Same thing for me a couple days ago. Mid-morning, young woman, just that one question "is this a single family home", had to give me the paper explanation even though I did not want it. I didn't watch to see if she visited any of my neighbors.

If that's all they need to know, why don't they just look at the tax records? Save

time and money.

What State do you live in?

It is a pre-census test and only hits about a half million addresses. The intent is to automate the census count as much as possible and to my understanding, is targeting areas that did not repond fully at the last count.

You can check the 2020 Census website for more details.

Yes, they are in my neighborhood asking the same.

Uptown Gal, I'm in Virginia. We're a college town. Lots of opportunities for unofficially renting rooms to students, and where do students count themselves, anyway?

By what criterion is renting a room to a student determined to be "official" or "unofficial" ?

Maybe the procedure is to use one census form for each group of related people, so a dwelling that has non-related occupants would be "not a single family house" and would need more than one form?

Elmer, for criterion I'm referring to zoning laws -- are people in compliance with them or not. I've only paid minimal attention to my own town's rules (because we have no intention of sharing our already downsized space!), but I know we have zoning laws covering how many unrelated people can live in one house, for instance. And recently we've added rules about short term rentals (air bnb's and the like).

My daughter was away in college for the last census, but darned if I remember where she was counted! I'm sure we followed the Census guideline, what ever it was.

Okay, that's a possibility but I'm not sure if it's much of a likelihood. I can't imagine a college town going on a rampage about rooms rented to students. If unrelated people living in a dwelling is an issue, what would be the situation for an unmarried couple or unattached roommates? Say, three students sharing a home, not uncommon? Not something to worry about.

Back to the question, this was an inquiry of a federally employed clerical person (census taker). Expecting the answer to have some local jurisdiction consequence is a stretch.

There's a lot of preliminary work. They have to make sure dwellings match the addresses in their records and add any new dwellings or anything that could be a dwelling, like a trailer in the back yard. They may need to knock on doors to inquire about your address. They also designate select blocks as quality control and if you live on that block, you may get more than one visit.

Cooperate. It's to your community's advantage that every person is counted.

Maybe the procedure is to use one census form for each group of related people, so a dwelling that has non-related occupants would be "not a single family house" and would need more than one form?

No. Everyone living at an address is counted for that address. If the apartment had been split into two apartments since the last census and the second apartment had its own address, it would need two census forms.

Everyone living at an address is counted for that address.

Then why are they asking us if we live in a single family house in this preliminary visit? If they are going to count everyone at an address why would they care if the countees are family or not?

I can't imagine a college town going on a rampage about rooms rented to students.

Elmer, I live a mile from one college, two miles from another, and three from a university. Student rentals are definitely part of the zoning codes around here, and have been the subject of much community concern.

The university has just finished building a series of new dorms, partly due to community pressure, as many people don't care for the late-night parties, etc. that tend to come with students in a residential neighborhood. An unmarried couple doesn't usually cause the same amount of noise and disruption as a house with, say, five 19-year-old frat boys.

" An unmarried couple doesn't usually cause the same amount of noise and disruption as a house with, say, five 19-year-old frat boys. "

And how does the zoning ordinance in your area distinguish between these two situations? I suspect it doesn't. Or 5 grad students sharing a small apartment to save money versus those Greek members renting a site for parties? The police may learn the difference but the zoning people won't.

Prices within walking or or other easy "commuting" access to a college or university usually restrict buyers to those who are looking to own a property intended for student tenants. Same for renters in such an area. To move into such a district and complain there are students doing what students do makes about as much sense as moving near an airport and complaining about the noise. Yeah, I know, people do it all the same. But that's why there's an old and well known phrase - "Town-Gown relations" - to describe the tension.

If your town tries to do something about that, that's rare from what I've experienced considering my own college years, those of my kids, and areas around many other schools I've visited.

But again, to return to the original point, something told to a federal census detailer isn't going to wind up in the hands of the local zoning enforcement office.

Lucille, a single family house is just a designation for the building. It has nothing to do with the occupants. It doesn't mean they are a family unit. For instance, a boarding house would be a single family unit. At this stage of the census, they are checking housing units, not occupants.

