Thursday, March 25, 2010

As the nation undergoes its annual head-count, a KAKE viewer asks, "When did the United States begin taking a census?" Good question.

The U.S. Census counts every resident, citizen and non-citizen in the country and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years.

The data collected helps determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. It also helps divide up federal funding for things like schools, senior centers and road projects.

The first U.S. Census was held in 1790 and counted roughly 3.9 million people.

After the 2000 census, the estimated population was more than 281 million.

Send your good questions to news@kake.com