Planning and Community Development Department
What is the census?
The census is a count of everyone living in the United States once every 10 years. The federal government has held a census every decade since 1790 when U.S. marshals rode throughout the entire country, on horseback, and counted 3.9 million people.
What is so important about the census?
The census is very important to our government because the results determine how we will be represented in Congress, in the Maryland General Assembly, and in our local City Council. The amount of money the Town designates for specific projects and activities over the next decade partly depends on the answers you give on the census questionnaire. Local planning efforts by our Town leaders and local government departments must rely on the total year-round population figures the census provides to adequately supply the infrastructure, police presence, and recreational activities you have come to enjoy and depend on.
How does the census work?
The Census Bureau will mail a census questionnaire to your home address in March of 2010. A return envelope will come with the form. All you need to do is fill out the questionnaire and return it to the Census Bureau. There will be ten questions to answer. If you need help, contact the local planning office and someone will assist you. If you forget or do not return the questionnaire, a Census Bureau employee will visit your home to help you complete the census form, costing the federal government millions of your tax dollars to hire employees to make these visits. Every answer you give is completely safe and will not be shared with any other agency at any level of government, guaranteed by federal law.
How can I learn more about the census?
The following website tells you all you need to know:
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/ Or, feel free to call the planning office at City Hall in Ocean City to get an answer to your question. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., except holidays. The planning office’s number is 410-289-8855.
What happens to the answers I put on the questionnaire? Are the answers shared with the public?
The U.S. Census Bureau is committed to producing quality statistical data, while upholding its mandate to safeguard privacy and protect the confidentiality of all individuals who share their information with us. We publish aggregate statistics showing the characteristics of the American people and make it available on the internet. These statistics do not reveal names, addresses or any other information that would identify an individual respondent or business.
Title 13 of the U.S. Code strictly prohibits the Census Bureau from releasing personal data collected on an individual or business for any purpose to anyone or any other federal, state or local government. The law carries a fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years imprisonment for employees who violate this statute.