The Constitution of the United States says that a census should take place every ten years. This year is one of those years. What happens in the Census? A census counts the people living in the United States and its territories. The first census was in 1790! So they have been happening for a long time.
Over the years, the census has changed. Long ago, people walked from house to house to count people. Today, families can answer the census online, over the phone, or on paper. People answer questions about how many people live in each place. They give information such as the ages of the people and how they are related to each other.
Why is the Census important? There are dozens of programs from the federal government that give money to states and communities. The money can help pay for roads, schools, hospitals, emergency services, and much more! The more people who live in one area, the more money that area receives. So it’s important for everyone to be counted.
What Do You Think? A friend asks, “Why does the census matter?” What will you say?
Photo Credit: kali9/E+/Getty Images
