United States census of 2000 was an extensive nationwide information-gathering project conducted by the U.S. federal government. The Census Bureau, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, conducts a census of population and housing every 10 years. Census taking, also called enumeration, enables the government to obtain a current description of the society it governs. This description includes the size of the population, as well as such facts as age, employment, ethnicity, housing, income, race, and sex. Because of its 10-year cycle, the U.S. census is called a decennial census. The 2000 census was the 22nd U.S. decennial census. The first one was in 1790.
Census information helps government agencies administer programs, distribute revenues, study social and economic problems, and plan activities. Statistics provided by the census affect the distribution of funds for economic development programs, housing, school aid, welfare, and Social Security. In addition, population size determines the number of representatives each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. Population totals are also used to draw boundaries for electoral districts.
Planning, conducting, and processing a census is a difficult and expensive project. The census of 2000 employed about a million people, and cost about $8 billion.
