Halloween Fast Facts and Stats

Halloween began with Celtic rituals thousands of years ago and has been associated with scary and spooky images for many years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Halloween customs have changed drastically over time, and the holiday is celebrated in many different ways—including trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, haunted houses and more.

Here's a look at Halloween by-the-numbers:

• 1.1 billion pounds – The amount of pumpkin products made in 2010 among top pumpkin-producing states.

• 41 million – The estimated number of trick-or-treaters in 2010 among children ages 5-14 in the U.S. In 2010, there were 4,690 residents in under the age of 18, while in , there were 2,584.

• 92 percent – Percent of households with residents who consider their neighborhoods to be safe. Check out the for the Marple Newtown community.

• 1,719 – The number of costume rental and formal wear companies in the U.S. in 2009. Don't forget to enter your child in the Little Pumpkins Costume Challenge with Heidi Klum. Upload your photo today for a chance to meet Heidi Klum or $1,031 for charity!

• 1,177 – The number of companies producing chocolate and cocoa products in the U.S. in 2009.

• 409 – The number of companies making non-chocolate candy products in 2009.

• 111 – The number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments in Pennsylvania, which is the second largest. California leads the nation in chocolate establishments with 135. in Newtown Square is the only chocolatier in the Marple Newtown Patch community.

• 24.7 pounds – The per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2010.

• Real towns, spooky names: Transylvania County, N.C.; Tombstone, AZ; Pumpkin Center, N.C.; there are two Cape Fear communities in N.C.; Skull Creek, NE.