Expressing one’s love to another is a celebrated custom on Valentine’s Day. 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.

The Census Bureau distributed the following numbers that profile American facts to commemorate Valentine’s Day.

1,155

Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2010, employing 35,074 people. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 121, followed by Pennsylvania, with 114. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2010, NAICS code (31132) and (31133). 

409

Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured non-chocolate confectionery products in 2010. These establishments employed 17,526 people. California led the nation in this category, with 49 establishments. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2010, NAICS code (31134)

$13.5 billion

Total value of shipments in 2011 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 Annual Survey of Manufactures, Products and Service Codes 311320 and 311330,
Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was an $8.8 billion industry. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 Annual Survey of Manufactures, Products and Service Code 311340.

3,365

Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2010. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (445292). 

24.7 pounds

Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2010. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Industrial Reports, Confectionery: 2010

16,182

The total number of florists’ establishments nationwide in 2010. These businesses employed 70,575 people. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (4531)

$880,893,904

The value of imports for cut flowers and buds for bouquets in 2011. Flower bouquets are a popular gift for loved ones on Valentine’s Day. The total value of fresh cut roses in 2011 was $365,453,189. Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Foreign Trade Division USA Trade Online U.S. Import and Export Merchandise trade (Commodity code-060319)

23,739

Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2010. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to couples of all ages. In February 2012, these stores sold $2.66 billion in merchandise. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (448310), http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/

28.6 and 26.6 years

Median age at first marriage in 2012 for men and women, respectively. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements: 2012, , Table MS-2

53%

The overall percentage of adults who reported being married. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements: 2012, Table A1

68.8%

Percentage of people 15 and older in 2012 who had been married at some point in their lives — either currently or formerly. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements: 2012, Table A1

38.3

The provisional rate of marriages per 1,000 people performed in Nevada during 2010. So many couples tie the knot in the Silver State that it ranked number one nationally in marriage rates. Hawaii ranked second with a marriage rate of 17.6. Source: National Center for Health Statistics

2.1 million

The provisional number of marriages that took place in the United States in 2010. That breaks down to nearly 5,800 a day. Source: National Center for Health Statistics.

74.5%

The percentage of women who married for the first time between 1990 and 1994, who marked their 10th anniversary. This compares with 83 percent of women who married for the first time between 1960 and 1964. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces: 2009, , Table 4

6.2%

As of 2009, 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: U.S. Census Bureau, Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces: 2009 , Table 9

393

The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2007. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed 3,125 people and pulled in $928 million in revenue. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 Economic Census

19.5%

Percentage of people ever married twice as of 2011. Five percent have married three or more times. By comparison, 75.3 percent of people who have ever been married have made only one trip down the aisle. Source: 2011 American Community Survey

8

Median length, in years, of first marriages that ended in divorce. Source: Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces: 2009 , Table 8

3.8 and 3.7

The median time in years between divorce and a second marriage for men and women, respectively. However, the two medians are not significantly different from each other. Source: Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces: 2009 , Table 8

9% and 7.9%

Among people 15 and older in 2009, the percentage of men and women, respectively, who had married twice and were still married. Source: Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces: 2009

Happy Valentine’s Day!