WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Valentine’s Day is traditionally a day in which people express their love to one another by presenting gifts, such as cards, candy, flowers and other symbols of love or affection. Opinions differ as to who was the original Valentine but the most popular theory is that he was a clergyman who was executed for secretly marrying couples in ancient Rome. In A.D. 496, Pope Gelasius I declared Feb. 14 as Valentine Day. 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 with even young children exchanging valentine’s cards with their fellow classmates.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Valentine’s Day is traditionally a day in which people express their love to one another by presenting gifts, such as cards, candy, flowers and other symbols of love or affection. Opinions differ as to who was the original Valentine but the most popular theory is that he was a clergyman who was executed for secretly marrying couples in ancient Rome. In A.D. 496, Pope Gelasius I declared Feb. 14 as Valentine Day. 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 with even young children exchanging valentine’s cards with their fellow classmates.
Candy1,317Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2008, employing 38,369 people. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 146, followed by Pennsylvania, with 115.Source: County Business Patterns: 2008 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>NAICS code (31132) and (31133)422Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured nonchocolate confectionary products in 2008. These establishments employed 16,860 people. California led the nation in this category, with47 establishments.Source: County Business Patterns: 2008 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>NAICS code (31134)$12.2 billionTotal value of shipments in 2008 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a $7.1 billion industry. Source: 2008 Annual Survey of Manufactures <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/IBQTable?_bm=y&-_skip=100&-ds_name=AM0831VS101&-_lang=en>3,375Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2008.Source: County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpdetl.pl>24.3 poundsPer capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2009.Source: Current Industrial Reports, Confectionery: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/cir/historical_data/ma311d/index.html>Flowers$359 millionThe combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2009 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 ($269 million). Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1072>$18 millionThe combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2009 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales.Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1072>18,509The number of florists nationwide in 2008. These businesses employed 89,741 people.Source: County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpdetl.pl>Jewelry26,683Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2008. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2010, these stores sold $2.4 billion in merchandise.Source: County Business Patterns http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpdetl.pl and Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services <http://www.census.gov/retail>The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation’s1,644 jewelry manufacturing establishments.Source: County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpdetl.pl>”Please Be Mine”2.1 millionThe number of marriages that took place in the United States in 2009. That breaks down to nearly 5,800 a day.Source: National Center for Health Statistics <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/nvsr.htm>108,150The number of marriages performed in Nevada during 2009. 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.)Source: National Center for Health Statistics   <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/nvsr.htm> and population estimates, <http://www.census.gov/popest/states/NST-pop-chg.html>28.2 and 26.1 yearsMedian age at first marriage in 2010 for men and women, respectively.Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/ms2.xls>54.1%The overall percentage of adults who reported being married.Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2010<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/families_households/cb10-174.html> or<http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2010.html> Table A169%Percentage of people 15 years and older in 2010 who had been married at some point in their lives — either currently or formerly.Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html> Table MS-173%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 <http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/marital-hist/2004/Table2.2004.xls>6%As of 2004, the percentage of currently married women who had been married for at least 50 years. A little more than half of currently married women had been married for at least 15 years.Source: Marriage and Divorce: 2004 <http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/marriage/data/sipp/2004/tables.html> Table 7*The Census Bureau data in this section do not include same-sex marriages; users should consult the National Center for Health Statistics for this data.Looking for Love393The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2007. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed 3,125 people and pulled in $927 million in revenue.Source: 2007 Economic Census <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=ECN&_submenuId=&_lang=en&_ts=>Try Looking HereRomantic-sounding places to spend Valentine’s Day:Rose City, TexasLoveland, Colo.Romeo, Colo.Lovejoy, Ga.Loves Park, Ill.Lovington, Ill.Romeoville, Ill.Rosemont, Ill.Romeo, Mich.Rose City, Mich.Darling, Minn.Sacred Heart, Minn.Heart Butte, Mont.Valentine, Neb.Lovelock, Nev.Loving, N.M.Lovington, N.M.Love Valley, N.C.South Heart, N.D.Loveland, OhioLoveland Park, OhioLove County, Okla.Loveland, Okla.Lovelady, TexasLoving County, TexasValentine, TexasLove County, Okla.Lovelock, Nev.Rose Hill, Va.Rose Hill Acres, TexasRosemont, Md.

There are also four different places named “Rose Hill” and six named “Roseville,” five named “Roseland” and four named “Rosedale.”Source: American FactFinder <http://factfinder.census.gov>Giving Love a Second Chance19%Percentage of people married twice among those who have ever married as of 2009. Five percent have married three or more times. By comparison, 75 percent of people who have ever been married have made only one trip down the aisle.Source: 2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=ACS&_submenuId=&_lang=en&_ts=>8Average length, in years, of first marriages ending in divorce.3 1/2The median time in years between divorce and a second marriage.52% and 44%Among adults 25 and older who have ever divorced, the percentage of men and women, respectively, who were currently married.Source for the data in this section, unless otherwise noted: Marriage and Divorce: 2004 <http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/marriage/data/sipp/2004/tables.html>Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series:Black History Month (February)Labor DaySuper BowlGrandparents DayValentine’s Day (Feb. 14)Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)Women’s History Month (March)Unmarried and Single Americans WeekIrish-American Heritage Month (March)/Halloween (Oct. 31)St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)Veterans Day (Nov. 11)Older Americans Month (May)  Thanksgiving DayCinco de Mayo (May 5)The Holiday Season (December)Mother’s Day
Hurricane Season Begins (June 1)
Father’s Day
The Fourth of July (July 4)
Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)
Back to School (August)