US Census Bureau
As part of the Department of Commerce, the US Census Bureau is responsible for keeping track of country and state population, housing, and economic statistics.
The US Census Bureau collects data using a variety of surveys. The Population and Housing survey is taken every ten years. An Economic Census is done every five years. The Bureau conducts other surveys at various times, including various demographic, labor, transportation, health, age, and science related surveys.
Collected data is used in a number of ways:
- Determines the number of Congressional seats for each state
- Defines legislative districts, school districts, and other functions of the government
- Impacts community services for the elderly, schools, job training, new roads, road maintenance, and bridge construction and maintenace
- Determines where federal funds are allocated for health, education, transportation, and improvements to neighborhoods
- Provides age related information to the Social Security Administration, verifies information for passport applications, aids in estate settling, records history, and assists genealogical interests
The US Census Bureau utilizes an assortment of measures to guard the privacy of individual survey respondents. Names, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers are never published. In fact, it is illegal for any identifiable information to be published in any census activity. The goal of the Census Bureau is to provide accurate statistics, not to identify individuals.
The first census was done in 1790, the same year that George Washington gave the first State of the Union address. The 1790 census had three questions, the 2000 census long form had 52. Accurate census statistics offer the chance to greatly enhance a community by qualifying it for more federal funding. Federal funding helps provide job training, financially assists schools and school programs, pays for services for the elderly, and provides money for local emergency and quality of life programs. Accurate census data may also determine whether a state loses or gains federal government representatives.
The US Census Bureau is required by the Constitution to administer the census every ten years. Accurate data about the number of people in the United States and where they live is vital to keeping states, communities, and neighborhoods strong and functioning properly.
