On June 1, 1902, Congress established the permanent Census Bureau as part of the Department of the Interior. Before this, censuses were conducted every ten years using temporary workers and short-lived offices. A permanent bureau made it easier to collect, analyze, and publish data on population and economic conditions. The change allowed more detailed statistics and improved planning for future counts. Over time, the Census Bureau expanded into economic surveys and demographic data programs. Today, its work supports research, federal funding distribution, and congressional apportionment.
