October - December 2019

The U.S. Census will be conducted in the spring of 2020. Let’s see how much you know about the census, which is required by the U.S. Constitution and defined as the “enumeration of inhabitants.” Questions—from the beginning 1. When was the first U.S. census? 2. How many people were counted in the first census? 3. Who were the first census takers? 4. What was the primary purpose of the first census? 5. What was the cost of the first census? Answers 1. The first census was conducted in1790, as required by the U.S. Constitution and instituted by President George Washington. 2. Just under 4 million people. 3. 650 U.S. marshals went house to house on horseback all over the nation to count people (writing with quills!). Most of the U.S. census was taken door-to-door until 1960. 4. The primary goal of the original 1790 census, which was collected not long after the Revolutionary War, was to provide information on men eligible for the military. 5. The cost of the first census project was $45,000. Questions—fast forward to 2020 6 What is the date for Census Day in 2020? 7. How many people were counted in the 2010 census? 8. What is a new method for responding to the census in 2020? 9. What is the primary purpose of the 2020 census? 10.What is the projected cost for the 2020 census? Answers 6. Completed census forms will officially be due on April 1. Data collection for the census will begin on January 21. Since 1990, rural US Census 2020: We’re Counting on You! Tim King and Carrie Whitaker, Erie County Regional Planning, are working with Talon Flohr, City of Sandusky, on the 2020 census. Alaskan villages have been counted first before the spring thaw makes travel impassable The rest of the country will receive their first census invitation in mid-March. 7. More than 308 million people were counted in 2010. The estimated population for 2020 is 333 million. 8. The biggest change coming in 2020 is that it will be the very first census that can be completed online. Most U.S. households will receive a mailed invitation in March to go online and complete the census. Only households that fail to complete the census by early April will receive a paper questionnaire. 9. The main purpose of the census is to figure out how many seats each state receives in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since 1911, there have been 435 seats in the House, and each state is guaranteed at least one. Additional seats are apportioned by population. Ohio has 16 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. 10.The projected cost for the 2020 census is $15.6 billion or close to $100 per U.S. household. Planning is well underway for the census in Erie County. If you are interested in a short term job working on the census, you can learn more at 2020census.gov/jobs. You will be required to have your own transportation. 21 www.servingourseniors.org