The U.S. Census Bureau is issuing a call to action for every resident of our nation:

"BE COUNTED IN 2010."

The 2010 census is important. It determines the distribution of more than $300 billion annually of government funding for critical community services. It generates thousands of jobs across the country. And it impacts your voice in Congress.

The Census: A Snapshot

• What: The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States.
• Who: All U.S. residents must be counted - people of all races and ethnic groups, both citizens and non-citizens.
• When: Census Day is April 1, 2010. Questionnaire responses should represent the household as it exists on this day. More detailed socioeconomic information will be collected annually from a small percentage of the population through the American Community Survey.
• Why: The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years. The census will show state population counts and determine representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• How: Census questionnaires will be delivered or mailed to households via U.S. mail in March 2010; many households will receive a replacement questionnaire in early April. Census workers also will visit households that do not return questionnaires.

A Complete Count: The Importance of Census Data

• Every year, the federal government can allocate more than $300 billion to states and community based, in part, on census data.
• Census data guide local decision-makers on where to build new roads, hospitals, child-care and senior citizen centers, schools, and more.
• Businesses use census data to locate supermarkets, new housing and other facilities.
• Census data determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2010 Census Questionnaire: Quick, Easy, and Confidential

• With only 10 questions, the 2010 Census Questionnaire is one of the shortest questionnaires in history and takes just 10 minutes to complete.
• By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual's census questionnaire responses with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.

2010 Census Timeline: Key Dates

Fall 2009	Recruitment begins for census takers to support peak workload.
March 15, 2010	Census Questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
April 1, 2010	Census Day
May - June 2010	Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
December 2010	By law, Census Bureau delivers population counts to the president for apportionment.
March 2011	By law, Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.

For more information about the 2010 Census Bureau, click here to visit their Web site.  You may also call the Census general information line at 1-800-923-8282.

If you would like a presentation by City Staff to your local community group requesting more information on the US Census 2010, please contact Monica Alejandrez in the City Manager's office at (916) 727-4711.