Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850. Until fairly recently all came from forest. The first decorated was Riga Latvia 1510. tree retail lot started 1851 New York by Mark Carr. In 1856 Franklin Pierce 14th President of States to place a White House. Thomas Edison’s assistant Edward Johnson up with idea electric lights for 1882. Since 1966 National Tree Association has given and family. North Carolina is number 2 farms there are more than 21000 growers.