Also known as the Population and Housing Census, the Decennial U.S. Census is designed to count every resident in the United States. ... The census tells us who we are and where we are going as a nation, and helps our communities determine where to build everything from schools to supermarkets, and from homes to hospitals.

What is the main purpose of the census?

- The Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 2. The census asks questions of people in homes and group living situations, including how many people live or stay in each home, and the sex, age and race of each person. The goal is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.

What is the census and why is it important?

Why is the census important? The census population count determines how many representatives each state will have in Congress for the next 10 years and how much federal funding communities will receive for roads, schools, housing and social programs.