Counting on the Census
With a count of 331,449,281 residents, the 24th decennial Census of the United States is beginning to release the newest data about the current demographics of our country. This procedure, a Constitutionally-mandated enumeration of the citizens and residents of the country, is a vital research tool – but it is also a source of conflict and controversy. Since many consequential issues hinge on the results of the Census – principally the apportionment of representatives in the Congress and funding for government programs that include roads, schools, health, and emergency services – it has become a flashpoint for competing (and highly politicized) ideologies. The Census has long been plagued by controversy. Both George Washington and Thomas Jeffeson thought the original 1790 … Continued