Every ten years since the founding of our republic, the U.S. government has taken a census of its citizens. The original reason was to allocate Congressional representation — to make sure that all groups of citizens have an equal say in their government. At present, there’s one congressperson for every 650,000 people or so — after this census, it will be closer to 700,000.

Money for most government programs is also allocated according to population. Knowing how many people live in a community is essential to getting our fair share. Highways, police and fire protection, water resources, education programs, and countless other programs depend on a true count of residents here and in every other community.

It’s also important to know who makes up those residents. Are there lots of old people and few children, or vice versa? Without that information, how can we know whether to build schools or retirement centers? Facts about racial and ethnic diversity, income levels, and other information also help our representatives know what we need.