Complete Count 2010

The 2010 United States Census

• The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.



• All residents of the United States must be counted. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens.


• Every 10 years, and the next census occurs in 2010. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. The questions ask you to provide information that is accurate for your household as of April 1, 2010.


• The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the U.S. President by December 31, 2010.


• The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then.


• The census counts everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.


• People should be counted where they live and sleep most of the year.


• The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2) mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the United States. The population totals determine each state’s Congressional representation. The numbers also affect funding in your community and help inform decision makers about how your community is changing.


• The Census Bureau will mail or deliver questionnaires to your house in March 2010. We will mail a second form to households that do not respond to the initial questionnaire.


• Households that still do not respond will be called or visited by a Census worker. (Census workers can be identified by a census badge and bag.)

2010 Census Timeline: Key Dates

• Fall 2008: Recruitment begins for local census jobs for early census operations.
• Spring 2009: Census employees go door-to-door to update address list nationwide.
• Fall 2009: Recruitment begins for census takers needed for peak workload in 2010.
• February – March 2010: Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
• April 1, 2010: Census Day
• April – July 2010: Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
• December 2010: By law, Census Bureau delivers population counts to President for apportionment.
• March 2011: By law, Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.

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Sample Questionnaires

Sample Questionnaire

Sample Bilingual Questionnaire

Fact Sheets

What Community-Based and Social Service Organizations Need to Know

What Businesses Need to Know about the 2010 Census

What Educators Need to Know about the 2010 Census

What Elected Officials Need to Know about the 2010 Census

What Faith-Based Organizations Need to Know

What You Need to Know about the 2010 Census

What the Media Need to Know about the 2010 Census

More Resources

United States Census Bureau

Maryland State Census Information