Attached and Detached Single-Family Housing Units

Single-family structures include fully detached, semi-detached
(semi-attached, side-by-side), row houses, duplexes, quadruplexes, and
townhouses.
https://www.census.gov/construction/chars/definitions/

Toby the only question asked of me is if I lived in a 'single family' house, I live in an apartment in a complex of 100 apts. Why would they need to ask ME if it was 'single family'? The census worker did not go over the definition, below, when he asked.

Attached and Detached Single-Family Housing Units

Single-family structures include fully detached, semi-detached (semi-attached, side-by-side), row houses, duplexes, quadruplexes, and townhouses. In order for attached units to be classified as single-family structures, each unit must:

• Be separated by a ground-to roof wall,
• Have a separate heating system,
• Have individual meters for public utilities, and
• Have no units located above or below.

If each unit within the building does not meet the conditions above, the building is considered multifamily.

I have a unit above me, and not all of the utilities are separately metered.

BTW, suspecting that his question of whether I lived in a single family home had hidden complexities, my answer to him was 'I don't know what they call it'.

I looked at the sample form for 2020. It asked the usual question about race and has the boxes to check off. Underneath there is a box where it is suggested that you fill in Irish, German, Italian etc. I never know what I am supposed to put there. Many of us do come from multicultural backgrounds. It's OK to leave blank? Or how about 5th generation American? Am I reading this wrong?

Lucille, maybe they had this situation in mind: (actually this is so far beyond the pale that I'm just kidding you ... but yikes for those tenants!) NYC Landlord Accused of Dividing Condo Horizontally Into Two 4 1/2-Foot High Apartments

The other day, when I looked puzzled at her question, my young woman explained they were asking had we split off part of our house into a basement or garage apartment or the like (which is not unusual in our part of town). So Toby's explanation about the Census confirming addresses makes sense.

" I looked at the sample form for 2020. It asked the usual question about race and has the boxes to check off. Underneath there is a box where it is suggested that you fill in Irish, German, Italian etc. "

This comment and those of others stimulated my interest to follow up a bit.

This section Elizabeth cites shows the Census people have the understanding and insights of a 5th grader. It says to the effect "if white, enter your origin" and then has examples of nationalities as Elizabeth mentions and space to enter just one. In today's world, the number of people whose ancestors come from just one country, or who even have ancestors of ONE RACE, is getting to be fewer and fewer.

To me, this question isn't improper or offensive (because of the analytical value when aggregated) but it's sad that the people in charge of collecting the info seemingly have done so little real thinking about the data they're collecting.

Nickel, confirming addresses does make sense. But to answer to the 'single family' question properly seems to depend on whether the person answering was aware of the census definition.

I did not find the cultural question offensive or improper, just awkward to answer. The next thing that crossed my mind was what value would that data have?

In reading very old and more comprehensive censuses while doing genealogy, I found other questions that were far more revelatory of the living situations USA residents.

When I find that question on things I need to complete I enter "Other". Having family that bounced between England, Ireland, Scotland and the continent and looking at the genealogy of the family I am definitely "Other" even if the majority comes from the first three. I have wondered why in the DNA tests that I have taken Sweden shows up so prominently since the last infusion into the family history was in the 16th century.

You know that old joke that your father could have been the milkman so you should put down your mother's primary origin. ;)

For many, that's a good joke. For others from broken families or with unstable home situations, it may not be so funny.

We had a worker drive through our subdivision Saturday evening. She was just sent to update the map--so did't need to stop unless it was a new home which we have two of since the last census. She also stopped at our "garbage house". The lots here are on average two acres. Once upon a time it was an earth home. The lot was subdivided then the house sold. The buyers had a prefab home hauled in and set on top. It was basically a duplex. FORECLOSURE followed. The bank put in an not code staircase to join to two levels on the inside. It sold for a STEAL-and now we have an array of family configurations coming and going. The downside of a place out of the city limits..no recourse on their up keep of the property. I am sure the Census worked had to start an entire new page to get that situation documented.