Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2009, NAICS code (31132) and (31133)
409
Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured nonchocolate confectionary products in 2009. These establishments employed 16,974 people. California led the nation in this category, with 45 establishments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2009, NAICS code (31134)
$12.6 billion
Total value of shipments in 2009 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a $7.4 billion industry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 Annual Survey of Manufactures
3,386Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2009.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (445292)
24.7 poundsPer capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2010.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Industrial Reports, Confectionery: 2010
Flowers
$375 million
The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2010 for all flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales. Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for more than three-quarters of this amount ($286 million).
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
$17 million
The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2010 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
17,124
The number of florists nationwide in 2009. These businesses employed 75,855 people.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (453110)
Jewelry
24,973
Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2009. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to couples of all ages. In February 2011, these stores sold $2.27 billion in merchandise.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (448310), and Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services
The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation’s 1,547 jewelry manufacturing establishments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (339911)
“Please Be Mine”
2.1 million
The 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
108,150
The 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 and population estimates
28.7 and 26.5 years
Median age at first marriage in 2011 for men and women, respectively.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements: 2011, Table MS-2
53.1
The overall percentage of adults who reported being married.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements: 2011, Table A1
69
Percentage of people 15 and older in 2011 who had been married at some point in their lives — either currently or formerly.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements: 2011, Table A1
74.5
