In March a simple 10-question Census form will be mailed or hand delivered to every household in the United States. It’s critical that each resident in our County complete and return the form. It’s mandated by law, but perhaps more importantly, we all need to be counted to ensure that our community gets its fair share of federal dollars.  

The U.S. Census is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years and counts every resident in the United States and Puerto Rico. This important initiative is used by the United States to create a profile of our population, determining how many people reside within its borders, who they are, and where they live. 

How It Benefits Our Community

The government uses the data collected to distribute more than $400 billion annually to state and local governments for facilities such as hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, roads, bridges, other public works projects and emergency services. The data collected also helps determine the number of seats a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Below are more specific ways in which the federal government uses census data to allocate funds:

• Title 1 grants to educational agencies (school districts across the nation)
• Head Start programs
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (food grants)
• Public transportation improvements
• Road rehabilitation and construction
• Programs for the elderly
• Emergency food and shelter facilities
• Grants and tax incentives for distressed communities
• Redistricting

Other ways Census Data is used:

• The data helps the private sector as well as state and federal governments determine  where jobs and job programs are needed.
• Potential homeowners can research property values, median income, and other demographic information about a particular community
• Corporations use population data for market research to determine locations for commercial enterprises, such as food stores, pharmacies, and other essential services