The U.S. Census Bureau has released results of the 2020 census, a head count of U.S. residents administered every 10 years. The statistics show that the American population has become much more diverse, and more people are identifying with multiple races. Census data are used to draw new voting districts that reflect the racial and ethnic make-up of the population, which impacts representation. Bureau officials estimate that several minority groups were likely undercounted this time, potentially affecting redistricting and resource allocation. Listen to learn more about the results of the 2020 census and how difficult conditions during the count may have influenced the results.
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September 29, 2020
2:01
Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau counts everyone living in the U.S., and the results determine state funding and political representation. The coronavirus pandemic is making collecting data for the 2020 census especially challenging, and last spring the Census Bureau extended the deadline. Soon after, however, the White House pressed the Census Bureau to finish counting earlier than originally proposed. The Census Bureau says the shortened window would prevent an accurate count, significantly impacting some communities for the next decade. Listen to hear how some leaders are trying to motivate people to ensure they are counted.
Update: Since this story aired, the court decided to uphold the extension of the census data collection deadline of October 31, 2020.
Read MoreOctober 15, 2019
5:47
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with origins in countries once under Spanish influence. The term “Hispanic” was added to the U.S. census to identify members of a diverse group of people with common interests. However, some people feel the term is problematic because of its connection to Spanish colonialism. Many prefer the term “Latino,” while others like to be identified by their national heritage. Listen to hear a journalist explain various preferences for naming ethnic identity and what they mean to people.
Read MoreAugust 12, 2019
3:55
“Are you a U.S. citizen?” The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot include that question on the 2020 census, even though the Trump administration wanted to add it. However, the administration is still trying to get as much citizenship data as possible, and the controversy over whether to add this question could still affect the way undocumented immigrants answer the census. Listen to hear about the controversy over adding a citizenship question to the census and where it stands.
Read MoreApril 9, 2018
4:07
Every ten years the U.S. Census Bureau aims to count every person living in the United States, and the next census begins on April 1, 2020. Data from the census directly affects how billions of dollars in federal and state aid are allocated to local and state governments. When the questions were initially approved and released, they included the question: Is this person a citizen of the United States? Some states expressed fears about how this question would affect the response rate, which would impact their state budgets. Listen to hear more about the proposed changes to the 2020 census questions.
Update: Since this story was published, it was decided that the citizenship question would not be included on the 2020 U.S. Census form, after the Supreme Court ruled against it.
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