The United States Census Bureau has begun field operations for the 2020 Decennial Census. From now through mid-October, ‘listers,’ U.S. Census staff charged with address verification, will be canvassing in neighborhoods to check and add new addresses to the Census’ nationwide address list.

Nearly 35 percent of all U.S. addresses are verified by listers. Address verification is a critical step in ensuring a complete count occurs.

Close to sixty-five percent of addresses are verified through satellite imagery, which are processed through the Census Bureau’s Block Assessment, Research, and Classification Application (BARCA) software. This software compares satellite images of the United States over the years, allowing the Census Bureau to identify new housing developments and compare imagery with number of addresses.

To learn more from the U.S. Census Bureau about address canvassing, click here.

Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate