Americans rang in the New Year at a total population of 266,499,365 --according to the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The official Census 2000, mandated by the U.S. constitution, will likely reflect issues raised in the past decennial. Despite its incalculable value to planners and other users, public and private, the first function of the census is governmental and political: determining representation in the House of Representatives. The data from the census constitutes, it is often said, the planner's bread and butter. Numbers of people, their characteristics, where they live, where they work, how much they earn, their dwellings and housing characteristics-- all this information is essential for charting the past, the present, and alternative futures of every community in the nation. Partnership between public and private sectors will be key to Census 2000. Digital data capture?EUR??,,????'??+ reading the filled-out census form by computer?EUR??,,????'??+ will be carried out by a private firm. The government will also use paid advertising to publicize the census?EUR??,,????'??+ including television ads. And certain results will be available in new forms and media. Rather than using census books, for example, users will be able to use personal computers, and will be able to pick any information they want at any level of detail. Plans call for a short form to be mailed to about 83 percent of the nation's housing units. Remaining units will receive the long form, which will include additional questions on household profiles. The bureau is relying on local agencies, often planning departments, for addresses and for help in defining and correcting boundaries of census tracts, block groups, governmental units and targeted statistical areas.