Ways the Census is Used
- Reapportioning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Determining the number of votes each state receives in the Electoral College.
- Drawing federal, state and local legislative districts.
- Drawing local city council and school district boundaries.
- Distribution of over $675 billion annually in federal funds and even more in state funds.
- Determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans.
- Estimating the number of people displaced by natural disasters.
- Designing public safety strategies.
- Creating maps to speed emergency services to households in need of assistance.
- Planning for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and the location of other health services.
- Assessing the potential for the spread of communicable diseases.
- Planning health and educational services for people with disabilities.
- Distributing medical research.
- Forecasting future housing needs for all segments of the population.
- Development of rural areas.
- Planning urban land use.
- Facilitating scientific research.
- Researching historical subject areas.
- Providing genealogical research.
- Setting a standard for creating both private and public surveys.
- Planning and researching for news stories.
- Developing "intelligent" maps for government and businesses.
- Forecasting future transportation needs for all segments of the population.
- Planning for public transportation.
- Planning for school facilities and programs.
- Developing adult education programs.
- Establishing fair market rents and enforcing fair lending practices.
- Enforcing the Voting Rights Act.
- Enforcing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- Directing funds for people in poverty.
- Developing assistance programs for American Indians and Native Alaskans.
- Directing services to children and adults with limited English-language proficiency.
- Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly and children.
- Attracting new businesses to state and local areas.
- Delivering goods and services to local markets.
- Distributing catalogs and developing mail pieces.
- Locating factory sites and distribution centers.
- Understanding labor supply.
- Spotting trends in the economy.
- Planning future government services.
- Analyzing local trends.
- Decision making at all levels of government.
- Evaluation programs in different geographical areas.
- Planning outreach strategies.
- Planning budgets for government at all levels.
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