Every 10 years since 1790, the United States has undertaken the momentous task of counting all of its residents. The 2020 Census is mandated by the Constitution and will count every person living in the United States and five U.S. territories. The primary goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.
Census results determine congressional representation as well as federal funding for states and communities. Every year, more than $675 billion goes toward hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and more.
Census 2020 was the twenty-fourth United States Census.
How can I become a Census taker?
The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count. The results of the 2020 Census will help determine each state’s representation in Congress, as well as how certain funds are spent for schools, hospitals, roads, and more.
When will I receive a questionnaire?
By April 1, 2020, households will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. You'll have three options for responding: online, by phone, or by mail.
How the 2020 Census will invite everyone to respond
What questions will be asked?
As required by the Census Act, the U.S. Census Bureau submitted a list of questions to Congress on March 29, 2018 (Questions Planned for the 2020 Census and American Community Survey).
Based on those questions, the 2020 Census will ask:
- How many people are living or staying at your home on April 1, 2020.
- Whether the home is owned or rented.
- About the sex of each person in the household.
- About the age of each person in the household.
- About the race of each person in the household.
- About whether a person in the household is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.
- About the relationship of each person in the household to one central person.
The Census Bureau will never ask you for:
- Your Social Security number.
- Money or donations.
- Anything on behalf of a political party.
- Your bank or credit card account numbers.
[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]
Can I respond online?
Yes, this is the first time that you'll have the option to respond online. The Census Bureau will initially collect responses for the 2020 Census three ways: online, by phone, and by mail.
By April 1, 2020, households will receive an invitation to participate in the census and can respond using one of those three methods.
Starting in May 2020, the Census Bureau will begin following up in person with households that have not responded to the census.
Do I have to respond to the Census?
Yes, all people living in the United States, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are required by law to be counted in the 2020 Census.
See The Census Requirement from Congressional Research Service's U.S. Constitution Annotated for more information.
Is that a Census taker in my neighborhood or calling me?
Starting in 2019, you may begin to notice census takers in your neighborhood. This is a normal part of the 2020 Census preparation and data collection process. Census field representatives will also continue to collect information for the American Community Survey (ACS) and other ongoing surveys.
How to Identify Census Bureau Telephone Interviewers: verify that the person calling you is a census employee or that the survey is legitimate.
What about scams and confidentiality?
Your responses to the 2020 Census are safe, secure, and protected by federal law. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics—they cannot be used against you in any way. By law, all responses to U.S. Census Bureau household and business surveys are kept completely confidential.
[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]
Avoiding Fraudulent Activity and Scams.
Are You in a Survey? Help for Survey Participants
What if I misplaced or never received my unique ID?
Individuals can still respond online or by telephone using an option called Non-ID Response, which allows you to complete your census form without the unique ID, as long as you provide a valid home address.
How can I contact the Census Bureau?
The Denver Regional Office is responsible for all data collection, data dissemination, and geographic operations under the current service area boundaries.
States within the Denver Region's service area include Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Denver Regional Office
1-800-852-6159
E-mail: Denver.Regional.Office@census.gov
Census Questionnaire Assistance lines will be available in early 2020 for answers to questions or to provide household responses by phone.
How much will the census cost?
The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates the 2020 Census will cost $15.6 billion.
Census Data
The Census Bureau is the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy. Explore census content at data.census.gov.
The Oklahoma State Data Center provides projections and historical census data for the state.
Current Population
Find current population projections using the U.S. and World Population Clock.
Find map and chart demographic data with Census QuickFacts.
History of Census Questions
Through the decades, the census has collected data on race, ancestry, education, health, housing, and transportation. Explore the history of census questions since 1790 with the Index of Questions.
Lesson Plans for Educators
Statistics in Schools provides resources for teaching and learning with real life data. SIS uses a broad array of Census Bureau data to provide activities and resources for courses in English, geography, history and social studies, mathematics and statistics, and sociology, and is a valuable resource for homeschools and traditional classrooms alike.
Educators can access more than 100 downloadable activities and resources, at no charge. The activities on the website are searchable by grade, school subject, topic, and education standard.