How the Census Works

This Stuff You Should Know episode dives into the fascinating history and inner workings of the U.S. Census, from its constitutional origins in 1790 all the way to the 2020 census. Josh and Chuck explore how the census has evolved from horseback-riding marshals with quill pens to a sophisticated operation using GPS devices and intelligent character recognition, while uncovering surprising facts about what it takes to count every single person in America—including folks living in cars, on boats, in prisons, and even traveling with carnivals. They also explain why your census response matters so much, covering everything from how it determines congressional representation to how the $400 billion in federal aid gets distributed to your community, plus the serious privacy protections that keep your information sealed for 72 years.