It's Easy. It's Important. It's Confidential.

The census is an extraordinary initiative in which the United States creates a profile of its population, determining how many people reside within its borders, who they are, and where they live. This undertaking occurs once every ten years and requires the participation of every household in the country. In 2010, the U.S. census will define who we are as a nation.

Be sure to check out ten reasons why you should participate in the 2010 census and how it will impact our community for the next ten years.

Because of the census' importance, the City of Mt. Pleasant is partnering with a variety of local entities to ensure that every person is counted. Its importance stretches beyond a simple population count. Not only do the census results affect state representation, but the outcome also assists on local levels by guiding community planning efforts and determining State and Federal funding formulas. Additionally, more than $400 billion is awarded annually based on its results.

Every household in Mt. Pleasant and beyond will receive a questionnaire in February-March 2010. To ensure an accurate and fair count of all populations at all geographic levels in the nation, the Census Bureau needs you or someone in your household to respond to the census questionnaire.

• It’s important. – Census data affects funding for our community, our community’s representation in Congress and our community leader’s planning decisions.
• It’s easy. – The census questionnaire takes only a few minutes to answer and return by mail.
• It’s confidential. – Your responses are protected by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9). All Census Bureau employees have taken an oath to protect confidentiality and are subject to a jail term, a fine – or both – for disclosing any information that could identify a respondent or household.
• It’s required by law. – The information you provide is combined with responses provided by your neighbors and other households across the country, to provide summary statistical data that are used by various local, state and federal agencies.