2010 Census Road Tour

The 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour set out on Monday January 4, 2010 from New York City's Times Square, launching a cross-country interactive experience designed to increase awareness and encourage participation in the nation's once-a-decade population count.

During the next four months, the tour will be part of the largest civic outreach and awareness campaign in U.S. history -- stopping and exhibiting at more than 800 events nationwide. From local parades and festivals to major sporting events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four, the Census Bureau will attempt to motivate America's growing and increasingly diverse population to complete and mail back 10-question census forms when they arrive in mailboxes March 15-17.

What is the Road Tour?


What is the Road Tour?
A photo of a Road Tour vehicle

At 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour events, participants can learn about the 2010 Census and the positive impact their participation can have on their local community and the nation. Census data are used to apportion seats in Congress and directly affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments.
Vehicles

Thirteen vehicles will launch the 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour on Monday, January 4 throughout each of the Census Bureau’s 12 regions. The national vehicle will target high-attendance events, including Atlanta’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade, the Super Bowl, NASCAR Daytona 500, Denver Powwow, San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade and NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis.
Events

The 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour is designed to educate the public about the 2010 census, inspire interest in the process and encourage participation. Thirteen vehicles will travel across the country from January to April 2010, engaging audiences at events from the Super Bowl to state and county fairs, church functions and community events. Census staff will use vehicles to engage hard-to-count audiences and work with local “trusted voices” and the media to help spread the word that the 2010 Census is easy, safe and important.

2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour attendees will receive information about the census and have the opportunity to see a sample census form like the one that will arrive at more than 130 million addresses across the nation in mid-March 2010.
Portrait of America

At each stop, 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour participants will share images and stories, explaining why the census will make a difference to their communities. The 2010 Portrait of America showcases a collection of these stories, collected at 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour stops across America. Follow the 2010 Portrait of America Road Tour on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. Track the vehicles throughout the country on the 2010census.gov interactive map.
Partners

Corporate partners of the 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour include 3M, Best Buy, BET, Carbonfund.org, CMT, Google, MTV, Sesame Street, Telemundo, and Valero. These trusted voices are helping to communicate to their employees and consumers the importance of 2010 Census participation. City planners and businesses use census data to plan the future of their communities, including where to build new homes and businesses.

Emissions from the 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour will be offset by the Carbonfund.org.