Newsroom

Census Bureau Tip Sheet

A product of the U.S. Census Bureau's Public Information Office

Upcoming

2010 Census

2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour — The 2010 Census Road Tour is part of the largest civic outreach and awareness campaign in U.S. history — stopping and exhibiting at more than 800 events nationwide. Some upcoming stops include Chicago (Census Day event, April 1), Indianapolis (Final Four, April 3) and Washington, D.C. (Cherry Blossom Festival, April 10). Media advisories providing further details will be released several days before the events <http://2010census.gov/2010census/roadtour/>.

2010 Census Blogs — Follow the latest news about the census on several key blogs on the 2010 Census Web site. The “2010 Census Director's Blog” provides updates from Census Bureau Director Robert Groves. “The Whole Story: Real People, Real Questions, Real Answers” lays out the facts on key issues of concern to the public. <http://2010.census.gov/2010census/>.

How to Get Help Completing the 2010 Census Form — The main avenue for assistance and information is on the 2010 Census Web site. There are also 30,000 questionnaire assistance centers across the country and toll-free help hotlines. (Tentatively scheduled for release in late March.)

Join America's Civic Celebration: Census Day 2010 — Those who haven't completed their 2010 Census questionnaire are urged to spend a few minutes on Thursday, April 1 — Census Day — to fill out their form and mail it back, taking part in a civic event that benefits every U.S. resident. (Tentatively scheduled for release March 31.)

Neighborhoods to Hold “March to the Mailbox” Events April 10 — Communities across the country with low mail participation rates will hold parades, marches and other events April 10 to encourage participation in the 2010 Census. An inaccurate census count could result in an unfair distribution of more than $400 billion in federal funds annually. (Tentatively scheduled for release in early April.)

2010 Census Takers Visit Homes in Sparsely Populated Areas — Census takers go to certain areas of the country, such as isolated places in Arizona and New Mexico, to collect information at households for the 2010 Census. About 90 percent of the country received census forms in the mail, but these areas — comprising about 1 percent of the nation — did not. (Tentatively scheduled for release in April.)

Replacement 2010 Census Forms Being Mailed — Households in areas where mail response has traditionally been low will receive a replacement 2010 Census questionnaire. (Tentatively scheduled for release in April.)

Demographic

Educational Attainment in the United States: 2009 — Are women earning more degrees than men? How much more is an advance degree worth in earnings? Internet tables from the Current Population Survey present national-level data on the highest level of education achieved by a wide range of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. These include age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, household relationship, citizenship and nativity. Included as well are historical tables on mean earnings by level of attainment. (Tentatively scheduled for release in April.)

Economic Characteristics of Households in the United States: Third Quarter 2008 — Examines the roles of government-sponsored benefit programs and the labor market in helping people cope with the recession. Specifically, it presents data on average monthly income, participation in government-sponsored social welfare or insurance programs and labor force activity during the period. The data are from the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation; they do not supersede the official income estimates released in September 2009. (Tentatively scheduled for release in April.)

Economic

2009 4th Quarter Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue — This summary shows quarterly tax revenue data on property, sales, license, income and other taxes. Data are shown for individual state governments as well as national-level estimates of total state and local taxes, including 12-month calculations. This quarterly survey has been conducted continuously since 1962. (Scheduled for release March 30.)

2007 Economic Census: Manufacturing Geographic Area Series — This is a series of state, county, place and metro area data files on the manufacturing sector (NAICS 31). These include data for industries such as bottled water, plastic bottles, breakfast cereal, retail bakery products, mobile homes, nitrogenous fertilizers and others. The files provide data on the number of establishments, payroll, number of employees and other data items by industry. These data will be released February through May 2010. (Tentatively scheduled for release in April.)

Facts for Features

2010 Census by the Numbers (Revised) — Marking the nation's 23rd count of the population, an array of basic facts about the 2010 Census. This Facts for Features is an update of an issue released March 8. This edition contains new information reflecting the ongoing progress of the census. (Tentatively schedule for release April 1.)

2010 Hurricane Season — The north Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through November. The Census Bureau produces timely local data that are critical to emergency planning, preparedness and recovery efforts. This edition of Facts for Features highlights the number of people living in areas that could be most affected by these dramatic acts of nature. (Tentatively scheduled for release early April.)

Father's Day Centennial — To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Father's Day celebration, the Census Bureau presents a collection of statistical information from its demographic and economic subject areas honoring “dear old dad.” (Tentatively scheduled for release in mid-April.)

Broadcast/Photo/Multimedia/Television

Radio

Profile America and Al Día (Spanish) for March and April — Profile America segments include turn-of-the-century counting in “1900 Census” (March 31) and registering your automobile in “First License Plates” (April 25).

The daily features are available at <http://www.census.gov/multimedia/www/radio/>, with download options for MP3 (including podcast subscription) and WAV files, or zip files for the entire month (MP3).

Recently Released

(Since March 12, 2010)

2010 Census

Census Bureau Director to Discuss 2010 Census Progress — March 26 — Robert Groves will meet with the media April 1 at the National Press Club in Washington to discuss census operations and milestones. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/>.

Census Bureau Wraps Up Three-Race Roush Fenway Sponsorship With a Trip to the 'Clip — March 25 — The U.S. Census Bureau is gets one last shot at a win as primary sponsor of the No. 16 Ford Fusion driven by Greg Biffle when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visits Martinsville Speedway in Virginia this weekend. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb10-cn35.html>.

