Who's ready to deck the halls, light the candles and sip cocoa while holiday magic fills the air?
The winter holiday season is a time for gathering, reflection and celebration. From festive …
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Who's ready to deck the halls, light the candles and sip cocoa while holiday magic fills the air?
The winter holiday season is a time for gathering, reflection and celebration. From festive decorations to gift-giving traditions, the season also shines a light on the industries and places that bring holiday magic to life. The U.S. Census Bureau offers a treasure trove of holiday-related facts and figures to celebrate the spirit of the season.
In 2023, around 5 million workers across the United States played a crucial role in the retail industry, making sure shelves were stocked and gifts were wrapped. This workforce included 1.6 million retail salespersons, earning a median annual income of $42,344; 918,716 cashiers, with a median income of $28,932; and 2.4 million first-line supervisors of retail sales workers, who earned a median of $51,220 annually.
These figures represent full-time, year-round workers aged 16 and older.
Across the United States, numerous towns and cities evoke the holiday spirit through their names. Here's a look at some of these festive locations and their populations.
Holly-themed towns:
Other holiday-inspired names include:
How many of these places have you visited?
The spirit of giving during the holiday season is a major economic driver, with holiday shopping contributing significantly to the U.S. economy. In 2022, the country was home to about 3,000 baked goods stores, 3,000 candy and nut stores, 3,000 department stores, 8,000 hobby, toy and game stores and 19,000 jewelry stores.
Behind the scenes of the holiday magic are the toy manufacturers — America's own version of Santa's elves. In 2022, the U.S. boasted about 500 establishments producing dolls, toys and games, employing over 6,300 workers. California led the pack with 75 such businesses.
Holiday decorations and imports also play a crucial role in the festive season, highlighting the importance of international trade. In 2023, the U.S. imported $2.82 billion worth of Christmas decorations, with 88% coming from China. LED Christmas tree lights accounted for $204.3 million in imports, with Cambodia contributing 66%. Tapered candles brought in $550.7 million, 53% of which were supplied by Vietnam.
Candles play an integral role in winter holidays like Kwanzaa, Christmas and Hanukkah. According to the National Candle Association, about 35% of candle sales occur during the winter holiday season, while nonseasonal business makes up the remaining 65%.
The Census Bureau categorizes candles under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 339999, which also includes artificial Christmas tree and ornament manufacturing.
Holiday trees have become a cherished tradition for many, even among those who don't celebrate Christmas. Christmas trees are grown commercially on farms in all 50 states. In 2022, the United States cut more than 14.5 million trees, according to the Census of Agriculture.
More than half of these trees came from two states: Oregon and North Carolina. Other leading Christmas tree-producing states include Michigan, Washington, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia.
Turkey remains a holiday meal favorite, but which states lead in production?
In 2023, the United States produced 218 million turkeys, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eight states accounted for most of the production: Minnesota (38.5 million), North Carolina (29 million), Arkansas (27 million), Indiana (20 million), Missouri (17 million), Virginia (15.5 million), Iowa (11.5 million) and Pennsylvania (8 million).
Holiday spirits are often central to seasonal celebrations, from office parties to family gatherings. In 2022, the United States was home to 5,165 breweries, up from 4,825 in 2021, and 4,494 wineries, an increase from 4,284 the previous year, according to County Business Patterns.
Data from the Annual Survey of Manufactures from 2018 to 2021 further illustrates the growth of the beer and wine industries, with additional insights available on U.S. brewery and winery manufacturing during this period.
The U.S. railway industry ensures that holiday logistics run smoothly, delivering goods and gifts nationwide. In 2023, the railway workforce included 47,405 railroad conductors and yardmasters, 44,413 locomotive engineers and operators, 21,673 other rail transportation workers and 8,835 rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators.
This article incorporates data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 County Business Patterns, 2023 American Community Survey, USA Trade Online and Vintage 2023 Population Estimates.
