Will the 2010 census be genealogically relevant?

In 2082, when the 2010 U.S. census data is released to the general public, will it be greeted with excitement or will it be a 'ho-hum'?  Provided there still is a United States at that time, what will the researchers of tomorrow be hoping to find in the 2010 census that they cannot find elsewhere?

Will the 2010 U.S. census be genealogically relevant?

Although the census is a genealogist's treasure trove of information, with each one revealing clues about a ancestor's family, their neighbors and their community, will the information from this year's census get lost in the 'noise' of the multitude of other records available?

While the 1850 census was a landmark because it was the first to record the names of everyone in the household, and each successive census asked different questions that told the story of the household, will this year's census shed much light on our daily lives for our descendants?  I'm eager for the 1940 census to be released because of what it can tell me about my family just before the U.S. entered WWII, will my great-grandchildren be as interested to find out where I was in 2010?

The questions that will be asked on this year's form can be found here. While the answers will be information for future genealogists, will this be anything that cannot be found elsewhere?  In today's society, we have created so many paper and digital records that I believe it would be unlikely a researcher in 2082 will find a clue in the 2010 census that couldn't be found elsewhere.

I believe that genealogically, the census may have lost its importance to future researchers.  

That is not to say that it shouldn't be filled out, as it helps determine political representation.  There have always been those who have managed to avoid the census, and even today, there are those who are advocating that others do not fill it out.  Those concerned about privacy must be oblivious to the fact that we have at this time the most documented, regulated society we've ever had, and it would be a rare individual who cannot be found through online sources or public records.

As a genealogist, it almost sounds sacrilegious to even ask the question about the relevance of the census to the genealogy community.   What do you think?  Am I way off-base here?

Family Milestones: February 26th

My maternal 5th-great granduncle, John NOSLER, married on this date in 1830 in Owen County, Indiana to Mary PIRTLE.  John was the son of Conrad and Sarah (PAINS) NOSLER, and the older brother of my Mary Ann NOSLER.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Mary.  They had 3 children.  John died in 1836.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 4th-great granduncle, Michael GROENENDYKE, was married on this date in 1837 in Fayette County, Indiana to Anna HANKINS.  Michael was born May 25, 1815 in Dearborn County, Indiana, the son of James and Johannah (ANTONIDES) GROENENDYKE, and the older brother of my Elias GROENENDYKE.  Anna was born December 16, 1815 in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (________) HANKINS.  They had 3 children.  Anna died April 10, 1898.  Michael died February 5, 1899.

My paternal 5th-great grandparents, Samuel WOOLSTON and Hannah HAINES were married on this date in 1795 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Samuel was born August 22, 1768 in Burlington County, New Jersey, the son of Samuel and Cyllania (WOOLSTON) WOOLSTON.  Hannah was born January 21, 1768 in Burlington County, New Jersey, the son of Robert and Rachel (VENICOMB) HAINES.  They had 10 children.  Samuel died November 3, 1813 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Hannah died February 7, 1813 in Burlington County, New Jersey.

My maternal 4th-great granduncle, Levi WARDLAW, was born on this date in 1805 in Ohio.  Levi was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (NESBIT) WARDLAW, and the older brother of my Anna WARDLOW.  Levi married on September 30, 1840 in Highland County, Ohio to Alba HALL.  Alba was born circa 1815 in Ohio.  They had 8 children.  Alba died December 26, 1891.  Levi died June 24, 1890 in Brown County, Ohio.

My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Mary LEMASTERS, was born on this date in 1849 in Shelby County, Ohio.  Mary was the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS, and the younger sister of my Luman Cooper LEMASTERS.  Mary married August 4, 1893 in Jay County, Indiana to John PETRY.  John was born May 27, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana, the son of Charles and Susannah (WEHRLY) PETRY.  They had 2 children.  John died February 16, 1942.  Mary died December 28, 1929 in Jay County, Indiana.

Family Milestones: February 25th

My maternal 3rd-great granduncle, Curtis W. POE, was married on this date in 1894 in Norton, Norton County, Kansas to Lillian S. PHEBUS.  Curtis was born May 23, 1874 in Hamilton County, Indiana, the son of Isaac S. and Hannah (MILLS) POE.  Lillian was born August 1874 in Iowa.  They had 3 children.  Curtis was a harness maker in Norton County, Kansas and Boulder County, Colorado.  Lillian died July 10, 1959 in Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado.  Curtis died February 14, 1952 in Boulder, Boulder County Colorado.  Both are buried in the Columbia Cemetery, Boulder, Colorado.

My paternal grandaunt, Mary Olive LeMASTER, was married on this date in 1935 to Virgil Thornton TAYLOR.  Mary was born October 13, 1909 in Jay County, Indiana, the daughter of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (WEHRLY) LeMASTERS, and the younger sister of my Ord Wehrly LeMASTER.  Virgil was born August 13, 1898 in Montgomery, Alabama, the son of Finis and Helen (HARRELL) TAYLOR.  They had at least 1 child.  Mary died July 20, 2002.

My maternal 4th-great granduncle, William Perry ALDERMAN, was married on this date in 1849 in Greenville, Bond County, Illinois to Elizabeth Ann LEE.  William was born circa 1815 in Illinois, the son of James and Martha (CANTELL) ALDERMAN, and the younger brother of my Richard ALDERMAN.  Elizabeth was born in 1834 in Jasper County, Illinois.  They had 6 children.  Elizabeth died March 4, 1879 in Greenville, Bond County, Illinois.  William died January 31, 1901 in Greenville, Bond County, Illinois.