U.S. Bureau of the Census

Census Bureau Surveys

The Census of Population and Housing (decennial census) is intended to count and collect information from all U.S. residents. First conducted in 1790, the decennial census is required by the U.S. Constitution for apportioning congressional representation. Conducting the census is a massive and multi-year effort. Major activities include finalizing content development, maintaining the Master Address File, printing and mailing paper questionnaires, conducting nonresponse follow-up, processing data, and disseminating results.

Modern population censuses are conducted largely through mailed paper questionnaires. In-person interviews occur when households do not have a usable mailing address or when residents do not return the mailed questionnaire (i.e. an in-person nonresponse follow-up). Recent decennial censuses have included short- and long-form questionnaires. With this design, long-form questionnaires included short-form questions as well as more detailed social, economic, and housing questions. Using statistical techniques, long forms were sent to a sample of U.S. residences (one in six for the year 2000), and results were projected to the total population or universe. Starting with the 2010 Census, only short-form content will be included on the decennial questionnaire. Long-form data will be collected through the American Community Survey, an ongoing survey with a sample of 3 million households per year.

The Census Bureau also conducts censuses of U.S. businesses and government entities. Like the population enumeration, these censuses are intended to fully cover all entities that meet the criteria for inclusion. The Economic Census and the Census of Governments are conducted every 5 years (years ending in the numerals 2 and 7). Like the decennial population census, federal code requires these censuses and mandates participation. The purpose of the Economic Census is to compile data on the U.S. economy through surveys of business establishments. The Census of Governments is intended to supply information on government organization, employment, and finance.

The Census Bureau has extensive expertise in survey research and often conducts surveys for other federal government agencies. Designed to fulfill many different federal data needs, these sample-based surveys vary in terms of methodology, frequency, and collection mode(s).

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