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What is the Census?
Every 10 years, the federal government conducts a population count of everyone in the United States. Data from the census provide the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to communities across the country to support vital programs — housing, education, transportation, employment, health care, and public policy. Census data is also used to redraw the boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts and accurately determine the number of congressional seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Why the Census is Important to Our Community
Responding to the census is not only your civic duty, it also affects the amount of funding your community receives, how your community plans for the future, and your representation in government. Specifically, data from the 2020 Census are used to:
- Ensure public services and funding for schools, hospitals, and fire departments.
- Plan new homes and businesses and improve neighborhoods.
- Determine how many seats your state is allocated in the House of Representatives.
Alameda County receives ~60% of its revenue from Federal & State resources
California receives $76 billion in federal funding, based upon the state’s population
Federal Programs that Allocate Funds to CA Using Census Data
To download: Federal Programs funded by Census Data