Love alive, well in U.S.

"Love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage ..."

Do those lyrics ring true in the 21st century?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are some 4.9 million opposite-sex, unmarried partner households in the United States, and some 13.6 million people, age 15-34, who have never been married, some 34 percent of all people in this age group. In the 35-44 age bracket, some 16 percent, or 7.2 million people have never tied the knot.

But do not despair, cupid.

Love and marriage is still alive and well in American society.

Consider the facts:

- 2.3 million marriages take place in the United States annually, nearly 6,400 a day.

- There are 75 marriages performed per every 1,000 residents annually in Nevada, by far the national marriage leader. Hawaii is second with 20 and Arkansas third with 15.

- 52 percent of American women and 57 percent of men, who are 15 and over, are married and not separated.

And, Americans being the entrepreneurs that they are, catering to love and marriage is big business:

- $424 million is the wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2001. California was the leading producer, with $292 million.

- Roses alone accounted for $68 million in domestically produced flowers in 2001. Lilies were second with $58 million.

- Nationwide, 24,197 florists employ 122,224 people.

- The United States imported $246 million in cut flowers from Colombia during a recent 10-month period.

And, don't forget the candy.

- 995 locations, employing 43,234 people, produce chocolate and cocoa products.

- 600 locations produce nonchocolate confectionery products, employing 24,800 people.

- Canada sold $418 million in chocolate candy to the United States during a recent 10-month period.

If the attentions pay off, perhaps it's time to look for a ring. There are 29,303 jewelry stores in the United States, and last February, they sold $2.1 billion in merchandise, leading sales for every other month except for December.

Jewelry manufacturing was a $6.8 billion industry last year, and another $1.2 billion in jewelry was imported from Italy, the leading foreign source, over a recent 10-month period.

If things work out, you may find yourself honeymooning someplace like Valentine, Neb.; Valentine, Texas; Loveland, Colo.; Lovejoy, Ga.; Love Park, Ill. or Lovelock, Nevada.