What the Census Bureau Does the Other Nine Years

Many Americans think the Census Bureau only works every 10 years, when we count everyone in the Census of Population and Housing. When you read newspapers or magazines, watch TV, or listen to the radio, there's a good chance that you will see or hear about the work that the Census Bureau does consistently throughout the decade.

The Census Bureau utilizes staff in 12 regional offices to manage operations related to current or demographic surveys. We use surveys because it costs too much and takes too long to ask every American every question on every subject. A survey uses only a sample of an entire population. Each sample is scientifically selected so one household represents many other households. Surveys help us get an authentic cross-section of households, individuals, or special groups.

The Census Bureau has a network of professional field representatives who gather data for the Census Bureau by personal visit or telephone, as well as for other government agencies and institutions. To gather survey data, the Los Angeles Regional Office employs field representatives in 19 California counties, the State of Hawaii with its five counties, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas Islands. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development are just a few of our customers.