variability. See referenced sources for detailed limitations. Each month, the Census Bureau will provide previously released statistics pertaining to selected events or holidays occurring that month. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office (Tel: 301-457-3030; Fax: 301-457-3670; E-mail: pio@census.gov).
