United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a federal statistical agency that collects important information about the American people and the economy. It is part of the United States Department of Commerce, and its leader, called the director, is chosen by the president of the United States.

The main job of the Census Bureau is to carry out the United States census every ten years. This helps decide how many seats each state has in the United States House of Representatives based on how many people live there. The data from these censuses and many other surveys help decide where to spend money each year. This money supports building schools, hospitals, roads, and safety services.

Besides the big census every ten years, the Census Bureau does more than 130 different surveys and studies each year. One important study is the American Community Survey, and another is the United States Economic Census, which happens every five years to learn about businesses and the economy. There is also the Current Population Survey that helps understand how people live and work. As of September 19, 2025, George Cook serves as the acting director of the Census Bureau.

Legal mandate

Article One of the United States Constitution (section II) says the country’s population must be counted at least once every ten years. These counts help decide how many seats each state gets in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College. The Census Bureau conducts a full population count every ten years, in years that end with a zero, and calls this a "decennial" count. Between these counts, the Census Bureau also makes guesses about population sizes.

Census data helps decide how over $400 billion each year in money from the government goes to communities for things like public health, schools, roads, and other important services. The Census Bureau’s job is to collect statistics about the nation, its people, and its economy. Its legal authority is found in Title 13 of the United States Code.

The Census Bureau also does surveys for different federal government and local government agencies about topics such as jobs, safety, health, what people spend money on, and housing. Inside the bureau, these are called “demographic surveys” and happen all the time, between and during the every-ten-year population counts. The bureau also does economic surveys about factories, stores, services, and governments.

From 1790 to 1840, the census was done by marshals of the judicial districts. The Census Act of 1840 created a central office called the Census Office. Many laws later changed and allowed new censuses, usually every ten years. In 1902, the office moved under the Department of Interior, and in 1903 it was renamed the Census Bureau under the new Department of Commerce and Labor. In 1913, the Census Bureau stayed in the Department of Commerce after it split from the Department of Labor.

By law, the Census Bureau must count everyone and send the total number of people in each state to the U.S. president by December 31 of any year that ends in a zero. States get these results in the spring of the next year.

Data collection

The United States Census Bureau collects important information about the people and economy of the United States. It uses this data to help decide where to build new homes, schools, and other public places. The bureau also uses the data to decide how many seats each state gets in the United States House of Representatives.

The Census Bureau counts everyone in the United States every ten years, called the census. Between these counts, the bureau does smaller studies to learn more about people’s lives. These studies cover topics like jobs, health, and housing. The bureau works hard to keep people’s information private and safe. It promises not to share personal details with anyone, including government agencies or law enforcement, for 72 years after the data is collected.

Census regions and divisions

The United States Census Bureau groups the country into four main regions and nine smaller divisions to help organize and study the data. These regions are commonly used for collecting and analyzing information across the United States. The territories are not included, but the District of Columbia is.

Regional divisions used by the United States Census Bureau:

History

The first census in the United States was done in 1790. Since then, the way the country is grouped for the census has changed many times. The current system started in 1910 and has had only small changes since then.

Uses of census data

Census data helps many groups, including governments at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels. It is used to:

• Decide where to build new housing and public facilities
• Study the characteristics of different communities
• Plan transportation systems and roads
• Decide where to place police and fire stations
• Create areas for elections, schools, and utilities
• Collect population information every 10 years

Census data helps decide how many seats each state gets in Congress. The data is also used to estimate the current population of the United States.

Data stewardship

The Census Bureau promises to keep people’s information private. Employees must agree not to share personal details. The bureau cannot share this information with any government or law enforcement agencies, including the IRS, FBI, or Interpol. Information becomes public only after 72 years.

Ongoing surveys

Between each ten-year census, the Census Bureau does many surveys to learn about the social and economic conditions in the United States. These surveys cover topics like jobs, spending, health, and housing.

Surveys conducted between decades:

• American Community Survey
• American Housing Survey
• Consumer Expenditure Survey
• Census of Governments
• Current Population Survey
• Economic Census
• National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
• National Health Interview Survey
• National Hospital Care Survey
• National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
• National Crime Victimization Survey
• National Nursing Home Survey
• Survey of Income and Program Participation
• Survey of Construction
• Survey of Market Absorption
• Survey of Program Dynamics
• National Longitudinal Survey
• National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, & Wildlife-Associated Recreation
• Residential Finance Survey
• National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol Related Conditions
• Annual Retail Trade Survey
• Annual Wholesale Trade Survey
• Annual and Quarterly Services Surveys

Other surveys conducted

The Census Bureau also collects information for other groups, such as the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the National Science Foundation.

Organizational structure

See also: Director of the United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau counts people in the country. It has been doing this since 1903. A director leads the Bureau, with help from a deputy director and other staff.

The main office is in Suitland, Maryland. There are regional offices in big cities like New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, and Los Angeles. There is a big processing center in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The Census Bureau uses many temporary offices every ten years to count everyone in the United States.

The Bureau also has a program called the Census Information Center. It works with non-profit groups to share important information with all communities.

Computer equipment

The 1890 census was the first to use special machines made by Herman Hollerith to count information fast. In 1951, the bureau got one of the first UNIVAC I computers to help with its work.

Handheld computers

In the past, people collected census information by going door-to-door and writing it in books. Starting in 1970, people began sending forms by mail instead. In 2009, for the first time, 500,000 special handheld computers were used to help gather addresses for the census. This helped save money and make the list of addresses more complete.

These handheld computers were made by a company that works with the government. They had special safety features, like a fingerprint scan, to make sure only the right person could use them. They also had GPS to help manage addresses and send information. It was very important to keep people’s private information safe.

Some people who used these computers had trouble with them, especially in areas with few cell towers, which made it hard to send data. It was important for users to follow the right steps to keep everything working well.

Research studies

The Census Bureau does research to make its work better. Researchers look for new ways to do surveys and get more people to join in. They also study how to keep the data accurate. They look at new tools, work with many languages, and find ways to save money. Before starting a survey or using a new tool, the Bureau tests it and then checks how well it worked.

Notable figures

Here are some important people who have worked with the United States Census Bureau:

• John Shaw Billings
• Rattan Chand
• W. Edwards Deming
• Davis Rich Dewey
• Halbert L. Dunn
• Murray Feshbach
• Robert Groves
• Henry Gannett
• Morris H. Hansen
• Joseph Adna Hill
• Herman Hollerith
• Leslie Kish
• John Wesley Langley
• Bernard Malamud
• Thomas Commerford Martin
• Warren Mitofsky
• Edna Paisano
• Ivan Petrof
• Cyrus Guernsey Pringle
• Richard M. Scammon
• Howard Sutherland