Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
3 <br />Attachment 1 <br />Frequently Asked Questions <br />When will the census forms be delivered? <br />The form package, which will consist of the initial form, a cover letter and a return <br />envelope, will be delivered between March 15 and March 17, 2010, in areas <br />where the United States Postal Service delivers the census forms for the Census <br />Bureau. Census Bureau workers will deliver forms between March 1 and April 30, <br />2010, in all other areas. <br />Who should fill out the census form? <br />The head of household should complete the form on behalf of every person living <br />in the residence on April 1, 2010, including relatives and non-relatives. The <br />person filling out the form should include information about all household <br />members (including himself/herself and infants) who live and sleep at the <br />address most of the time. The person also should include people who are staying <br />there on April 1, 2010, who have no permanent place to stay. The Census <br />Bureau is required by the U.S. Constitution to count everyone living in this <br />country, regardless of immigration or citizenship status. <br />What should I do after I get the form? <br />Fill out the form in blue or black ink and mail it back in the enclosed, postage- <br />paid envelope as soon as possible. <br />How will the 2010 Census differ from previous censuses? <br />In 2010, every residence will receive a short form of just 10 questions. More <br />detailed socioeconomic information previously collected through the decennial <br />census will be asked annually of a small percentage of the population through <br />the American Community Survey. To learn more about the American Community <br />Survey, visit www.census.gov/acs. <br />How are census data used? <br />Census data determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. <br />House of Representatives. Census data also help determine the allocation of <br />federal funds for community services, such as school lunch programs and senior <br />citizen centers, and new construction, such as highways and hospitals. Every <br />year, the federal government distributes more than $400 billion to local, state and <br />tribal governments based on census data. <br />How does the Census Bureau count people without a permanent <br />residence? <br />Census Bureau workers undertake extensive operations to take in-person counts <br />of people living in group quarters, such as college dormitories, military barracks, <br />nursing homes and shelters, as well as those who have been displaced by <br />natural disasters. <br /> <br />