The 2010 Census: Vital to Your Future

In March 2010, more than 130 million addresses across the nation will receive a census form. One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes only 10 minutes to complete. Completing your census form is easy, important and safe. Your participation is essential to ensuring a brighter tomorrow for our community.

By participating in the census, you can help create a better future for you and those important to you. Complete and return your form when it arrives. To learn more, visit 2010census.gov.

By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure & are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.

Required once every 10 years by the U.S. Constitution, the census counts everyone living in the United States, both citizens and noncitizens. Census data are used to reapportion the U.S. House of Representatives, re-district each state and determine the distribution of the Electoral College. Census data also directly affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments. Census data are critical in determining locations for new hospitals, improving schools, building new roads, expanding public transportation options, creating new maps for emergency responders and much more.