The US Census bureau has published its annual factoid-a-palooza regarding Valentine’s Day. A summary of interesting points follows.
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.
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. 236 each day for eHarmony, 500 or something for Match, lets break this down.
54.1%: The overall percentage of adults who reported being married.
393: The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2007. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed 3,125 people and pulled in $927 million in revenue.
8: Average length, in years, of first marriages ending in divorce.
Lots more interesting statistics at the U.S Census Bureau.
