The Census counts our population and households, and is used to determine the number of seats each state has in the US House of Representatives and it is used for redistricting at the national, state and local levels.
Funding
The U.S. government allocates more than $675 billion in federal funds annually based on Census data; to support states, counties and local communities’ vital programs – impacting housing, education, transportation, employment, and social services.
Planning
Census data is a necessary tool for community planning. Local governments utilize Census information for planning and placing services – where roads, schools, hospitals, etc. will be built.
Economic Development
Census information can also support the economy. Corporations and businesses look to the the demographics of communities and their consumer and workforce base – used to determine where they will locate headquarters, factories and workplaces.