The U.S. Census Bureau has a long history in the United States of America. The Census Bureau collects data about the people and economy of the United States every ten years. The first census was taken in 1790 by U.S. marshals who were told to visit every dwelling place and count the individuals living there. Taking about a year to complete the count, census clerks determined the population to be 3.9 million inhabitants.

As the country grew, an increasing need developed for statistics to help the government understand the current situation and to make plans for the future. The content of the census changed accordingly. In 1810 the first inquiry about manufacturing was included; questions about fisheries were added in 1840. In 1850 the census included questions about crime, taxation, churches, and other social issues. In 1870 the Census Bureau used a wooden machine invented by Col. Charles W. Seaton...