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Census 2010: Be Counted in
Your Community
By Wendi Williams, Editor
& Extension Communications Specialist
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 Census 2010 is just
right around the corner and I imagine that many Americans have
mixed feelings about completing this document. For some people,
it has served as a link to finding an ancestor, while others
may view it as a painful reminder about how much a household
can change in a decade. Nonetheless, every person living in this
country must be counted every ten years as mandated by the United
States Constitution regardless of citizenship status.
April 1, 2010, is Census Day! The United
States Census Bureau plans to send every residence a questionnaire
in the mail by March 2010, but this one will be different for
several reasons.
- The 2010 survey only contains 10 questions,
making it the shortest census since the process first began in
1790.
- The average time to complete the document
is estimated at 10 minutes. However, the truth is that fewer
people in the household means less time in completing the survey
since every person must be counted that is living in your
household on April 1.
- This document will be available in both
English and Spanish for the first time. Individuals can also
request a copy in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and the Russian
languages as well.
Why is the census important?
- More than $400 billion in federal funds
are paid to states based on the information you provide in the
census. State funds then trickle down to local governments.
- Census data is important in planning
for, and improving the nation's infrastructure such as roads,
hospitals, schools, or other public service systems.
- Many social service organizations like
the Alabama Cooperative Extension System rely on census data
to determine the needs of its audiences and the number of clients
it has to serve, particularly in helping underserved or low-income
populations.
- The census actually controls how many
representatives a state can send to Congress.
So, the next time you moan and groan
about completing another census questionnaire, just remember
your community is counting on you. Besides, it's the law!
For more information, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/.
References
Communications Consortium Media Center. (n.d.). Census 2010 questionnaire: 10 in 10. Retrieved October
1, 2009.
United States Census Bureau. (2009, February).
2010 census fact sheet for elected officials. Form D-3238
(E). Retrieved October 1, 2009.
United States Census Bureau. (n.d.).
An introduction to the 2010 census. 2010 Census
Overview. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
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