Halloween, celebrated Oct. 31, remains one of the nation's favorite seasonal traditions, marked by pumpkin carving, costumes and trick-or-treating.

The holiday traces its roots to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain in Britain and Ireland, and U.S. customs were shaped in part by Irish and other immigrants who arrived in the mid-19th century. Today, children and families across the country embrace spooky fun in neighborhoods large and small.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 73.1 million children under age 18 were living in the United States as of July 1, 2024, representing a large pool of potential trick-or-treaters. In 2023, there were 133.2 million occupied housing units that could serve as stops for candy hunters. Of those, 56.6 million had steps leading up to the front door, adding an extra element of adventure for visitors.

Halloween also drives business in related sectors. The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns data show 3,409 U.S. stores specializing in candy and nuts, 681 formal wear and costume rental establishments and 280 businesses producing chocolate from cacao beans. These figures reflect establishments with employees, highlighting the holiday's role in local economies.

For those seeking towns with names as eerie as the season itself, Census Bureau population totals from 2020 to 2024 highlight a variety of spooky-sounding communities: Big Bear Lake, California, with 5,044 residents; Casper, Wyoming, 58,823; Deadwood, South Dakota, 1,347; Sleepy Hollow, New York, 11,427; Tombstone, Arizona, 1,382; and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, 5,942. Smaller towns like Scarville, Iowa, population 75, and Slaughters, Kentucky, population 187, also add a touch of frightful charm to the map.