Here's how the Census Bureau's regional liaison puts it: "All of the residents of Oak Park should understand that getting an accurate and complete count here will have a direct effect on the future of the City! There is a very real personal stake for all of us in the 2010 Census."

The numbers will impact social services, grant funds, employment opportunities and political representation. And it takes just 10 minutes to fill out the form, about the same amount of time as hard-boiling an egg.

IMPORTANT: All persons residing in the United States are required by law to respond to the 2010 Census questionnaire. A postage-paid envelope is supplied to make it as convenient as possible to mail it back.

• March, 2010 - Questionnaires will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to every address in the nation.
• During the year, fire departments in the US responded to 399,000 home fires. This averages to a domestic fire call every 79 seconds.
• April 1, 2010 - CENSUS DAY
• Through late April, 2010 -- The public returns completed questionnaires via mail.

Following are the questions, as worded on the official form you will receive, plus the Census Bureau's explanations of why each is asked. On the actual form, answer options are listed below each question, followed by spaces in which you mark the correct responses for your household.

• #1 - How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment of mobile home on April 10, 2010?
  "We ask this question to help get an accurate count of the number of people in the household on Census Day, April 1, 2010. The answer should be based on the guidelines in the 'Start here' section. We use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information."
• #2 - Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?
  "Asked since 1880. We ask this question to help identify people who may have been excluded in the count provided in Question 1. We use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information."
• #3 - Is this house, apartment or mobile home...(answer choices related to ownership or rental)
  "Asked since 1890. Home ownership rates serve as an indicator of the nation's economy. The data are also used to administer housing programs and to inform planning decisions."
• #4 - What is your telephone number?
  "We ask for a phone number in case we need to contact a respondent when a form is returned with incomplete or missing information."
• #5 - Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person living here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1.
  "Listing the name of each person in the household helps the respondent to include all members, particularly in large households where a respondent may forget who was counted and who was not. Also, names are needed if additional information about an individual must be obtained to complete the census form. Federal law protects the confidentiality of personal information, including names."
• #6 - What is Person 1's sex?
  "Asked since 1790. Census data about sex are important because man federal programs must differentiate between males and females for funding, Implementing and evaluating their programs. For instance, laws promoting equal employment opportunity for women require census data on sex. Also, sociologists, economists, and other researchers who analyze social and economic trends use the data."
• #7 - What is Person 1's age and what is Person 1's date of birth?
  "Asked since 1800. Federal, state and local governments need data about age to interpret most social and economic characteristics, such as forecasting the number of people eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits. The data are widely used in planning and evaluating government programs as policies that provide funds or services for children, working-age adults, women of childbearing ages, or the older population."
• #8 - Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?
  "Asked since 1970. The data collected in this question are needed by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State and local governments may use the data to help plan and administer bilingual programs for people of Hispanic origin."
• #9 - What is Person #1's race?
  "Asked since 1790. Race is key to implementing many federal laws and needed to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor disparities in characteristics such as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services."
• #10 - Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
  "This is another question we ask in order to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information."