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.  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 planning for new hospitals, schools and other services.

What is the Census?
The census is a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years.  The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.  The next census is in 2010.  Your participation in the census is required by law.  It takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

Federal law protects the personal information you share during the census. 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.  The Census Bureau DOES NOT release or share information that identifies individual respondents or their household for 72 years. 

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.

Why should everyone participate in the 2010 Census?
The 2010 Census will shape the future of your community, define your voice in Congress and generate local employment opportunities.  Census information helps determine locations for schools, roads, hospitals, child-care and senior citizen centers, and more.

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.  Census data are used to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.

Local Communities use census data to gauge the financial health of the community and the future of vital social service programs.  Census data inform a diverse range of local initiatives, such as justifying the need for an after-school program to designating urban revitalization areas.