Census bureau urging response

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
The 2020 census is encouraging people in rural communities to “Shape Your Future” as part of Rural Week of Action, according to a release from Jennifer Hillmann, media specialist for Colorado, Wyoming and Kansas at the Dallas Regional Census Office for the U.S. Census Bureau. 
As of Aug. 3, Weston County had a response rate of 50.6%, Newcastle’s rate was 55.2%, Upton’s was 50.8%, and the state of Wyoming had a response rate of 57.3%. According to Hillmann, that 57.3% represents roughly 172,000 households across the state. 
In 2010, the last time the census was conducted, the final self-response rate for Newcastle was 68.3% and Upton finished with a rate of 70.4%. 
“Our goal is to surpass the 2010 self-response rates across Wyoming. We would love to see self-response in the 75% to 80% range for 2020,” Hillmann said. 
Collectively, Wyoming is below the national self-response rate as well, according to Hillmann. Currently, 62.9% of the country has already responded to the 2020 census, which is around 93 million households. 
“Achieving a complete count means each community will have census-derived funding for schools, roads, libraries and more job opportunities for community members to benefit from,” a release states. 
With the hopes of lowering the number of homes that census takers have to visit, the 2020 census has also begun the “Stop the Knock” campaign. As part of this program, the census will be use email to encourage people in low-responding areas to complete the form. 
“It saves both time and money if people self-respond and I know that most people in Wyoming prefer their privacy and would rather not have a census-taker knocking at their door this month,” Hillmann said. “So, if they self-respond now, they will greatly reduce their chance of getting a knock at their door.”
She noted that nonresponse follow-up visits will begin Aug. 11 in Wyoming. 
“That being said, some folks will still receive a knock from a census-taker even if they completed their questionnaire because we conduct a quality-assurance check at random households to verify response data and confirm we have counted everyone once, only once and in the right place,” Hillmann said. 
The overall goal of the census, according to Hillmann, is to do just that, make sure everyone person in America is counted once, in their rightful place. 
“Everyone matters and responding to the census helps communities get their fair share of federal funding. Census data guides how billions of dollars in funding gets distributed to states and communities each year and helps communities create jobs, providing housing, prepare for emergencies and build schools, roads and hospitals,” Hillmann said. “The census also helps determine how many seats a state receives in Congress and state and local governments use the data to redraw boundaries for congressional districts, state legislative districts and school districts, adapting to population shifts.” 
To receive more information on the census, visit 2020census.gov or by calling 844-330-2020. Also available over the phone is assistance with the questionnaire.