Did you get your American Community Survey? Did you fill it out? Question after question about each person in the household? Up to 12 persons.
48 questions–which you are required by law to fill out. The Census Bureau even required your phone number so if they had any question about your answers they could phone you.
The second census in as many years–albeit titled a Survey. 38 minutes to complete and a contact agency: Paperwork Project 0607-0810 for comments by letter and Paperwork@census.gov for email comments. With other security numbers and devices the Census Bureau uses so you will know it is an official request, not a scam.
Would you love to know the answers to all these questions about your ancestors?
- Relationship to head of household–15 relationship choices
- Age and date of birth
- Country of and race
- Attended school within the last 3 months/ highest degree or level of education
- If Bachelor’s degree or higher, specific major
- Ancestry or ethnic origin and language spoken
- Address one year ago
- Health insurance coverage
- Disability or difficulty, including climbing stairs and doing errands
- Married, divorced, widowed during the year
- Give birth within the last 12 months
- Identifies grandparents caring for the children and how long
- Military service and when served, military disability
- Where do you work, what do you do, how much do you get paid
- All sources of income and actual total income in $$
This is the most complete collection of data ever asked for by the Census Bureau. We do live in a complicated world and this is a complicated survey.
My Dad, who has been dead for many years, resented the questions asked by Meals on Wheels to determine if he was entitled to get the meals for free or if he should pay. He would never answer this survey–even if required by law.
I filled in the answers on the form sent to me–and I hope that in some future time, my descendants will have access to my information. If you thought 20th century research was difficult, try getting 21st century records! Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle http://arleneeakle.com
PS The United States Census Records are the most significant record category f or tracing ancestors. If you haven’t an actual image (not a transcript) of the entries for each of your ancestors and each of their kids for each year that applies to their lives–repent! You are in for surprises–surprises that often surpass DNA shockers. And you might be able to account for the DNA differences you now have.
Get to work and pull the images so you can benefit from their evidence. Many transcripts are incomplete, re-arrange the members of the household, mis-read the entries, and leave off extra household people with their information. You need them all so you can study them and compare them over time.