They put the information into reports
that show different characteristics of the
population. For example, census workers
can report how many people live in rural
areas compared to how many live in
cities. Or they might report the size of
the average family in a particular state.
Using the Information
Many governments use census results to
make sure that different parts of the
country are represented fairly in government.
States with more people get to
send more representatives to the
national legislature (lawmaking body).
Governments also use census information
as a guide for providing money and
services. For example, a government
might send more money for schools to
areas that have a lot of children.
History
The rulers of ancient Babylonia, China,
Egypt, and Rome all took censuses.
These rulers used censuses to find out
how people could serve the
government. For example, they wanted
to know how many men they could
force to serve as soldiers. They also
wanted to know who the wealthy
people were so they could tax them.
The people often gave incorrect
information in these censuses. They
were not honest because they did not
want to fight in wars or to be taxed.
Censuses as they are known today did
not begin until the 1600s. Leaders
stopped using censuses only as a way to
identify people for their own purposes.
Countries started thinking of censuses as
a way to understand the people and
society. Then people were more willing
to give correct information. Censuses
became more accurate.
In 1790 the United States made history
with its first census. This census was the
first taken to decide how many representatives
each state would have in Congress.
It became a model for other
countries to follow. England took its
first census in 1801. France took its first
reliable census in 1836. Canada’s first
census was in 1871, and India’s was in
1872. China did not take its first accurate
census until 1953.
The amount of information collected by
censuses has grown over the years. And
the technology used to process and publish
the information has advanced. Census
takers in the United States first used
mechanical adding machines in 1870.
They started using electric machines in
1890. A giant computer called
UNIVAC processed the 1950 census.
In ancient
times the Inca
of South
America took
censuses. They
recorded their
findings by
tying knots in
cords called
quipus.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Census 71
Now census results are published on the
Internet.
#More to explore
Government
Centipede and
Millipede
The crawling creatures called centipedes
and millipedes belong to the same animal
group—the arthropods—as insects
and spiders. But centipedes and millipedes
have many more legs than other
arthropods. There are more than 2,500
species, or kinds, of centipede. There are
about 10,000 species of millipede.
Where Centipedes and
Millipedes Live
Centipedes and millipedes live all over
the world, but they are most common in
the tropics. Most types like dark, moist
places. The house centipede of North
America and Europe lives in buildings.
Physical Features
Centipedes and millipedes have long,
thin bodies that are divided into segments,
or sections. They range in length
from just 0.08 inch (2 millimeters) to 12
inches (30 centimeters). Millipedes are
generally smaller.
In a centipede, every body segment
except the head and the rear has one
pair of legs. Centipedes may have from
14 to 177 pairs of legs. In a millipede,
the three segments behind the head
have only one pair of legs. Every other
segment has two pairs of legs. No
millipede has more than about 200
pairs of legs.
Most kinds of centipedes and millipedes
have only a few body segments when
they hatch. They add segments each
time they go through a process called
molting, when they shed their hard
outer covering.
Behavior
Centipedes hide during the day and
come out at night to hunt. They kill
their prey with poisonous claws. Centipedes
usually eat insects, spiders, and
other centipedes.
Most types of millipedes eat rotting
plant material. They are equipped to
protect themselves rather than to attack.
Some types have special glands that produce
a smelly or poisonous liquid or gas.
Others curl up into a ball for protection.
#More to explore
Insect • Spider
The name centipede means “hundredfooted,”
but only some centipedes have that
many legs. Others have fewer, and some
have as many as 354.
72 Centipede and Millipede BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Central African Republic
The country of the Central African
Republic is located in the heart of
Africa. Bangui is the capital.
The Central African Republic is surrounded
by Chad, Sudan, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, the
Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon.
Most of the country occupies a plateau,
or flat raised area. Mountains rise in the
north and the west. The country has a
tropical climate with rainy and dry seasons
each year.
Savanna, or grassland with scattered
trees, covers much of the north. Antelope,
baboons, buffalo, elephants, and
black rhinoceroses live in the savanna.
Dense rain forests in the south are home
to gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards, and
