United States Census Bureau

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Bureau of the Census
Seal
Logo
Agency overview
Formed	July 1, 1903
Preceding agency	Temporary census offices
Headquarters	Washington, D.C. Suitland, Maryland
Employees	5,593 (2006)
Agency executive	Acting Director, Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Parent agency	Economics and Statistics Administration
Website
www.census.gov

The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title 13 U.S.C. § 11) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. The Bureau of the Census is part of the United States Department of Commerce. The agency director is a political appointee selected by the current President.

Contents 1 Legal mandate 2 Organizational structure 2.1 Census regions and divisions 3 Population Radio 4 Ongoing surveys 5 Other surveys conducted by the Census Bureau 6 The Census Bureau and computers 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Legal mandate

The Constitution of the United States (Article I, section II) directs that the population be enumerated at least once every ten years and the resulting counts used to set the number of members from each state in the House of Representatives and, by extension, in the Electoral College. The Census Bureau now conducts a full population count every 10 years in years ending with a 0 (zero) and uses the term "decennial" to describe the operation. Between censuses, the Census Bureau makes population estimates and projections.^[1] In addition, Census data directly affect how more than $300 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, transportation and much more. The Census Bureau is mandated with fulfilling these obligations: the collecting of statistics about the nation, its people, and economy. The Census Bureau's legal authority is codified in Title 13 of the United States Code. In addition, the Census Bureau also conducts surveys on behalf of various Federal Government and local government agencies on topics such as employment, crime, health, consumer expenditures, and housing. Within the bureau, these are known as "demographic surveys" and are conducted perpetually between and during decennial (10-year) population counts. The Census Bureau also conducts economic surveys of manufacturing, retail, service, and other establishments and of domestic governments.

From 1790 to 1840, the census was taken by marshals of the judicial districts.^[2] The Census Act of 1840 established a central office^[3] which became known as the Census Office. Several acts followed revising and authorizing new censuses, typically around the 10 year intervals. In 1902 the temporary Census Office was moved under the Department of Interior, and in 1903 it was renamed the Census Bureau under the new Department of Commerce and the Interior. The department was intended to consolidate overlapping statistical agencies, but Census Bureau officials were hindered by their subordinate role in the department.^[4] An act around 1920 changed the date and authorized manufacturing censuses every 2 years and agriculture censuses every 10 years.^[5] In 1929, a bill was passed mandating that the House of Representatives be reapportioned based on the results of the 1930 census.^[5] In 1954, various acts were codified into Title 13 of the US Code.^[6]

[edit] Organizational structure

Since 1903, the official census-taking agency of the United States government has been the Bureau of the Census. The Census Bureau is headed by a Director, assisted by a Deputy Director and an Executive Staff composed of the associate directors.

The Census Bureau headquarters is located at 4600 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Maryland. It operates regional offices in 12 cities: Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City, Seattle, Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and Los Angeles. The National Processing Center is located in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Additional temporary processing facilities are used to facilitate the decennial census, which employs more than a million persons. The cost of the 2000 decennial census was 4.5 billion dollars. During the years just prior to the decennial census, parallel Census offices, known as "Regional Census Centers" are opened in the 12 field office cities. The decennial operations are carried out expressly from these facilities. The Regional Census Centers will oversee the openings and closings of smaller "Local Census Offices" within their collection jurisdictions.

The Census Bureau also runs the Census Information Center cooperative program that involves 58 "national, regional, and local non-profit organizations." The CIC program aims to represent the interests of underserved communities.^[7]

[edit] Census regions and divisions

The United States Census Bureau has four official regions, with nine official divisions.

• Northeastern United States
  • New England
  • Middle Atlantic

• Midwestern United States
  • East North Central States
  • West North Central States

• Western United States
  • Pacific States
  • Mountain States

• Southern United States
  • West South Central States
  • East South Central States
  • South Atlantic States

[edit] Population Radio

The Census Bureau also maintains Population Radio, a real-time extrapolation of information on population, birth, and death to give their approximation of the number of people in the United States and the world.

[edit] Ongoing surveys

A survey is a method of collecting and analyzing social, economic, and geographic data. It provides information about the conditions of the United States, states, and counties. Throughout the decade between censuses, The Bureau of the Census is continually conducting surveys to produce a general view and comprehensive study of the United States' social and economic conditions.

Staff from the Current Surveys Program conduct ongoing and special surveys about people and their characteristics. A network of professional field representatives gathers information from a sample of households, responding to questions about employment, consumer expenditures, health, housing, and other topics.

Surveys Conducted in between decades.

• • American Community Survey
  • Consumer Expenditure Survey
  • Current Population Survey
  • Economic Census
  • National Hospital Discharge Survey
  • National Health Interview Survey
  • National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
  • National Crime Victimization Survey
  • National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)
  • 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 2001
  • American Housing Survey
  • Residential Finance Survey
  • National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol Related Conditions

[edit] Other surveys conducted by the Census Bureau

The Census Bureau collects information in many other surveys and provides the data to the survey sponsor for release. These sponsors include:

• • Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
  • Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  • National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
  • The National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • The Social Security Administration (SSA)

[edit] The Census Bureau and computers

The 1890 census was the first to use the electric tabulating machines invented by Herman Hollerith.^[8] For 1890-1940 details, see Truesdell, Leon E. (1965). The Development of Punch Card Tabulation in the Bureau of the Census, 1890-1940: With outlines of actual tabulation programs. US GPO. . In 1946, knowing of the Bureau's funding of Hollerith and, later, Powers, John Mauchly approached the Bureau about early funding for UNIVAC development.^[9] A UNIVAC I computer was accepted by the Bureau in 1951.^[10]

In order to reduce paper usage and reduce payroll expenses, 500,000 handheld computers (HHC's) were used for the first time in 2009 during the address canvassing portion of the 2010 Dicentennial Census Project. Projected savings are over $1 Billion dollars.^[11]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• The original version of this article was adapted from U.S. Census Bureau text.
• Geographic Areas Reference Manual from the U.S. Census Bureau contains detailed explanations of geographic terms used in the census.
• The mission and operation of the U.S. Census Bureau are laid out in Title 13 of the United States Code.

[edit] External links

• United States Census Bureau website
• U.S. and World Population Clocks - POPClocks
• Works by Bureau of the Census at Project Gutenberg
• Census Bureau Meeting Notices and Rule Changes from The Federal Register RSS Feed

v • d • e United States Censuses (Census Bureau) 1790 • 1800 • 1810 • 1820 • 1830 • 1840 • 1850 • 1860 • 1870 • 1880 • 1890 • 1900 • 1910 • 1920 • 1930 • 1940 • 1950 • 1960 • 1970 • 1980 • 1990 • 2000 • 2010

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v • d • e Geographic regions of the United States 4 Regions 9 Census Bureau Divisions Other subregions of this region Northeast New England · Mid-Atlantic East Coast · Atlantic Northeast Midwest E North Central · W N Central Great Lakes · Great Plains · Upper Midwest South S Atlantic · E, W South Central Southeast · Upland · Deep · Gulf Coast West Pacific/West Coast · Mountain Northwest · Southwest · Pacific Northwest · Great Basin Other North · East · East Coast · Central · Coastal

v • d • e Statistical agencies of the United States Federal Government Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis · Economics and Statistics Administration · Census Bureau Department of Energy Energy Information Administration Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service · National Agricultural Statistics Service Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics Department of Defense Defense Manpower Data Center Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD USER Department of Homeland Security Office of Immigration Statistics