Keep an eye out for the mail carrier—the 2010 census is making its way to mailboxes in March.

The census is completed once every 10 years and is designed to count every U.S. resident, regardless of race, ethnicity or citizenship. The results are used to determine representation in the U.S. House of Representatives, school budgets, public transportation, and federal aid and grant money.

The first U.S. Census was conducted in 1790, and this year’s census will mark the 23rd polling. One notable difference in this year’s census from past questionnaires is the length. In past years, short-form and long-form questionnaires were distributed at random. The 2010 Census will only be a short-form questionnaire with 10 questions.

“It’s 10 questions and 10 minutes of your time, and we encourage everyone to fill out the form,” says Tony Jones, media relations representative for the Charlotte branch of the U.S. Census Bureau. “We hope by shortening the form it makes it easier for folks to fill it out and we’ll get more cooperation.”

And when it comes to the census, every voice truly does matter.

“It gives us a snapshot of where people live and what services are needed,” Jones says. “All communities can benefit from it. This year the government will allocate $400 billion of federal funds to urban and rural counties.”

Determining how to distribute these funds is based in part on census data.

One of the challenges that the Census Bureau faces is getting people to return the forms. Jones says they see lower return rates in rural areas and from minority groups.

“Folks may not understand the importance of filling out the form,” he says.

Jones notes that census data can greatly impact all communities, but it can have a great impact on areas that might be underrepresented.

“It can have an impact on aid that farmers and rural communities may want to see come down the pipeline in the next 10 years,” Jones says. “It can mean paved roads instead of dirt roads, better facilities for schools, and funding for new schools, fire stations and police stations.

“They only get this chance once every 10 years.”