Editing United States Census Bureau (section)

{{Short description|U.S. agency responsible for the census and related statistics}}
{{Redirect|USCB|the American college|University of South Carolina Beaufort}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox government agency
| logo = United States Census Bureau Wordmark.svg
| logo_size = 180px
| seal = Seal of the United States Census Bureau.svg
| seal_size = 170px
| formed = {{start date and age|1902|7|1}}
| preceding1 =
| jurisdiction =
| headquarters = [[Suitland, Maryland]], U.S.
| budget =
| chief1_name = ''Vacant''
| chief1_position = Director
| chief2_name = [[Ron S. Jarmin]]
| chief2_position = Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer
| parent_department =
| parent_agency = [[United States Department of Commerce|U.S. Department of Commerce]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.census.gov/|census.gov}}
| footnotes =
}}

The '''United States Census Bureau''', officially the '''Bureau of the Census''', is a principal agency of the [[Federal statistical system|U.S. federal statistical system]], responsible for producing data about the [[American people]] and [[American economy|economy]]. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the [[United States Department of Commerce|U.S. Department of Commerce]] and its [[Director of the United States Census Bureau|director]] is appointed by the [[president of the United States]]. Currently, [[Ron S. Jarmin]] is the acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2024 |title=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.commerce.gov/bureaus-and-offices/census |access-date=April 28, 2024 |website=U.S. Department of Commerce |language=en}}</ref>

The Census Bureau's primary mission is conducting the [[United States census|U.S. census]] every ten years, which allocates the seats of the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] to the [[U.S. state|states]] based on their population.<ref name="USCB DOC-D1026 QVC Manual 01/03/09"/> The bureau's various censuses and surveys help allocate over $675 billion in federal funds every year and it assists states, local communities, and businesses in making informed decisions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/why.html|title=Why We Conduct the Decennial Census|date=October 28, 2019|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=April 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409072102/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/why.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bnlconsulting.com/case-studies/census-steps|title=US Census Bureau StEPS II Case Study |website=BNL Consulting |access-date=January 20, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202020412/http://bnlconsulting.com/case-studies/census-steps|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/05/15/the-u-s-census-is-in-trouble-this-is-why-its-crucial-to-what-the-nation-knows-about-itself/ |url-access=subscription |first1=Henry |last1=Farrell |date=May 15, 2017 |title=Analysis {{!}} The U.S. census is in trouble. This is why it's crucial to what the nation knows about itself.|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=May 15, 2017|archive-date=May 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517004559/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/05/15/the-u-s-census-is-in-trouble-this-is-why-its-crucial-to-what-the-nation-knows-about-itself/|url-status=live}}</ref> The information provided by the census informs decisions on where to build and maintain schools, hospitals, transportation infrastructure, and police and fire departments.<ref name=":0" />

In addition to the decennial census, the Census Bureau continually conducts over 130 surveys and programs a year,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/surveys-programs.html|title=List of All Surveys & Programs |website=United States Census Bureau|language=EN-US|access-date=April 3, 2020|archive-date=April 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402192508/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/surveys-programs.html|url-status=live}}</ref> including the [[American Community Survey]], the [[United States Economic Census|U.S. Economic Census]], and the [[Current Population Survey]].<ref name="USCB DOC-D1026 QVC Manual 01/03/09">USCB DOC-D1026 QVC Manual 01/03/09</ref> The U.S. Economic Census occurs every five years and reports on American business and the American economy in order to plan business decisions.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Our Censuses |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/censuses.html |access-date=April 28, 2024 |website=Census.gov}}</ref> Furthermore, economic and foreign trade indicators released by the federal government typically contain data produced by the Census Bureau.