Valentine’s Day, by the Numbers

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California & Pennsylvania lead the nation in cocoa and chocolate manufacturing

We all know flower shops and candy makers see a big boost around February 14th, but these businesses operate year round and employ hundreds of thousands of people.  The U.S. Census Bureau puts together interesting lists of data for many holidays.  Check out some interesting stats on the industries certainly getting some help from Valentine’s Day.

By the numbers

• 17,124 | The number of florists nationwide in 2009. These businesses employed 75,855 people.
• 24,973 | The number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2009.  In February 2011, these stores sold $2.27 billion in merchandise.
• $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. California was the leading producer of flowers accounting for more than three-quarters of this amount ($286 million).
• 1,177 | Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2009, employing 34,252 people. California and Pennsylvania led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments.
• 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.)
• And if you’re looking for love, 393 dating services have been established as of 2007.  These services (including internet dating sites) employed 3,125 people and pulled in $928 million in revenue that year.