Census Resources: 2020 Census
What is the 2020 Census?
The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail.
Explore More Census!
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2020 Census Language Resources2020 Census video language guides, print language guides and language glossaries in 59 non-English languages. The online Census form will be available in 12 languages other than English.
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2020 Census New York StateNew York State's official web page to inform about the importance of participating in the Census. Includes the report: A Roadmap to Achieving a Complete 2020 Census Count in New York State.
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Counted In ToolkitLibraries supporting Census participation among New Americans.
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CUNY Hard-to-Count Census MapCreated by the City University of New York Mapping Service at the Center for Urban Research, CUNY Graduate Center:
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Language SupportThe U.S. Census Bureau provides translated web pages and guides in 59 non-English languages, including American Sign Language, as well as guides in braille and large print.
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Response Outreach Area MapperThe Response Outreach Area Mapper (ROAM) application was developed to make it easier to identify hard-to-survey areas and to provide a socioeconomic and demographic characteristic profile of these areas using American Community Survey (ACS) estimates available in the Planning Database. Learning about each hard-to-survey area allows the U.S. Census Bureau to create a tailored communication and partnership campaign, and to plan for field resources including hiring staff with language skills.
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Census Sample QuestionnaireSample of bilingual print form in English and Spanish.
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Western New York Census ToolkitThis toolkit provides information and actionable steps for getting involved with education, outreach, and support for Census 2020. It also offers specific information about local challenges and solutions
Census 2020 Timeline
Counting every person living in the United States is a massive undertaking, and efforts begin years in advance. Here's a look at some of the key dates along the way:
2020
- January 21: The U.S. Census Bureau starts counting the population in remote Alaska. The count officially begins in the rural Alaskan village of Toksook Bay.
- March 12 - 20: Households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail.
- March 30 - April 1: The Census Bureau will count people who are experiencing homelessness over these three days. As part of this process, the Census Bureau counts people in shelters, at soup kitchens and mobile food vans, on the streets, and at non-sheltered, outdoor locations such as tent encampments.
- April 1: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. When you respond to the census, you'll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020.
- April: Census takers will begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count.
- May - July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that haven't responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
- December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law.
2021
- March 31: By this date, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes.
How to Complete the Census
Census Bureau Mailing Timeline
Students
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Census Student Journalist ToolkitThis toolkit offers resources to help inform student journalists covering the 2020 Census.
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How academic libraries work to engage students in the CensusThis page provides information for academic libraries to promote the importance of the Census to hard -to-count students.
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Webinar on engaging college students in the CensusThis webinar focuses on how college students, organizations, and staff can get involved in ensuring that college students are counted in the 2020 Census.
Census Bureau News
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