What is the United States Census?
Q: What is the United States Census?
A: The United States Census is a census done in the United States every ten years.
Q: Why is it done every ten years?
A: It is required by the United States Constitution which calls for a decennial census done in years ending in "0" since 1790.
Q: How many census counts are taken concurrently?
A: It is actually two census counts taken concurrently (at the same time).
Q: What is the first census count?
A: The first is the census of the population, taken from 1790 to the present.
Q: What is the second census count?
A: The second is the census of housing, which counts the number of residential housing units, and was taken from 1940 to the present.
Q: What are the uses of the census count?
A: Among other uses, the count is used to determine how many places in the House of Representatives each state has. It also determines how much government money is spent in different locations.
Q: Who is responsible for the United States Census?
A: The United States Census Bureau is responsible for the United States Census. The first census after the American Revolution was in 1790. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson was responsible for this first census.
