U.S. Federal Census: Home

The federal Decennial Census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790. It is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the  U.S. Constitution, and is supposed to count every person living in the United States.

• Statistical data is available for the most recent censuses (as well as older censuses).
• Access to the original census manuscript records is governed by a 72 year privacy rule.

The Decennial Census, the Economic Census and the American Community Survey (ACS) provide information about the make-up of our nation crucial for Congress and the community leaders to make informed decisions that shape  our democracy. Since 1790, the U.S. Census has been more than a simple head count- it has charted the growth and composition of our nation. This infographic details how the questions have evolved over time to address our changing needs.

Source: United States Census Bureau