In 2010, the U.S. census will define who we are as a nation. Taken every 10 years, the census affects political representation and directs the allocation of billions of dollars in government funding. As a 2010 Census partner, you can educate your community about the importance of participating in this historic event and help ensure no one is left uncounted. You can help your community receive the fiscal and social benefits to which it is entitled. Achieving a complete and accurate 2010 Census is in our hands.
The Census: A Snapshot
- The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years.
- The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, both citizens and non-citizens.
- The 2010 Census will create hundreds of thousands of temporary jobs across the nation.
It’s in Our Hands: Your Participation in the 2010 Census Matters
- Every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds is awarded to states and communities based on census data. That’s more than $3 trillion over a 10-year period.
- Census data guide local decision-makers in important community planning efforts, including where to build new roads, hospitals and schools.
- Census data affect your voice in Congress by determining how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Completing the 2010 Census Questionnaire: Simple and Safe
- The 2010 Census questionnaire asks only a few simple questions of each person—name, relationship, gender, age and date of birth, race, and whether the respondent owns or rents his or her home. This simple, short questionnaire takes just a few minutes to complete and return by mail.
- The Census Bureau does not release or share information that identifies individual respondents or their household for 72 years.
Why should everyone participate in the 2010 Census?
- Census data shape the future of your community and define your voice in Congress.
- Census information helps determine locations for schools, roads, hospitals, child-care and senior citizen centers, and more.
- Businesses use census data to locate supermarkets, shopping centers, new housing and other facilities.
- The census determines how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the boundaries of legislative districts.
How will the 2010 Census differ from previous census efforts?
In the last census, one in six households received a long questionnaire asking for detailed socioeconomic information. In 2010, every residence will receive a short questionnaire that is simple and fast to complete and return. More detailed information will be collected annually from a small percentage of the population through the American Community Survey.
Will the information the Census Bureau collects remain confidential?
Yes. Every Census Bureau worker takes an oath for life to protect the confidentiality of census responses. Violation would result in a jail term of up to five years and/or fine of up to $250,000. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s answers with anyone, including welfare and immigration agencies.
Why are partners so important to the 2010 Census campaign?
More than 140,000 organizations supported Census 2000, including state and local governments, community- and faith-based organizations, schools, media, businesses and others. The Census Bureau relies on partners to help explain the importance of completing the 2010 Census message to people in every corner of the United States. This is particularly important in areas isolated by language or geography. By joining forces with partners, the Census Bureau has a far greater chance to reach every U.S. resident than by attempting this monumental task alone. |
Fact sheets for:
|