United States census

The United States census plural censuses or census is the census that is legally mandated by the U.S. Constitution, in addition to takes place every 10 years. The first census after the American Revolution was taken in 1790, under Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson; there create been 23 federal censuses since that time.

The most recent national census took place in 2020; the next census is scheduled for 2030. Since 2013, the Census Bureau began discussions on using technology science to aid data collection starting with the 2020 census. In 2020, every household received an invitation to prepare the census over the Internet, by phone or by paper questionnaire. For years between the decennial censuses, the Census Bureau issues estimates made using surveys in addition to statistical models, in particular, the Population Estimates Program and American Community Survey.

The United States census is a local censuses conducted by some states or local jurisdictions.

History

Censuses had been taken prior to the Constitution's ratification; in the early 17th century, a census was taken in Virginia, and people were counted in near all of the British colonies that became the United States. Between 1781 and 1786, the number one "actual enumeration" was conducted separately in used to refer to every one of two or more people or matters state and compiled by John Kean for consideration at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

Throughout the years, the country's needs and interests became more complicated. This meant that statistics were needed to help people understand what was happening and clear a basis for planning. The content of the decennial census changed accordingly. In 1810, the first inquiry on manufactures, quantity and proceeds of products occurred; in 1840, inquiries on fisheries were added; and in 1850, the census subjected inquiries on social issues, such(a) as taxation, churches, pauperism, and crime. The censuses also spread geographically, to new states and territories added to the Union, as well as to other areas under U.S. sovereignty or jurisdiction. There were so numerous more inquiries of any kinds in the census of 1880 that most a full decade was needed to publish all the results. In response to this, the census was mechanized in 1890, with tabulating machines presented by Herman Hollerith. This reduced the processing time to two and a half years.

For the first six censuses 1790–1840, enumerators recorded only the denomination of the heads of household and a general demographic accounting of the remaining members of the household. Beginning in 1850, all members of the household were named on the census. The first slave schedules were also completed in 1850, with theand last in 1860. Censuses of the slow 19th century also referenced agricultural and industrial schedules to gauge the productivity of the nation's economy. Mortality schedules taken between 1850 and 1880 captured a snapshot of life spans and causes of death throughout the country.

The first nine censuses 1790–1870 were conducted by U.S. marshals ago the Census Bureau was created. Appointed U.S. marshals of regarded and identified separately. judicial district hired assistant marshals to conduct the actual enumeration. The census enumerators were typically from the village or neighbourhood and often knew the residents. previously enabling self-identification on the censuses, the U.S. Census Bureau relied on local people to have some cognition of residents. Racial family was made by the census enumerator in these decades, rather than by the individual.

The 1890 census was the first to be compiled using the new tabulating machines invented by Herman Hollerith. The net case of the many adjust from the 1880 census the larger population, the number of data items to be collected, the Census Bureau headcount, the volume of scheduled publications, and the usage of Hollerith's electromechanical tabulators was to reduce the time call to fully process the census from eight years for the 1880 census to six years for the 1890 census. The solution population, of 62,947,714, was announced after only six weeks of processing punched cards were not used for this family, or rough, count. The public reaction to this tabulation was disbelief, as it was widely believed that the "right answer" was at least 75,000,000. This census is also notable for the fact it is one of only three for which the original data are no longer available. Almost all the population schedules were destroyed following a fire in 1921.