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According to the U.S. Census Bureau*, census data are used as follows:
- Decision making at all levels of government.
- Drawing federal, state, and local legislative districts.
- Attracting new businesses to state and local areas.
- Distributing over $675 billion annually in federal funds and even more in state funds.
- Forecasting future transporta¬tion needs for all segments of the population.
- Planning for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and the location of other health services.
- Forecasting future housing needs for all segments of the population.
- Directing funds for services for people in poverty.
- Designing public safety strategies.
- Development of rural areas.
- Analyzing local trends.
- Estimating the number of people displaced by natural disasters.
- Developing assistance pro¬grams for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
- Creating maps to speed emer¬gency services to households in need of assistance.
- Delivering goods and services to local markets.
- Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly, or children.
- Planning future government services.
- Planning investments and eval¬uating financial risk.
- Publishing economic and statistical reports about the United States and its people.
- Facilitating scientific research.
- Developing “intelligent” maps for government and business.
- Providing proof of age, rela¬tionship, or residence certifi¬cates provided by the Census Bureau.
- Distributing medical research.
- Reapportioning seats in the House of Representatives.
- Planning and researching for media as background for news stories.
- Drawing school district boundaries.
- Planning budgets for govern¬ment at all levels.
- Spotting trends in the eco¬nomic well-being of the nation.
- Planning for public transporta¬tion services.
- Planning health and educa¬tional services for people with disabilities.
- Establishing fair market rents and enforcing fair lending practices.
- Directing services to children and adults with limited English proficiency.
- Planning urban land use.
- Planning outreach strategies.
- Understanding labor supply.
- Assessing the potential for spread of communicable diseases.
- Making business decisions.
- Understanding consumer needs.
- Planning for faith-based organizations.
- Locating factory sites and dis¬tribution centers.
- Distributing catalogs and developing direct mail pieces.
- Setting a standard for creating both public and private sector surveys.
- Evaluating programs in differ¬ent geographic areas.
- Providing genealogical research.
- Planning for school projects.
- Developing adult education programs.
- Researching historical subject areas.
- Determining areas eligible for housing assistance and reha¬bilitation loans.
For additional information about the 2020 Census, please visit 2020census.gov.
* U.S. Census Bureau, “2020 Census Complete Count Committee Guide,” Appendix A: 50 Ways Census Data Are Used, pg. 14, https://2020census.gov/content/dam/2020census/materials/partners/2019-03/ccc-guide-d-1280.pdf.