The 23rd Decennial Census of Population and Housing will take place on April 1, 2010. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to conduct a nationwide census every 10 years. The resulting data provides detailed information which is used for three main purposes: apportionment, redistricting, and the allocation of government services. For these reasons, it is important that the Census Bureau counts every individual, wherever that person may live.
The Director of the Census Bureau, Dr. Robert M. Groves, noted on his blog how the census affects college and university students:
"With two college-age sons home for the holidays, I’m reminded about younger folks’ views of the world. They’ve especially alerted me to the fact that my understanding of the census is not theirs.
One son was surprised that the Census Bureau would mail a questionnaire to his off-campus housing. He thought that my wife and I would report for him, just as we pay his tuition, remind him to pay his rent, make sure he has enough money for books each term, and fill out insurance forms for medical expenses.
The notion that he and his roommates would have to collaborate to fill out a single 2010 Census form was a shock. They don’t think of themselves as a “household.” There is no one roommate who pays the rent, who gets the mail, who takes on the role of the head of household. The roommates come and go on their own, rarely eating together, mainly gathering together on the weekends to watch TV sports. They leave the small amount of mail they get in their box for several days before gathering it up.
My other son, living in a dormitory, never imagined that he would be asked to report on a census form.
The 2010 Census wants college kids to get counted where they usually live (like everyone), and this means for them to be counted in college dormitories and off-campus housing."
Published results of the decennial censuses, 1790-2000 are available in Butler and Lehman libraries and on the web. Take a look at the Decennial Census subject guide or stop by the DSSC in Lehman Library for assistance finding and using census data.