When was the first census conducted in the United States?

The first census conducted in the United States took place in 1790, shortly after the country gained independence. The primary purpose of this census was to gather information about the population for representation in Congress and to help determine taxation. The Constitution mandated that a census be conducted every ten years, reflecting the importance of population count in apportioning representatives among the states. This initial census recorded approximately 3.9 million people and included categories such as free white males, free white females, and enslaved individuals. The 1790 census established a foundation for future demographic data collection in the U.S.