Federal programs are renowned for their longevity and for being put to uses their creators never imagined. But, in both respects, you would be hard put to name a program that matches the U.S. Census.

The once-every-10-years census - required by the U.S. Constitution - now goes back 220 years. Originally just a means of taking a head count to use in apportioning legislative districts, the census is now the key to allocating money for innumerable federal endeavors: Title I grants; Head Start; Women, Infants and Children food grants; road construction; public transportation; programs for the elderly - and on and on.

So every...