Southern Belle In Rhode Island: Valentines Day and other Romantic Thoughts!

Valentine’s Day 2011: Feb. 14- census bureau

Valentine’s Day is traditionally a day in which people express their love to one another by presenting gifts, such as cards, candy, flowers and other symbols of love or affection. 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. Through the centuries, the Christian holiday became a time to exchange love messages, and St.Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. Esther Howland, a native of Massachusetts, is given credit for selling the first mass-produced valentine cards in the 1840s. The spirit of love continues today with even young children exchanging valentine’s cards with their fellow classmates.

1. Candy 1,317

Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2008, employing 38,369 people. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 146, followed by Pennsylvania, with 115.
Source: County Business Patterns: 2008 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>
NAICS code (31132) and (31133)

2. $12.2 billion

Total value of shipments in 2008 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a $7.1 billion industry.
Source: 2008 Annual Survey of Manufactures <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/IBQTable?_bm=y&-_skip=100&-ds_name=AM0831VS101&-_lang=en>

3.Flowers

$359 million

The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2009 for all flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales. Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for about three-quarters of this amount ($269 million).
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1072>

4. $18 million

The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2009 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1072>

5. Jewelry

26,683

Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2008. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2010, these stores sold $2.4 billion in merchandise.
Source: County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpdetl.pl> and Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services <http://www.census.gov/retail>

The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation’s 1,644 jewelry manufacturing establishments.
Source: County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/cbpnaic/cbpdetl.pl>

6. 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 <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/nvsr.htm>

7. 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 <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/nvsr.htm> and population estimates, <http://www.census.gov/popest/states/NST-pop-chg.html>

8. 28.2 and 26.1 years

Median age at first marriage in 2010 for men and women, respectively.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/ms2.xls>

9. 54.1%

The overall percentage of adults who reported being married.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/families_households/cb10-174.html> or <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2010.html> Table A1

10. 69%

Percentage of people 15 years and older in 2010 who had been married at some point in their lives — either currently or formerly.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html> Table MS-1

11. 73%

Among women who married for the first time between 1985 and 1989, the percentage who marked their 10th anniversary. This compares with 87 percent of women who married for the first time between 1955 and 1959.
Source: Marriage and Divorce: 2004 <http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/marital-hist/2004/Table2.2004.xls>

12 Romantic-sounding places to spend Valentine’s Day:

Rose City, Texas	Rose City, Mich.	South Heart, N.D.
Loveland, Colo.	Darling, Minn.	Sacred Heart, Minn.
Romeo, Colo.	Loveland, Ohio	Loveland Park, Ohio
Lovejoy, Ga.	Heart Butte, Mont.	Love County, Okla.
Loves Park, Ill.	Valentine, Neb.	Loveland, Okla.
Lovington, Ill.	Lovelock, Nev.	Lovelady, Texas
Romeoville, Ill.	Loving, N.M.	Loving County, Texas
Rosemont, Ill.	Lovington, N.M.	Valentine, Texas
Romeo, Mich.	Love Valley, N.C.	Love County, Okla.
Lovelock, Nev.	Rose Hill, Va.	Rose Hill Acres, Texas
Rosemont, Md.

There are also four different places named “Rose Hill” and six named “Roseville,” five named “Roseland” and four named “Rosedale.”

Source: American FactFinder <http://factfinder.census.gov>

13. 8

Average length, in years, of first marriages ending in divorce.

3 1/2

The median time in years between divorce and a second marriage.

52% and 44%

Among adults 25 and older who have ever divorced, the percentage of men and women, respectively, who were currently married.

Source for the data in this section, unless otherwise noted: Marriage and Divorce: 2004 <http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/marriage/data/sipp/2004/tables.html>

Thursday Dating Profiles: New Beginnings and Happy Endings

1. Special ed teacher searching for a special love!
There was one in the local high school searching for love….in a students pants….no joke. Now she is big doodoo.

2. Do you like to have fun??? Then maybe you’ll like me!!
Nah…I’m done with the George Bush look-a-like jokes.

3. Looked for love in all the wrong places.
I see that

4. Click On Me …!!!
I’m afraid of the Trojan I would knock out my livelihood.

5. I am a recently seperated with one child who is four years old my son means the world to me so whoever I meet would have to be able to hit it off with him (he’s really cool). Try Santa or the tooth fairy. They are sure bets.

6. Here’s to new beginings and happy endings” You are ready for a happy ending. I am good at those. Geezuz dude…learn how to spell.

7. What I did New Years, here’s the whole story: partially edited by me.
The blank space doesn’t shock me.

8. Are you strong enough to be my lover?
You’re ‘strong’ enough to not be mine.

9. Active, hardworking teacher looking to meet someone whoknow how to balance work and play. WTH are you trying to say ‘teacher’?

10. who will fill your heart with joy of true love,who will give you a embrace when you feel down,who will make you stronger to face to this world each day,what kind of things will make you have a smile on you face from deep in your heart,I am that one I hope,I’m far from perfect but thank God created me as me!
Try Thursday Thunks.