Census Bureau kicks off once-a-decade head count

Census Bureau kicks off once-a-decade head count

WASHINGTON (AP) -- "The Census Bureau":http://www.census.gov/ is launching a campaign to prod the nation's more than 300 million residents to fill out their once-a-decade census forms. "Director Robert Groves":http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1889793,00.html will unveil a 46-foot trailer in New York City dubbed "Mail It Back." Thirteen of the vehicles will show up at about 800 events around the country, including the Super Bowl and the "NCAA ":http://www.ncaa.org/Final Four. Letters will be sent out in early March to notify people that the census forms will follow between March 15-17. The 10-question form is one of the shortest in the history of the census. Those who don't fill it out can expect a follow-up post card and finally an in-person visit from a census worker. In the Gulf Coast region, this year's census will provide the most accurate measure to date of how "Hurricanes Katrina ":http://www.hhs.gov/disasters/emergency/naturaldisasters/hurricanes/katrina/index.htmland Rita affected population trends. _Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed._