How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on
April 1, 2010?
The Census Bureau asks this question to help get an accurate count of the number of people in
the household on Census Day, April 1, 2010. The answer should be based on the guidelines in
the 'Start here' section. We use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness
and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.
Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in
Question 1?
Asked since 1880. The Census Bureau asks this question to help identify people who may have
been excluded in the count provided in Question 1. The information is used to ensure response
accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or
missing information.
Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without
mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?
Asked since 1890. Homeownership rates serve as an indicator of the nation's economy. The
data are also used to administer housing programs and to inform planning decisions.
What is your telephone number?
The Census Bureau asks for a phone number in case they need to contact a respondent when
a form is returned with incomplete or missing information.
Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person here who
owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives
somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is Person
1's name?
Listing the name of each person in the household helps the respondent to include all members,
particularly in large households where a respondent may forget who was counted and who was
not. Also, names are needed if additional information about an individual must be obtained to
complete the census form. Federal law protects the confidentiality of personal information,
including names.
What is Person 1's sex?
Asked since 1790. Census data about sex are important because many federal programs must
differentiate between males and females for funding, implementing and evaluating their
programs. For instance, laws promoting equal employment opportunity for women require
census data on sex. Also, sociologists, economists, and other researchers who analyze social
and economic trends use the data.
What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?
Asked since 1800. Federal, state, and local governments need data about age to interpret most
social and economic characteristics, such as forecasting the number of people eligible for
Social Security or Medicare benefits. The data are widely used in planning and evaluating
government programs and policies that provide funds or services for children, working-age
adults, women of childbearing age, or the older population.
Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?
Asked since 1970. The data collected in this question are needed by federal agencies to
monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as under the Voting Rights Act
and the Civil Rights Act. State and local governments may use the data to help plan and
administer bilingual programs for people of Hispanic origin.
What is Person 1's race?
Asked since 1790. Race is key to implementing many federal laws and is needed to monitor
compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the
data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to
assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor racial disparities in characteristics such
as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services.
Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
This is another question the Census Bureau asks in order to ensure response accuracy and
completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing
information.
