What Is The Census?

The Census is a count of every person living in the United States. Census data are used in four main ways.

1. To determine the number of representatives each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and to redraw district boundaries on the state and federal level.
2. To allocate federal funds to local communities each year.
3. To plan for resident needs such as new roads and transit, schools, health care facilities, and emergency services.
4. To make business decisions about product and service development and placement and business locations.

Census 101: What You Need to Know
[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]