BE COUNTED—CENSUS 2020

          RESPOND ONLINE, BY MAIL, BY PHONE

The U.S. Census Bureau is on track, on budget, and on time in its planning for the 2020 Census. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the correct location.

“Census Day” is April 1, 2020. For the first time, people will be able to respond anytime, anywhere- online from any device or by mail or phone. Being able to respond online will make the 2020 Census easy for most people. However, roughly 20% of people lack internet access. Should residents prefer to not complete questionnaires by phone or by mail; local libraries provide free internet access.

The 2020 Census is EXTREMELY important to our community. Responses are used to determine how more than $675 billion dollars in annual federal funds are spent across our country. These funds are used to support clinics, hospitals, schools, transportation projects, housing programs, and natural disasters (to name a few). A few of the funded programs that are dependent upon accurate population counts in our community are: early childhood programs, workforce training, food assistance for families, and grants for low income student loans. Results from the 2020 Census also determine Congressional representation for each state and used to determine legislative districts.

The 2020 Field Data Collection Activity began on August 4th, 2019 and will continue through October 11, 2019.  Census Bureau temporary field staff will work in neighborhoods across the US to update address lists and maps using a laptop computer.  Field staff will be knocking doors in order to verify addresses and gather information on additional living quarters.  Census Field Staff can be identified by the laptop computer with a Census Bureau logo on the top, a black canvas bag with a Census logo as well as a photo identification card.

Individual responses to the 2020 Census are confidential and never shared with other governmental agencies. Information for the 2020 Census will be mailed to most residences beginning March, 2020. People can respond online, by mail, or by phone. If no response is received, a census taker will come to your home to follow up in person.

                                          PLEASE BE COUNTED!