How accurate is the US census population of cities?
The U.S. government already knows the approximate population before the Census is conducted. Still, the Constitution says the U.S. has to have a census every ten years. The Census historically underestimates by about 5% due to under counting. Some municipalities get very upset because they think they have been under counted, and rightfully so since federal dollars they receive are based on Census numbers. The Census produces maps of every house or dwelling place in America. Forms are hand delivered to each house (or something that looks like a house). Householders fill out the forms and turn them in. The houses (apartments, hotels etc.) that don’t turn in a form are visited a second time. If the householder refuses, information is obtained by other means. The final, and most difficult task, is finding and counting the homeless and those that live in more than one place. Regardless, cities and towns almost always say they are under counted.
