The census is a count of those living in the United States and in its territories: Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.

Census categories for race and ethnicity have shaped how the nation sees itself. Here’s how they have changed over the last 230 years. By K.K. Rebecca Lai and Jennifer Medina Oct. 16, 2023 Since 1790, ...

Are you familiar with the U.S. Census? The data collection that provides information on the country’s population has been the topic of discussion as President Donald Trump calls for a major change in ...