The U.S. Census occurs every ten years, during years ending in the number zero, which means 2020 is a census year. The U.S. Census, which held their first survey in 1790, collects data on populations across the nation. This data is used to drive federal funding, legislature, and decisions about healthcare, schools, economic development and transportation.
The survey is a nine-question survey. One individual in the household should fill out the survey for all household members.
The Village of New Concord held a public meeting on Feb. 18 regarding the U.S. Decennial Census and how New Concord residents can participate.
Officials in attendance at this meeting included New Concord Mayor Jennifer Lyle, Muskingum County Commissioner Molly Crooks, and Partnership Specialist for the Philadelphia Regional Census Center Amber Kohler.
Letters have been sent to New Concord residents regarding the census. Surveys can be filled out and sent by mail, digitally, or over the phone.
This photo provided by the U.S. Census 2020, shows the homepage of the United States’ Census 2020 website on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. The 2020 census is off and running for much of America now. The U.S. Census Bureau made a soft launch of the 2020 census website on Monday, March 9 making its form available online. On Thursday, March 12 the Census Bureau will begin mailing out notices far and wide. (U.S. Census via AP)
“Businesses use this for planning. They see a growing community, that’s where they open stores. If they see a declining community, that’s when you see businesses and factories go out. Over $675 billion a year is allocated from the federal government back to our state and local governments to pay for things like our roads, our fire departments, education, head start, school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC, SNAP, housing…I could go on all day,” said Kohler.
The census affects every individual in the community. When individuals are not accounted for, less funding is given to that area.
This means resources are equipped to serve a smaller community than its actual population.
Some people might not fill out the survey due to being fearful of the law. A common question surrounding the census is if your information is confidential.
Kohler stresses census information cannot be released in any way other than statistical form.
“We do not release it [confidential information]. That’s a huge message to get out there,” said Kohler.
Questions on the survey include the names of household members, ages, how many people are in the home, relationship of individuals within the household, race and ethnicity of members, if you own or rent your home, and a phone number.
“We ask just what we need for the things that we fund and for representation,” said Kohler.
A three-day tour is also conducted to count the homeless populations in New Concord and Muskingum County who won’t receive the survey.
“We go everywhere…under bridges, in the woods, to the pantries, to the shelters, anywhere where we think we might be able to find people that are experiencing homelessness,” said Kohler.
Lyle said sharing the word about the census is important for our community for the highest percent of participation.
“That’s the key to all of this. To get the word out about why it matters to participate in the census,” said Lyle.
In this Tuesday, March 24, 2020 photo, forms from the U.S. Census Bureau arrive at a home in Orlando, Fla. The coronavirus has waylaid efforts to get as many people as possible to take part in the census. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Participation among college-aged students and counting children are especially important because this demographic is the most underrepresented.
“There’s lots of things [that are affected]. The college grants are going to be affected, the school funding will be affected,” said Crooks.
Crooks urged students who are living on their own in alternative housing to complete the survey. If a student is living with multiple people in one apartment complex that has the same address for all apartments, everyone is to be counted in one survey.
Crooks also asks parents to ensure their child is counted in the census. Under representation can mean a cut in extracurricular activities and less resources in schools for the child population.
Critical times to fill this survey out is from March until May with the census officially ending in August.
For information about the census and how you can participate, visit 2020census.gov.
