By Kathryn Reed

Census workers are making the rounds in Lake Tahoe and throughout the United States.

It’s that every 10-year thing where households are asked 10 questions.

Those coming by verify your address, the type of residence (single family or something else), the ZIP code, and if you get your mail at a post office box.

Then they hand you an envelope with 10 questions for each person living in the residence.

The Census has been going on since 1790. It was started to figure out how many men (because women didn’t have such positions back then) from each state would be in the House of Representatives.

That’s still a main reason the Census is conducted. But the results also have a monetary value.

“Every year, the federal government allocates more than $400 billion to states and communities based, in part, on Census data,” Census literature states. “Census data are used to determine location for retail stores, schools, hospitals, new housing developments and other community facilities. Census data determine boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts.”

The Census Bureau protects people who are not here legally. It is important for everyone to fill out the forms so the services needed in a particular area can be provided based on the populations living there.

Beyond the 10 questions, a small percentage of the population will be asked more detailed socio-economic questions.

All of the questionnaires are to be mailed back by April 1 – known as Census Day. (No joke.)

For the households that don’t send the form back, Census takers will knock on their door in May, June and July.

The Census Bureau has until the end of the year to give the president the results. A year from now the Census Bureau will give states information about redistricting.

For more information about the Census, click here.