Fact check: Who conducted the last census in the united states

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the U.S. Census Bureau conducted the last census in the United States, which was the 2020 Census ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Multiple sources confirm this, with the U.S. Census Bureau being consistently identified as the responsible agency across all analyses. The 2020 Census included various components such as self-response data collection ^[3] and Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) results that were later questioned by the Inspector General ^[2].

The sources demonstrate that the U.S. Census Bureau maintains comprehensive records of their census operations, including press releases ^[4], newsroom updates ^[5], and detailed data collection methodologies ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important contextual information about the timing and scope of the last census. The analyses reveal that the most recent census was conducted in 2020 ^{[1] [2] [3]}, but this crucial detail was not specified in the original question.

Additionally, the analyses suggest there were quality concerns regarding the 2020 Census, as the Inspector General questioned the validity of the Post-Enumeration Survey results ^[2]. This indicates that while the U.S. Census Bureau conducted the census, there were subsequent oversight and validation processes that raised questions about the accuracy of certain components.

The question also doesn't acknowledge the constitutional mandate that requires the census to be conducted every ten years, which provides important context for understanding why the 2020 Census was the "last" census and when the next one will occur.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward factual inquiry. However, the simplicity of the question could potentially lead to incomplete understanding if not properly contextualized.

The question assumes there is a single "last census" without specifying the timeframe or acknowledging that censuses are conducted on a regular decennial schedule. This could create confusion about whether the question refers to the most recent completed census ^[7] or implies there won't be future censuses.

The analyses show no evidence of bias in the sources themselves, as they consistently point to the same factual answer across multiple official U.S. Census Bureau publications and related government sources ^{[1] [4] [5] [8] [6] [2] [3]}.