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Census 2020

This guide provides resources and information about the upcoming 2020 Census.

What is the Census?

 

2020 Census logo with "Shape your future - Start here" with an arrow on the left and "United States Census 2020" on the right

The Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories. The count is mandated by the Constitution and occurs every ten years. The Census has been concerned with how many people are residing in the United States, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, citizenship or immigration status. Census Day will be observed nationwide on April 1, 2020.

Why do we need a population count?

The count helps us determine the following things:

  1. The number of seats each state receives in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  2. How more than $675,000,000,000 of federal funding is spent in communities each year for public services like roads, schools, hospitals and clinics, fire and emergency response, etc. 

Check out the 2020 Census website about the importance of census data and the impact census data has on communities

What questions are asked on the 2020 Census?

The Census will ask 12 questions:

  1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2020?
  2. Were there any additional people staying here on April 1, 2020, that you did not include in Question 1?
  3. Is this a house, apartment, or mobile home?
  4. What is your telephone number?
  5. What is Person 1's name?
  6. What is Person 1's sex?
  7. What is Person 1's age and what is Person 1's date of birth?
  8. Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
  9. What is Person 1's race?
  10. Print name of Person 2.
  11. Does this person usually live or stay somewhere else?
  12. How is this person related to Person 1?

How will my information be used?

Your personal information is kept confidential. The Census Bureau is bound by federal law to protect your information. Your responses are compiled with information from other homes to produce statistics. Please see the Census' Privacy and Security information page. 

The Census will never ask for the following information:

  • Your social security number
  • Money or donations
  • Anything on behalf of a political party
  • Your bank or credit card information