census

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census (6/04/07) - A statistical profile of our nation's population taken by the government every 10 years to provide critical information about who we are, what we earn, where we live, what government benefits we receive, and more.

The census is required under Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution to determine the number of Congressional representatives elected by each state. In the most recent census, the U.S. Census Bureau counted more than 281 million people compared to 3.9 million people when the first census was taken in 1790. After the 2000 census, 10 states lost seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 4 states gained seats in order to redistribute 435 seats among Congressional districts. Each Congressional district now has an average population of 646,952 people. The next census will be conducted in 2010.

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts more than 100 surveys annually that provide critical information about where we live and work, whether we use public transportation, whether we have health care, how many families fall below the poverty line, etc.

If you are writing or reviewing a grant application, census data can illuminate the extent to which people need the services you support. Nationally, there are 37 million people living in poverty, or about 12.5 percent of the population. However, the poverty level is substantially higher in some geographic areas than others. For poverty levels by county, go to U.S. Census Bureau