What’s on the Census?
The Census is essentially a short survey. Aside from asking whether you rent or own a home, it is all about the names, ages, and race/ethnicity of the people living in that household. Simple.
Click here to take a look at the 2020 Sample Census Survey to familiarize yourself with the content and questions.
Additional Notes on Specific Census Questions:
Many people will have the opportunity to self-respond online.
Check out the Hard to Count map below to discover if most of your community members will be visited in person or will receive a form to respond online.
The citizenship question is NOT on the form.
The question pertaining to a person’s citizenship will not be asked.
Page 2, Question 6: “What is Person 1’s sex?
There are two options: Male or Female.
The correct answer is the gender in which that person most identifies with.
Page 2, Question 9: What is Person 1’s race?
It is possible to mark one or more boxes (e.g. White AND Black AND Chinese, etc.). A person does not have to choose one box (race).
Population Reference Bureau notes that this is the first time in census history that “individuals will also be able to identify their ethnic or national origin as part of the race question.”
Click here for more on race, regarding the Census. the
Page 3, Question 3: “How is this person related to Person 1?”
For all of the genealogists out there, we know that historically the answers have been, husband, wife, son, daughter, border, etc. This year, for the first time, the census is asking about same-sex spouse or same-sex partner. And, yes, it does give the “roommates” option of “Other nonrelative.”