The U.S. Constitution mandates a count of every person living in the United States every 10 years.
Why the Census is Important
It matters that you be counted.
- Our population determines how many seats Maryland has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- The Federal government distributes billions of dollars for government services and community programs based on census data.
- Census information helps to determine where we locate schools, immigrant resource facilities, hospitals, public safety facilities, and other important services and resources.
- Businesses make important investment decisions based on census data.
In 2020, residents conveniently participated in the census online. The Mount Rainier Public Library and City Hall also offered the use of their computers to residents who do not have a computer or smart phone access to complete the census.
It's Safe
The census is private and confidential. Federal law (Title 13) protects information. It's against the law for any Census Bureau employee to disclose or publish any census or survey information that identifies an individual or a business. In fact, Census Bureau employees take a lifetime oath and are subject to a $250,000 fine and 5 years in federal prison for a violation of this law.