2010 Census

The U. S. Constitution mandates a Census of the population every 10 years in order to achieve an accurate assessment of the number and location of people in each state. The Census population counts determine the number of seats your state occupies in the U. S. House of Representatives. Accurate counts are integral to ensuring fair and equitable representation in Congress.

Census counts also determine the amount of state and federal funding communities receive for the ten year period between counts. The federal government uses the census numbers to allocate $400 billion each year to local, state, and tribal governments to fund infrastructure and services such as; hospitals, schools, senior centers, bridges, sidewalks, roads, emergency services, social services, and community development.

Since 2000, the City of Ashland has received over $ 2.2 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, has shared in over $1.2 Million a year in public works and infrastructure funding through the Medford MPO, and received a variety of funds to support programs that provide services for seniors and other vulnerable populations. All due to the data provided through the Census.

The goal of the decennial Census is to count everybody, count them only once, and count them in the right place. Census data is an important tool for historians, genealogists, demographers, policy-makers, and countless others. Data gathered during census counts is used to write grant applications, advocate for causes, and to recognize and analyze trends in demographic and socio-economic developments to provide a basis for future planning. Census data enables researchers to trace family trees, it provides important information about socio-economic change over time, and is a means for recording the statistical plight of the common American for perpetuity.

With just ten minutes of your time, answering ten questions will guarantee that you and your family; receive fair and equitable representation in the democratic process, assure that a fair apportionment of your tax dollars go to support necessary services in your community, and to ensure your place in the history of America for posterity.

For more information about the 2010 Census, please click here.