The Local Update of Census Addresses Program was an integral part of the 2010 Census activities that utilized the expertise of tribal, state, and local governments to improve the accuracy and completeness of the Master Address File, the Census Bureau’s national living quarters inventory. The Master Address File served as the basis for the address list used to take the 2010 Census.

After the passage of the Census Address List Improvement Act of 1994, Census 2000 was the first opportunity to participate in the Local Update of Census Addresses Program for tribal and local governments. The Census 2000 program consisted of two phases. The Local Update of Census Addresses Program 98 included the Mailout/Mailback enumeration areas while the Local Update of Census Addresses Program 99 included the Update Enumerate enumeration areas. Participants in both of the phases could appeal address results.

Due to the cancellation of the Local Update of Census Addresses Program from the 2004 and 2006 Census Tests, a survey of governments eligible for the 2010 program was conducted to determine the preference and interest in proposed changes to the program. In addition, a state-level participation pilot program in 2006 determined the feasibility of state level participation.

The Local Update of Census Addresses Program was a part of the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal with 44 of the 62 eligible governments participating. There were no address appeals for the Local Update of Census Addresses Program Dress Rehearsal.

Based on the results of these and other surveys and evaluations throughout the past decade, several changes and improvements were made to the 2010 Census Local Update of Census Addresses Program.