Image courtesy the U.S. Census Bureau

Now that it’s May, census takers are hitting the streets to make personal visits to anyone who didn’t mail back their 2010 census form. You’ll likely see them around town, and in the event you didn’t return a census form (or didn’t receive one), you’ll also meet one at your front door.

The Census Bureau wants to make sure residents know what to expect when a census taker knocks on their door, so here’s a few things they say to keep in mind:

• Census takers will only ask the same 10 questions that appear on the census form. You can see those questions here.
• A census taker will never ask for your social security number or any financial information.
• Each census taker will be carrying an official government badge and a black canvas bag with the 2010 Census logo on it. They are also instructed never to ask to come inside your home, so beware anyone claiming to be with the Census who looks or acts differently.
• Census takers are hired by the Census Bureau from within the community.