Census 2010 - it's in our hands

King County has a small Complete Count Committee partnering with the national Census and other local agencies to help to spread the word about the 2010 Census count and its importance to residents and officials in our area.

What you need to know

The U.S. Constitution requires a national count or census of everyone residing in the United States every 10 years. That includes people of all ages, races, and ethnic groups, both citizens and non-citizens in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

The census affects political representation and directs the allocation of billions of dollars in government funding. Census data shapes the future of your community and define your voice in Congress. Census information helps determine locations for schools, roads, hospitals, child-care and senior citizen centers, and more. Businesses use census data to locate supermarkets, shopping centers, new housing and other facilities.

Why should everyone participate in the 2010 Census?

The primary purpose of the census is to apportion Representatives in Congress to each state in proportion to population, and to allow for accurate redistricting of Congressional and legislative district boundaries.

A second purpose of census information is to allocate more than $300 billion per year in federal and state funding to states and localities in proportion to population and characteristics of that population. That means for each person counted in the census, there is more than $1,000 in funding per year. In King County, that translates to more than $1.9 billion per year of federal funding coming into our communities.

How will the 2010 Census differ from previous census efforts?

In the last census, one in six households received a long questionnaire asking for detailed socioeconomic information. In 2010, every residence will receive a short questionnaire that is simple and fast to complete and return. More detailed information will be collected annually from a small percentage of the population through the American Community Survey.

Will the information the Census Bureau collects remain confidential?

Yes. Every Census Bureau worker takes an oath for life to protect the confidentiality of census responses. Violation would result in a jail term of up to five years and/or fine of up to $250,000. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual's answers with anyone, including welfare and immigration agencies.

The US Census Bureau is working collaboratively with local governments to ensure everyone gets counted. Since early 2009, King County has had a Complete County Committee working to ensure that every King County resident is counted by the 2010 Census. With a diverse population of residents who speak more than 70 different languages, King County's Complete Count Committee is focused on getting participation especially from those who may be hard to count because of language, culture, socio-economic or other reasons.

For more information on the King County Complete Count Committee, contact: