The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that Kathleen Ludgate, a 28-year veteran of the nation’s largest statistical agency, has been named director of its Boston regional office.

     Ludgate has worked in the Boston regional office for the last 20 years, and has been the region’s assistant director since 1988.

     As regional director, she will be responsible for gathering demographic and economic data from households in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, most of New York state, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as Puerto Rico. The Boston region encompasses nearly 9 million housing units and 3,176 governmental units, including 18 American Indian reservations.

     Born in Scranton, Pa., Ludgate graduated in 1975 from Marywood University in Scranton with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics. She received the Census Bureau’s Bronze Medal in 1991, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Silver Medal in 1998 and the Boston Federal Executive Board Award of Excellence in 2000.

     Besides the once-a-decade census, the Census Bureau also conducts monthly household surveys through its 12 regional offices. These result in hundreds of reports a year on the nation’s changing population and economy. Census data help governmental officials, community leaders and businesses plan for the future of their communities. All census data are strictly confidential and personal information is protected by law.

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