 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 2010.
- Your participation in the census is required by law.
- It takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
- Federal law protects the personal information you share during the census.
- Census data are used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $400 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.
See the U.S. Census Bureau site for more information.
Officials urge participation in government survey
BY TODD G. DICKSON, The Las Cruces Bulletin
When it comes to the upcoming 2010 Census, every person counts and local officials are urging people to be counted.
“Las Cruces is really at a crossroads,” said Mayor Ken Miyagishima at a center stage press conference Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Whole Enchilada Fiesta. “We want to hit that 100,000 population mark.”
That’s a number that can make a big difference in government funding and whether a business decides to locate in the city. But it could all be just barely out of reach if the population is undercounted in the official census.
Mayor Pro Tem Dolores Archuleta said it is estimated that the value of each person counted amounts to more than $300 in government services.
“When you participate in the census, it’s like writing a check to yourself,” she said.
Pauline Nuñez, a census volunteer coordinator, said the effort is taking advantage of big gatherings such as the fiesta – which attracted more 30,000 last weekend – to raise awareness.
Nuñez said the census is partnering with government entities including the city and county, and the public schools have agreed to give information to students to take home to their families.
Herb Torres, associate superintendent of Las Cruces Public Schools, said the district plans to use the census to teach students about good citizenship in the process of having them help get census information back to their homes.
The most important thing for people to realize is that the information they provide the census will only be used to study trends and assess status on a variety of subjects. Outside of count totals and other demographic evaluations, information provided to the census will not be divulged, said Maria Rodriguez, representative for New Mexico Secretary of State. Mary Herrera.
Every 10 years, the census tries to count all U.S. residents, both citizens and noncitizens, which is estimated to total 310 million nationally. The information provides demographic snapshots of such things as population ages and ethnicities. One thing officials emphasize is that if a non-citizen is here illegally, their individual information will not be passed on to immigration enforcement officers. In fact, the actual census questionnaire doesn't ask if a person is a citizen or not.
The census' main object is to count the population to determine representation in the U.S House of Representatives, but the count also provides the official data used to determine many other government districts, including city and county districts, as well as state legislative districts.
The census information can also guide government officials on where to locate future roads, hospitals, schools and other facilities.
The official Census Day is April 1, 2010, with most households receiving their questionnaires by mail or home delivery in March. The 2010 Census is asking only 10 questions, which makes it one of the shortest census questionnaires in United States history, according to a census press release.
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