Who's that unknown person walking around, knocking on doors, and calling on you?  It could be a U.S. Census worker as they begin to canvas neighborhoods in Sacramento. 

The Census Bureau has launched a massive address canvassing operation to verify and update more than 145 million addresses as it prepares to conduct the 2010 Census.  The Address canvassing began on April 6 and will run until June 12.  In most cases, census workers will knock on residents' doors to verify addresses, and to determine if there are additional living quarters on the properties.

The U.S. Constitution requires that everyone living in the United States be counted every 10 years.  "The goal of the census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place," said Ralph Lee, Seattle Regional Director from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Census workers can be identified by the official blue and white Census Bureau badge, and carrying an electronic hand held computer and a black canvas bag with the Census Bureau written on it.  Census workers will never ask for bank or social security information, and will not ask to come into your home.  Census workers will be out during daylight hours, seven days a week.  Residents can contact the Census Office at (209) 235-3471 if they want the identity of the worker verified.  Below are some examples of the Census Bureau badges.