Why the Census Is Important

The census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is conducted every 10 years as mandated by the United States Constitution, Article 1, Section 2. The first census was taken in 1790, by the U.S. marshals on horseback and counted 3.9 million people. The most recent census was taken in 2000 and counted more than 281 million people. The census is the foundation for measuring the nation’s population and includes all persons dwelling in U.S. residential structures, including citizens and non-citizens.

When the census first began in 1790, its sole purpose was to determine the number of seats each state had in the U.S. House of Representatives. Today, in addition to this purpose, the U.S. Census also affects the amount of federal funding received by the states, counties, and cities. Therefore, it is crucial that every person residing in Arizona is counted during the 2010 Census.

As a result of the 2000 Census, Arizona gained two additional seats in Congress based on population growth. Since 2000, Arizona’s population is estimated to have grown by an additional 1.4 million people. So, an accurate count of every person in Arizona during the 2010 Census could potenially result in an additional Congressional seat for our State.

The planning of Arizona’s infrastructure such as schools, government services, highways and roads, and senior centers is also based on data derived from the U.S. Census. In fiscal year 2000, 85 percent of federal government grants to state and local governments were distributed based on state population and personal income. Every year, about $300 billion in federal funds are distributed to local, state, and tribal governments based on census data.