FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                   THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2002

Public Information Office                                   CB02-CN.172
(301) 763-3691/457-3620 (fax)                               *REVISED*
(301) 457-1037 (TDD)
e-mail: 2000usa@census.gov


On the Road to Census 2010
                                
             Georgia, Illinois and New York Areas 
                 Selected as Census Test Sites
                                
  The Census Bureau will conduct field testing for the 2010 census in
Colquitt, Thomas and Tift counties in Georgia, Lake County in Illinois and
a portion of northwestern Queens County in New York. The tests will take
place in 2004.

  "These field tests build upon Census 2000 successes and allow us to be
innovative and expand the use of technology to make the 2010 Census the
best ever," said Census Bureau Director C. Louis Kincannon.

  A major innovation that will be studied in 2004 is equipping field
interviewers with hand-held computing devices to collect questionnaire
data, and to find their assigned work areas. The devices also will include 
global positioning system (GPS) technology that can improve the process of 
assigning addresses to their correct geographic location. In addition to 
studying new technologies, the 2004 census test will examine a variety of 
methodological and operational improvements.

  Approximately 450,000 housing units will be involved in the test across
the three sites. The Census Bureau estimates it will hire a total of about 
3,000 local residents across all sites for temporary positions during 
peak operations. The Bureau will lease office space in each location.

  Additional field tests are planned for 2006 that will build on
operational, methodological and technological answers to be provided by
the 2004 census test. In 2008, a full dress rehearsal census will be
conducted in final preparation for 2010. In addition to these field
studies, the 2010 Census planning effort uses mail surveys, cognitive
testing and input from a wide range of advisors and stakeholders.