2010 United States census

2010 United States census
Original: United States Bureau of the Census Vector: Mysid · Public domain · source
Name	2010 United States census
Country	United States
Date	April 1, 2010
Population	308,745,538
Percent change	9.7%
Region type	most populous state
Region	California (37,253,956)
Region type2	least populous state
Region2	Wyoming (563,626)
Previous census	2000 United States census
Previous year	2000
Next census	2020 United States census
Next year	2020

2010 United States census. The 2010 United States census was the twenty-third decennial enumeration of the nation's population, conducted as mandated by Article One of the United States Constitution. This national headcount, occurring on April 1, 2010, recorded a resident population of 308,745,538, representing a 9.7% increase from the 2000 United States census. The data collected by the United States Census Bureau was pivotal for the Congressional reapportionment and for guiding the distribution of hundreds of billions in federal funds to states and localities.

Overview

The census was conducted under the authority of the United States Department of Commerce, with the Census Bureau led by Director Robert Groves. The enumeration period officially began in January 2010 in remote parts of Alaska, with the main national effort culminating on Census Day, April 1. The short-form questionnaire, sent to all households, collected basic information on topics such as race, Hispanic origin, and housing tenure. The operation involved hundreds of thousands of temporary workers, including United States Postal Service personnel and field enumerators, who visited non-responding households. Final results were delivered to President Barack Obama in December 2010, as required by law.

Major findings

The total population count of 308.7 million confirmed the continued growth and shifting geographic center of the United States, which moved to Texas County, Missouri. The West South Central states and the Mountain states regions experienced the fastest growth, with states like Nevada, Arizona, and Texas seeing significant increases. For the first time, the population of a state surpassed 37 million, with California retaining its top position. The data revealed increasing racial and ethnic diversity, with the non-Hispanic white population declining as a percentage of the total. Significant growth was recorded among populations identifying as Asian, Hispanic or Latino, and those reporting two or more races. Furthermore, the census showed a continuing trend of population movement from the Midwest and Northeast to the South and West.

Data collection methodology

The primary innovation for the 2010 census was the planned use of handheld computing devices for field data collection, though technical problems led to a return to paper-based methods. The bureau launched a massive integrated communications campaign, partnering with organizations like the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and the NAACP to improve participation. For the first time, bilingual English-Spanish questionnaires were mailed to over 13 million households in areas with high concentrations of Hispanic residents. The American Community Survey, which had fully replaced the census long form, continued to collect detailed socioeconomic data annually. Data processing centers, including facilities in Phoenix and Baltimore, utilized advanced optical character recognition and imaging technology to tabulate the millions of returned forms.

Reapportionment and redistricting

The census results triggered the reapportionment of the House of Representatives, shifting twelve seats among eighteen states based on the Method of Equal Proportions. Texas gained four seats, while Florida gained two. States such as Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania each lost two seats. This reapportionment directly affected the allocation of Electoral College votes for the 2012 presidential election. Subsequently, state legislatures and redistricting commissions, such as the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, used the detailed block-level data to redraw boundaries for congressional districts, state legislative districts, and local wards.

Controversies and challenges

The census faced several political and operational controversies. Some members of Congress, including Representative Michelle Bachmann, urged a boycott over concerns about data confidentiality and the role of the American Community Survey. There were significant debates, including litigation led by groups like the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, regarding the counting of prisoners at their incarceration locations rather than their home communities. The bureau also confronted major challenges in counting homeless populations and in historically undercounted areas like parts of the Mississippi Delta and American Indian reservations. Furthermore, the failed deployment of the handheld devices resulted in cost overruns and scrutiny from the Government Accountability Office.

Comparison with previous censuses

The 9.7% population growth rate from 2000 to 2010 was the lowest since the Great Depression, falling below the 13.2% growth recorded between the 1990 and 2000 censuses. It marked a continuation of the slower growth trend that began after the peak of the Baby Boom. The 2010 count was the first to not include the long-form questionnaire, a permanent change initiated after the 2000 census. Compared to earlier counts, the 2010 census showed a accelerated decline in the proportion of the non-Hispanic white population and a more rapid increase in the multiracial population, reflecting evolving social attitudes and demographic shifts. The geographic population center continued its historical drift southwestward from Indiana into Missouri.

Category:2010 in the United States Category:United States censuses