The 2010 Census is gearing up to start their research of communities across the nation. In March or April of 2010, you may recieve a card in the mail or a knock at your door inquiring about information for their data reports. For information about the 2010 U.S. Census or about the Census Bureau, please go to this website: http://www.census.gov/2010census. If you are interested in being a census taker, please scroll ot the bottom of the page; training begins in 2009.
Here is some basic information about the United States Census:
What is the Census?
The census is a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years. It counts everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. People should be counted where they live and sleep most of the year. The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the U.S. President by December 31, 2010.
Why do we have to participate?
The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Your participation in the census is required by law. All residents of the United States must be counted. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens.
The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then. The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2) mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the United States. The population totals determine each state’s Congressional representation and how to distribute Congressional seats to states. The numbers also affect funding in your community and help inform decision makers about how your community is changing. The data affects the distribution of over $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year and decisions about what community services to provide.
How does the census take place?
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. We will mail a second form to households that do not respond to the initial questionnaire. Households that still do not respond will be called or visited by a Census worker. (Census workers can be identified by a census badge and bag.) The questionnaires take less than 10 minutes to complete.
Federal law protects the personal information you share during the census.
Who are the census workers?
Census workers are temporary full-time and part-time employees from all walks of life. Thousands of census takers are needed across the country, many in our own region. Not only does the job perform a valuable service, it also builds job skills and provides competative pay. The hiring will begin in early 2009. If you are interested in learning more, please visit http://www.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php or call 1-866-861-2010.
