The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. The next census occurs in 2010. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. The questions ask you to provide information that is accurate for your household as of April 1, 2010.

The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the U.S. President by December 31, 2010.

The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then.

The Census Bureau will mail or deliver questionnaires to your house in March 2010. A second form will be mailed to households that do not respond to the initial questionnaire.

Download the Fact Sheet (PDF)

For more information, visit www.census.gov/2010census

50 Ways Census Data Are Used

Decision making at all levels of government.

Drawing federal, state, and local legislative districts.

Attracting new businesses to state and local areas.

Distributing over $300 billion in federal funds and even more in state funds.

Forecasting future transportation needs for all segments of the population.

Planning for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and the location of other health services.

Forecasting future housing needs for all segments of the population.

Directing funds for services for people in poverty.

Designing public safety strategies.

Development of rural areas.

Analyzing local trends.

Estimating the number of people displaced by natural disasters.

Developing assistance programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Creating maps to speed emergency services to households in need of assistance.

Delivering goods and services to local markets.

Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly, or children.

Planning future government services.

Planning investments and evaluating financial risk.

Publishing economic and statistical reports about the United States and its people.

Facilitating scientific research.

Developing “intelligent” maps for government and business.

Providing proof of age, relationship, or residence certificates provided by the Census Bureau.

Distributing medical research.

Reapportioning seats in the House of Representatives.

Planning and researching for media as backup for news stories.

Providing evidence in litigation involving land use, voting rights, and equal opportunity.

Drawing school district boundaries.

Planning budgets for government at all levels.

Spotting trends in the economic well-being of the nation.

Planning for public transportation services.

Planning health and educational services for people with disabilities.

Establishing fair market rents and enforcing fair lending practices.

Directing services to children and adults with limited English language proficiency.

Planning urban land use.

Planning outreach strategies.

Understanding labor supply.

Assessing the potential for spread of communicable diseases.

Analyzing military potential.

Making business decisions.

Understanding consumer needs.

Planning for congregations.

Locating factory sites and distribution centers.

Distributing catalogs and developing direct mail pieces.

Setting a standard for creating both public and private sector surveys.

Evaluating programs in different geographic areas.

Providing genealogical research.

Planning for school projects.

Developing adult education programs.

Researching historical subject areas.

Determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans.