2000 United States Census — 22nd census, which determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000
The 22nd U.S. federal census recorded a population of 281,421,906, marking a 13.2% increase over 1990 and the last census to use the detailed long form.
Key Facts
- Resident population
- 281,421,906 people
- Population increase from 1990
- 13.2 percent
- 1990 census population
- 248,709,873 people
- Census number
- 22nd federal census
- Long form recipients
- ~16% of households
- Reference date
- April 1, 2000
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
As mandated by the U.S. Constitution, a federal census is conducted every ten years to count the resident population and apportion congressional representation. The 1990 count of approximately 248.7 million necessitated a new enumeration by 2000 to reflect demographic shifts across states and regions.
The Census Bureau conducted the 22nd federal census on April 1, 2000, recording a resident population of 281,421,906. Approximately 16 percent of households received a long form containing over 100 questions. It was described as the largest civilly administered peacetime effort in the country at that time.
California became the first state to surpass 30 million residents, and both California and Texas exceeded 20 million. The 2000 census was the last to include the long form; from the 2010 census onward, detailed demographic questions were transferred to the new American Community Survey, fundamentally changing how supplemental data is gathered.