2020 Census

While the 2020 United States Census is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, states and counties—including St. Charles County—play an important role in its success.

Why is the Census so important? The U.S. Constitution mandates that the country take a census of the population every 10 years to count every living person in the U.S. Participation in the Census is required by law. First conducted in 1790, Census results are used to determine the number of congressional seats for each state and distribute more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants and other support to states, counties and communities for schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs. 

Individuals can complete the Census by mail or phone, and, for the first time in 2020, will have the option of completing it online. Census staff also will go door-to-door in communities, distributing forms. Staff are not scheduled to go out into the community until mid-May, but this may change.