Monthly Archives: October 2013

Facts for Features: Halloween

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Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts and vampires. Today, Halloween has evolved into a celebration characterized by child-friendly activities, such as costumes, trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns.

Trick or Treat!

41.1 million
The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2012 — children age 5 to 14 — across the U.S. Of course, many other children — older than 14 and younger than 5 — also go trick-or-treating.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/popest/data/index.html

115 million
Number of occupied housing units across the nation in second quarter 2013 — all potential stops for
trick-or-treaters.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership, Table 8
http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtabs.html

93.3%
Percentage of households with residents who considered their neighborhood safe in 2011. In addition, 79.5 percent said there was no place within a mile of their homes where they would be afraid to walk alone at night.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States, 2011, http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-570.pdf

1,148
Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2011, employing 35,538 people. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 122, followed by Pennsylvania, with 109.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 County Business Patterns
http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/

440
Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced nonchocolate confectionary products in 2011. California led the nation in this category, with 56.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 County Business Patterns
http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/

Where to Spend Halloween?

Some places around the country that may put you in the Halloween mood are:

Tombstone, Ariz. (estimated population 1,358)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPANNRES/1620000US0474400

Sleepy Hollow, Ill. (estimated population 3,339)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPANNRES/1620000US1770161

[Note: There is also obviously Sleepy Hollow, NY where the real Legend of Sleepy Hollow story by Washington Irving was based. It used to be part of Tarrytown – kj]

Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (estimated population 6,827)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPANNRES/1620000US3735720

Casper, Wyo. (estimated population 57,813)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPANNRES/1620000US5613150

Scarville, Iowa (estimated population 71)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Population Estimates
http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPANNRES/1620000US1971040

Spooktacular Fun

4,575
The number of motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) where one could possibly enjoy a horrorfest. California (537), Texas (296), New York (272) and Florida (206) had the most of such establishments. There were 244 drive-in motion picture theaters in 2011 – Ohio, with 24, had the most.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 County Business Patterns
http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/

47,800
Acres of pumpkins harvested in the U.S. in 2012, with a total estimated production value of $148.9 million. Of the top six pumpkin-producing states, Illinois led the country by producing an estimated 556.3 million pounds of this vined gourd, followed by California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan. Pumpkins are frequently carved as decorations around Halloween.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service
http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-01-29-2013.pdf

$165 million
The estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of private nonresidential construction spending on theme/amusement parks for June 2013. Halloween events at theme/amusement parks can be frighteningly fun. For more information about construction spending, please visit: http://www.census.gov/constructionspending
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturing and Construction Statistics
http://www.census.gov/construction/c30/xls/privsatime.xls

1,197
The number of costume rental and formal wear establishments; they had 6,936 paid employees (for pay period including March 12) across the nation in 2011.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 County Business Patterns
http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/

$1.1 billion
Dollar value of U.S. fresh apples exported in 2012. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $284 million worth. Whether bobbing for or dipping in caramel, apples can be a fun treat around Halloween.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/index.html

Who You Gonna Call?

89%
Percent of all households that had a cellular phone in 2011 compared with only 36 percent in
1998. The percentage of households with a cellular phone only (no landline) rose from less than 1 percent in 1998 to 28 percent in 2011.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States, 2011, http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-570.pdf

Census Bureau update on new release dates for ACS 3 and 5 year data

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From the US Census Bureau:

The U.S. Census Bureau today announced revisions to its public release schedule for local statistics from the American Community Survey and results from the Supplemental Poverty Measure. These data have been delayed because of the recent lapse in federal funding.

2010-2012 American Community Survey — The Census Bureau plans to release American Community Survey statistics derived from data collected from 2010 to 2012 on Nov. 14, (originally scheduled for Oct. 24). Embargo subscribers will have access to the statistics beginning Nov. 12. The estimates will cover all geographic areas with populations of 20,000 or more. For the first time, comparison profiles will be available for the three-year statistics. These profiles will permit users to compare changes over two non-overlapping three-year periods (2007-2009 versus 2010-2012).

The American Community Survey provides a wide range of important statistics about all communities in the country. The American Community Survey gives communities the current information they need to plan investments and services. Retailers, homebuilders, police departments, and town and city planners are among the many private- and public-sector decision makers who count on these annual results.

Ever since Thomas Jefferson directed the first census in 1790, the census has collected detailed characteristics about our nation’s people. Questions about jobs and the economy were added 20 years later under James Madison, who said such information would allow Congress to “adapt the public measures to the particular circumstances of the community,” and over the decades allow America “an opportunity of marking the progress of the society.”

2008-2012 American Community Survey — The Census Bureau plans to release the five-year American Community Survey statistics covering 2008-2012 on Dec. 17, (original release date was Dec. 5). These statistics are available for all areas regardless of population size, down to the block group. No embargo period will be offered for these statistics.

American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample Files — The Public Use Microdata Sample files for the 2012 American Community Survey one-year statistics will be released on Dec. 17, (original release date was Oct. 24); the files for the three-year statistics will be released on Feb. 6, 2014 (original release date was Dec. 5); the files for the five-year statistics will be released on March 6, 2014 (original release date was Jan. 23).

2012 Supplemental Poverty Measure — The third annual report from the Census Bureau describing research on this measure, which complements, but does not replace, the official measure will be released on Nov. 6 (original release date was Oct. 30). The report compares U.S. 2012 supplemental poverty statistics with 2012 official poverty statistics for numerous demographic groups. In addition to the national-level statistics, the report presents supplemental poverty estimates for states using three-year averages (2010-2012). It also compares national 2011 supplemental poverty statistics with 2012 supplemental poverty statistics and examines the effect of excluding individual benefits and necessary costs.

Other Products — The Census Bureau has also posted anticipated dates for the remaining statistical data products expected to be released in 2013. To view the full revised release calendar through the end of 2013, visit the Census Bureau’s release calendar.

Census Data Access Impacted by Government Shut Down

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Due to the lapse in government funding, census.gov and all online survey collection requests for the U.S. Census Bureau will be unavailable until further notice.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at http://www.usa.gov.

Websites affected by this shutdown are all census.gov websites, including:

Alternative Census Data Sources

During this outage there are a few alternatives options for accessing this data which include:

Connecticut State Data Center – Website includes 2010 Census, 2010 ACS 1,3,5 year, and 2011 ACS 1, 3, 5 year datasets for Connecticut.

NHGIS – Includes historical census data for the nation and includes the ability to download census data in shapefile format.

If you should have any questions about accessing data contact the Connecticut State Data Center at ctsdc@uconn.edu.