Prompt Cast
The History and Importance of the US Census
TLDR The US Census, conducted every 10 years since 1790, plays a crucial role in determining representation in the House of Representatives, allocating state aid, and verifying addresses. Over the years, the census has evolved to include more questions and gather more information, and it is important for the Census Bureau to count every single person in the United States, including those with non-traditional residences.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The census is conducted every 10 years in the US and has been a part of the country's history since 1790.
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The first US census did not count slaves or Native Americans, and there was a three-fifths compromise where slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person.
09:22
The first US census took place in 1790 and was signed into law by George Washington, and while the Constitution only required the enumeration of inhabitants, the census has evolved to include many more questions and gather more information than just the number of people.
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In 1880, trained workers were used for the first time in the census, and about 10 years later, the first machine, a primitive computer, was used to help count the information.
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In 2010, GPS devices were introduced to improve the accuracy of the census count and reduce the error rate from 5% to 0.05%.
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The census is important because it determines representation in the House of Representatives, verifies addresses, and allocates about $400 billion in state aid.
28:25
The census bureau provides a letter on your behalf saying this person lived at this place at this time, and the census starts in Alaska because travel becomes tough after the spring thaw.
33:20
The Census Bureau tries to count every single person in the United States, including those with non-traditional residences like dormitories, prisons, boats, and shelters, and they provide assistance in multiple languages to ensure accurate participation.
38:15
The Census Bureau takes several years to complete the census, and in addition to counting heads, they also collect information about gender, age, race, Hispanic origin, and relationship to the head of the household, although some groups, like Alaskan native tribes, are unhappy about certain questions being asked.
42:52
Census takers face both positive and negative experiences on the job, with some enjoying the flexibility and benefits, while others encounter dangerous situations and threats.
47:25
The hosts of the podcast receive a message from a fan who finds their show calming and helpful for managing their anxiety.
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