Initial 2010 Census Mail Participation Rate Announced — March 24 — Census Bureau Director Robert Groves released the initial 2010 Census mail participation rates for the nation, showing that 16 percent of households have mailed back their census forms so far. The announcement came a week after 120 million households received their 2010 Census forms in the mail. Available on the Census Bureau's Web site, the online display or mapping program show 2010 Census mail-back participation rates in real time. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb10-cn34.html>.

Giant Census Forms Unveiled — March 18 — The Census Bureau is displaying 20-foot 2010 Census forms at popular public places in major cities across the country. These forms will help create awareness and participation in the 2010 Census. Internet address: <http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/big-form.html>.

Census Bureau Back at the Track for Second Race with Biffle's No. 16 Ford Fusion — March 16 — The U.S. Census Bureau was back on the race track as the primary sponsor of the No. 16 Ford Fusion driven by Greg Biffle at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Internet address: <http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/second-race-with-biffles-no-16-ford-fusion.html>.

Census Bureau Director Delivers 2010 Census Message from James Madison's Montpelier Home — March 16 — In recognition of the 259th birthday of James Madison, the principal writer of the Constitution and the fourth President of the United States, Census Bureau Director Robert Groves visited Montpelier -- Madison's colonial home near Orange, Va. Internet address: <http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/director-delivers-2010-census-message.html>.

Mailing of 2010 Census Forms Begins — March 15 — Asking just 10 questions and taking about 10 minutes to complete, 2010 Census forms began arriving in 120 million mailboxes across the nation — just the 23rd time the country has undertaken the constitutionally mandated population count that dates back to 1790. Internet address: <http://2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/census-forms-arrive-in-mailboxes-across-nation.html>.

Demographic

County, Puerto Rico Municipio, Metropolitan and Micropolitan Area Population Estimates: July 1, 2009 — March 23 — Internet tables showing population estimates, rankings and components of change for the nation's counties, county equivalents, metro and micro areas since the 2000 Census and up to July 1, 2009. These are the last population estimates for these entities the Census Bureau will publish before the release of the official 2010 Census counts in spring 2011. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb10-37.html>.

Economic

2008 Annual Survey of State and Locally Administered Public Employee Retirement Systems — March 25 — The nation's state and local government employee retirement systems totaled $3.2 trillion in holdings and assets in 2008, a loss of $178.8 billion. This survey provides revenues, expenditures, financial assets and membership information for public employee retirement systems. Data are shown for individual retirement systems at the national, state and local government level. This survey provides current data about investment decisions by state and local government retirement systems, which are among the largest types of institutional investors in U.S. financial markets. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/governments/cb10-43.html>

State Government Tax Collections: 2009 — March 23 — State government tax collections totaled $715.2 billion in fiscal year 2009, a $66.9 billion decrease from 2008. This survey provides an annual summary of taxes collected by state for up to 25 categories, such as property tax, sales and gross receipts taxes, license taxes, income taxes and others. Data also provide details on tax collections by type of tax imposed and collected by state governments. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/governments/cb10-42.html>

2008 Annual Capital Expenditures Survey — March 18 — U.S. businesses spent $1.38 trillion on new and used structures and equipment in 2008. These data provide the latest information on capital investment in new and used structures and equipment, secondhand machinery and other used depreciable assets by nonfarm businesses. They are useful for identifying business opportunities, product development and business planning. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/economic_surveys/cb10-36.html>

2007 Economic Census of Island Areas: Puerto Rico — March 16 — The economic census, which profiles Puerto Rico's economy every five years, includes statistics for Puerto Rico manufacturing by metropolitan statistical areas and municipios (county equivalents). The data files provide information on the number of employees and production workers, value added by manufacture, cost of materials, value of shipments and capital expenditures. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/economic_census/cb10-26.html>

Facts for Features

Cinco de Mayo — March 18 — “The Fifth of May,” a national holiday in Mexico, has become a time to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture. The Census Bureau joins in the festivities with a collection of demographic and economic data relating to U.S. residents of Mexican descent. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb10-ff08.html>.

Broadcast/Photo/Multimedia/Television

Radio

Profile America and Al Día (Spanish) for March — Profile America segments included FDR closing banks for 10 days in “Bank Holiday” (March 5) and springing ahead with “Daylight Saving” (March 13). Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/multimedia/www/radio/>.

Photo

2010 Census Car Debuts in Atlanta's Kobalt Tools 500 (4) — Internet address: <http://2010.census.gov/mediacenter/>.

The Big Form — Internet address: <http://2010.census.gov/mediacenter/>.

Video

Public Service Announcements — There are many trusted voices willing to help promote the 2010 Census through our PSA campaign -- included Dora the Explorer. Internet address: <http://2010.census.gov/mediacenter/>.

Behind the Scenes — This television ad is part of the U.S. Census Bureau's national advertising campaign to boost mail participation rates in the once-a-decade population count. Internet address: <http://2010.census.gov/mediacenter/>.

Special Events — U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves and other government officials make public appearances at a variety of special events -- such as the debut of the 2010 Census-sponsored No. 16 Ford Fusion at NASCAR's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway -- to reinforce the message that everyone should participate in the 2010 Census. Internet address: <http://2010.census.gov/mediacenter/>.