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Christmas Tree Facts

Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United states since about 1850. Until fairly recently, all Christmas trees came from the forest.
Thirty-four to thirty-six million Christmas trees are produced each year and 95 percent are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms.
California, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are the top Christmas tree producing states. Oregon is the leading producer of Christmas trees - 8.6 million in 1998.
The best selling trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, Balsam fir and white pine.
Over one million acres of land have been planted in Christmas trees. The industry employs over 100,000 people. Many Christmas tree growers grow trees on a part-time basis to supplement farm and non-farm income.
More than 2,000 trees are usually planted per acre. On an average 1,000-1,500 of these trees will survive. In the North, maybe, 750 trees will remain. Almost all trees require shearing to attain the Christmas tree shape. At six to seven feet, trees are ready for harvest. It takes six to ten years of fighting heavy rain, wind, hail and drought to get a mature tree.
Selling directly to the consumer has become a major market for many Christmas tree farms. Some tree farms offer the consumer the chance to select his own tree while it is still growing in the tree farm.
In North America, there are more than 15,000 Christmas tree growers.
In the United States, there are more than 12,000 cut-your-own farms.
In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament? This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
Between 1887-1933 a fishing schooner called the "Christmas Ship" would tie up at the Clark Street bridge and sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.
Oregon produces the most real Christmas trees. In 2001, 8.3 million trees were harvested in Oregon.
Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family.
The first decorated Christmas was in Riga, Latvia in 1510.
Growing Christmas trees provides a habitat for wildlife.
Recycled trees have been used to make sand and soil erosion barriers and been placed in ponds for fish shelter.
Most Christmas trees are cut weeks before they get to a retail outlet.
The first Christmas tree retail lot in the United States was started in 1851 in New York by Mark Carr.
Christmas trees take 7-10 years to mature.
Christmas trees remove dust and pollen from the air.
Since 1971, the Province of Nova Scotia has presented the Prudential Center tree to the people of Boston in gratitude for the relief supplies received from the citizens of Boston after a ship exploded in 1917 following a collision in the Halifax, Nova Scotia Harbor. Part of the city was leveled killing and injuring thousands.
The use of evergreen trees to celebrate the winter season occurred before the birth of Christ.
Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.
100,000 people are employed in the Christmas tree industry.
98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms.
In 1856 Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, was the
first President to place a Christmas tree in the White House.
President Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on
the White House lawn in 1923.
More than 1,000,000 acres of land have been planted to Christmas trees.
In 2001, 24% of United States households had a real tree, 52% had an artificial tree and 23% had no tree.
73 million new Christmas trees will be planted this year.
More than 330,000 real Christmas trees are sold via e-commerce or catalogs.
In 2002, 32 percent of Christmas trees displayed in United States were real trees; 49% were fake trees.
On average, over 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre.
You should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace. it can contribute to creosote buildup.
Other types of trees such as cherry and hawthorns were used as Christmas trees in the past.
Artificial trees will last for six years in your home, but for centuries in a landfill.
There are over 500 Christmas tree growers in Illinois.
Using small candles to light a Christmas tree dates back to the middle of the 17th century.
Nineteenth century Americans cut their trees in nearby forests.
Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees in 1882.
Christmas tree lights were first mass produced in 1890.
In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.
Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons.
In the first week, a tree in your home will consume as much as a quart of water per day.
Michigan ranks fourth (4 million trees in 1998) among all states in the production of real Christmas trees, but grows a larger variety (13) of Christmas trees than any other state.
A Christmas tree decoration was banned by the government. Tinsel contained lead at one time, now it’s made of plastic.
Real Christmas trees are involved in less than one-tenth of one percent of residential fires and only when ignited by some external ignition sources.
2-3 seedlings are planted for every harvested Christmas tree.
59 percent of real Christmas trees harvested are recycled in community programs.
In 2001, 17% of Christmas trees sold were from chain stores; 15% by non-profit groups; 21% from retail lots and 33% from choose and cut farms.
The value of all Christmas trees harvested in 2001 was $360 million.
28 million Christmas trees were sold in 2001.
Christmas trees are baled to protect the branches from damage during shipping.
34-36 million Christmas trees were harvested in the United States in 2001.
Helicopters help to lift harvested Christmas trees from farms.
An acre of Christmas trees provides for the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
In 1984, the National Christmas was lit on December 13th with temperatures in the 70's, making it one of the warmest tree lightings in history.
In 1900, large stores started to erect big illuminated Christmas trees.
Every year since 1947, the people of Oslo, Norway have given a Christmas tree to the city of Westminster, England. The gift is an expression of good will and gratitude for Britain's help to Norway during World War II.
The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.
The top six Christmas tree producing states Oregon, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Washington & Wisconsin.
The top selling Christmas trees are Balsam fir, Douglas fir; Fraser fir, Noble fir, Scotch pine and White pine.

Information from University of Illinois Extension website Christmas Trees & More, Tree Facts http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees/treefacts.html

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