U.S. Census

What Is the Census?

  • The census is a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years.
  • The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
  • The next census is in 2020.
  • Your participation in the census is required by law.

Why Fill Out the Census Form?

Every household in the country will receive a questionnaire in 2010. To ensure an accurate and fair count of all populations, it is very important that someone in each household completes the questionnaire.

  • Census data affect funding for your community, your community’s representation in Congress and your community leader’s planning decisions. It directly affects how more than $300 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, transportation and more. That’s more than $3 trillion over a 10-year period. By taking a few minutes to complete the questionnaire will help your community get its fair share of federal and state funding.
  • It only takes a few minutes to answer and return by mail.
  • It’s confidential and your responses are protected by law.
  • It’s required by law and the information you provide provides a summary of statistical data used by local, state and federal agencies.
  • The Census affects your voice in Congress and representation in state and local government. The census is used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to redistrict state legislatures and Census data are used to define legislature districts, school district assignment areas.
  • Census informs your community’s decisions. It defines who we are as a nation. Data about changes in your community are crucial to planning decisions such as where to provide services for the elderly, where to build new roads and schools and where to locate job training centers.

View the current census for Riverdale, GA

It is important that the census workers can identify each address in our community. As residents, it will be most helpful that your street number is easily visible for the census workers to get an accurate count. This is also crucial for emergency personnel to be able to locate your home in case of an emergency.