A new United States Census Bureau regional office has opened in Allentown.

As part of its preparation for the upcoming 2020 count of the population, the United States Census Bureau hosted a grand opening ceremony for its Allentown area regional office on January 15.

The Census is one of the first federal government functions that is mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. Article I, Section 2 mandates that the government conduct an “actual enumeration,” or count, of the population every 10 years.

The original purpose of the Census, first conducted in 1790, was to determine representation in Congress. Today, Census counts are used to distribute billions of dollars in federal funds for education, social services, and critical public infrastructure.

The Census Bureau’s data provides a valuable resource to the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) in its mission to market the economic assets of Lehigh Valley.

Much of our knowledge about the population, demographics, diversity, education, and labor force of the region comes directly information reported by the Census Bureau. LVEDC also uses broader Census data to identify trends affecting our region and to compare this area to other places that compete with us to attract and retain businesses, jobs, and talent.

At the regional office opening, Fernando Armstrong, the Census Bureau’s Philadelphia Regional Director, said the 2020 Census will be vastly different than previous counts.

“We are leveraging technology in 2020 to a degree we have not done before to give people more options to respond, including online and by smartphone,” Armstrong said.

One thing that has not changed, and never will change, Armstrong said, is the commitment to protect the confidentiality of every person who responds to the Census.

To learn more about the Census, its history, the data it provides, and the timeline for the 2020 count, visit www.census.gov.