The U.S. Census Bureau has initiated the 2026 Census Test in select metro areas of Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, marking the first of two field tests in preparation for the 2030 Census.
Households in these areas have received invitations to respond online, each containing a unique Census ID required for logging into the questionnaire. This test aims to evaluate planned innovations for the upcoming 2030 Census.
The Census Bureau will use the results of the 2026 Census Test to inform its readiness to achieve a complete and accurate count of the nation's population in 2030.