What is the census?
It’s the nationwide headcount to measure how many people live in the United States and where we are. This gives us data to make countless decisions and to tell the story of our national identity. The Constitution requires us to collect this data every ten years and we’ve been doing it since 1790.
How is census data used?
Every decade, census data is used to tell the federal government how to distribute the money we pay in taxes to support healthcare, improve public safety, help fund education, provide housing assistance, and fix roads. Additionally, states use the results to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts, adapting to how the population changes.
What does that mean for me and my community?
2020 Census data will help inform how billions of dollars are distributed to states and communities every year for the next 10 years. It is estimated that for the current census, about $2,000 in federal funds will be allocated for each person that is counted — that means each respondent gets around $20,000 in resources for their community in the decade before the 2030 census. Imagine how much good our community could do with $20,000 for each person!
Who is counted?
Every single person living in the United States as of April 1, 2020 gets counted regardless of age, citizenship, immigration status, or any other characteristic. Even newborn babies still in the hospital need to be counted as part of a family’s household.
How do I take the 2020 census?
Fill out the census ballot you received in the mail in March or take the 2020 census online. Follow this link to take the census online.