---
title: "Census 2010 Basic Resources"
description: "Here are five key facts about the 2010 Census and links to basic information about it."
date: "2010-01-22"
authors:
  - name: "D’Vera Cohn"
    job_title: "Former Senior Writer/Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/dvera-cohn/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2010/01/22/census-2010-basic-resources/"
---

# Census 2010 Basic Resources

Here are five key facts about the 2010 Census and links to basic information about it:

- The Census Bureau expects to count 310 million U.S. residents.
- The count begins in Alaska on Jan. 25, but most Americans receive their forms in March.
- The 2010 Census form has 10 questions for the person who fills it out, and seven additional questions for each other person in the household.
- Census forms are available in six languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian); guides to the questions are available in 59 languages.
- The census determines how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and guides the allocation of more than $400 billion in federal funds each year.

Here is where you can find:

- The [2010 Census questionnaire](http://www.census.gov/2010census/partners/pdf/langfiles/2010_Questionnaire_Info_Copy.pdf).

- [Reasons](http://www.census.gov/2010census/about/interactive-form.php) why the Census Bureau asks each question.

- The [2010 Census timetable.](http://www.census.gov/2010census/about/timeline-flash.php)

- A [history of the decennial census](http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2009/censustradition.aspx).