As prescribed by the Constitution, the first decennial census was
conducted in 1790. Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State at the time,
directed the enumeration. Since then, the census has been taken in each
year ending in the zero digit. Thus, the most recent enumeration
(Census 2000) was the last census of the 20th century. The results of
Census 2000 will be a statistical bridge into the fourth century of census
taking in the United States.
Go to: "Who's counted"
Go to: "Congressional
Apportionment main page"
