U.S. Census Bureau: Meaning, History, FAQs

What Is the U.S. Census Bureau?

The U.S. Census Bureau is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System that produces data about the American people and the economy. It is most commonly known for conducting the national census once every 10 years. The population of the U.S. is counted in the census. The U.S. Census Bureau is a division of the Department of Commerce and is headquartered in Maryland.

Understanding the U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau is the nation's leading provider of quality data about the country's people and economy and is the U.S. government's "largest statistical agency." It was established in 1902 as part of the Department of Interior and moved to the Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903 as the Bureau of the Census. It has been headquartered in Suitland, Maryland since 1942, and employs about 5,000 people.

The Bureau's programs can be split into two broad categories: 

• Demographic Surveys: These surveys include the Decennial Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, the Current Population Survey (CPS), the Survey of Income and Program Participation, and the American Housing Survey.
• Economic Surveys: These surveys include the Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, Annual Capital Expenditures Survey, Building Permits Survey, Common Core of Data, and Export Statistics.

Data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau is analyzed and used by policymakers who govern the country and make economic decisions that affect business on a day-to-day basis. The Bureau collects data on the balance of trade and foreign imports and exports, and it reports data to the government and the public at large. Some of the data collected by the Census Bureau is used by the Conference Board to produce its composite indexes of leading, lagging, and coincident indicators.

History of the U.S. Census Bureau

The first U.S. census, mandated by the U.S. Constitution, was conducted in 1790 by marshals on horseback. At that time, the census results revealed that about 3.93 million people lived in the country, with the three most populous states being Virginia (747,610), Pennsylvania (434,373), and North Carolina (393,751). A decennial census steadily expanded throughout the nineteenth century.

By the 1800s, the census collected vital information about the demographic, agricultural, and economic segments of the country as well. At this time, the Census Office was a temporary office, but the work of processing all of these data points kept the office open for many decades. Congress enacted legislation creating a permanent Census Office within the Department of the Interior on March 6, 1902.

The Census Office was moved to the newly created Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903, and when Commerce and Labor split into separate departments in 1913, the Bureau stayed within the Commerce division.

The Bureau is headquartered in Suitland, Maryland, and has a number of regional offices in a number of major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. Robert Santos is the director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Ron Jarmin serves as its deputy director.

The U.S. Census Bureau's Decennial Census

The Decennial Census of Population and Housing is one of the most commonly known surveys conducted by the agency. As the name implies, it is conducted every decade in years that end in zero. The last one was conducted in 2020 with the next scheduled for 2030. The survey is mandated by law. It counts every resident of the U.S. on Census Day, which is April 1.

The Bureau is required to notify Congress of any issues that are addressed in the survey three years before data is collected from the public. Congress must be apprised of the wording of all questions included within two years of the survey. Data that is collected from the survey is used to apportion the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives by state.

The most recent survey was conducted in 2020. It was the 24th census in U.S. history and counted residents in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. The first results of the survey showed a total population of about 331.45 million as of April 25, 2021. The Bureau's updated figures show a population of 333,29 million as of July 1, 2022.

The Bottom Line

The U.S. Census Bureau is an important agency of the federal government. It conducts surveys and publishes data about the population and the nation's economy. One of the most commonly known surveys done by the Bureau is the Decennial Census. This survey counts each resident of the United States every 10 years so governments can plan and tailor social programs for every individual. It's important for everyone to take party in the survey—not doing so can provide skewed results, which is why participation is mandatory by law.