America's Changing, and so is the Census

• National Mailing of New Survey Marks Historic Shift for Census Bureau

The days of having to wait a decade for updated census figures about a changing America will soon be behind us, thanks to a new survey the U.S. Census Bureau began mailing in January to 250,000 households a month across the nation. The ACS is more timely and relevant than the decennial census long form it replaces, providing decision-makers, communities and businesses with current information about their changing populations every year, rather than once a decade. Information provided by the ACS includes topics ranging from housing values and educational attainment to commute times and language spoken at home. "We believe the American Community Survey is the future - not only for the Census Bureau, but also for local leaders, businesses and growing communities," said Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. "For the first time, small communities will have timely and accurate information that will help leaders make better decisions about where to build and locate roads, schools and hospitals. Likewise, businesses will be better able to identify likely markets for their products and services," Kincannon continued. The survey is an improved way to allocate states' shares of more than $200 billion a year in federal and state funding currently allotted based on five-year old census long-form data. Each year, the Census Bureau will mail the mandatory survey to a rolling, random sample of about 3 million households throughout the country and Puerto Rico. Roughly 2.5 percent of the nation's 140 million households - about 1-in-40 households - will participate in the survey each year. By comparison, 1-in-6 households received the Census 2000 long form. [more]