Today is National Census Day

It's National Census Day, and various events are taking place across the country to recognize it. The U.S. 2010 Census form, which you should have received by mail in March, poses 10 questions about the people residing at your home address today.

Census data determine the number of seats allotted to your state in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they also help the federal government decide how funds are distributed for hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, public-works projects, and emergency services (see "How it Affects the Nation"). Sometimes it can be difficult convincing U.S. residents to fill out and return the forms (see "Trying to Break Down Resistance to the Census" in today's New York Times). The Census Bureau's web site provides answers to several questions that U.S. residents may have:

• How does the Census account for the homeless?
• How does the Census protect your personal information?
• What if your Census form was lost, damaged, or you never received it in the mail?

Census data are useful not only to the government but to anyone doing research about the demographics of our nation. Our Guide to Census Information provides you with the steps to do this research.