Individuals born in the United States have their birth recorded into the vital records database of the governmental authority by order of the state and managed by municipal officials. The record of birth, called a birth certificate, lists the name, time and place of the birth, gender, height, weight, parents’ names, and race of the individual. Also included in most cases is the doctor or midwife that observed the birth. Birth records are the first vital record a person is given. Permanent records of births dates back to the earliest days of civilization to track population numbers.