Valentine’s Day by the numbers

By Flickr user Rachel Kramer Bussel

While scanning around for data on Valentine’s Day, it didn’t take long to hit the jackpot of unique statistics. In just under 10 minutes, I found numbers that could serve as a springboard for a variety of stories in this month of love.

For almost a decade, the U.S. Census Bureau has been compiling stats for a series they call, “Facts for Features and Special Editions.” The government compiles tipsheets, packed with unique data on almost all holidays and events from the Super Bowl to Grandparents Day. And it just so happens they have a pretty elaborate entry for Valentine’s Day.

Here’s a few from the list:

• 1,233 - Number of locations producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2007. These establishments employed 38,794 people. California led the nation in the number of such establishments with 143, followed by Pennsylvania with 115. Source: County Business Patterns

• $403 million - 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

• 27,484 – The 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

• 2.16 million - 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