Over the last year, this newsletter has featured a few articles on the importance of the decennial census. From a community indicator perspective, data collected during Census 2020 will be the foundation for estimates until 2030. Ultimately the decennial census is the largest data source for Benton-Franklin Trends, both directly (population, educational attainment, etc.) and indirectly (per capita figures such as gross domestic product, personal income and taxable retail sales).
The Census 2020 Response Rates interactive map shows in real-time Census 2020 response rates for the nation, all 50 states (and Puerto Rico), every Congressional District in the U.S. Further, this interactive includes cities (even small cities such as Benton City, Connell, Mesa, and Prosser) tribal areas, and census tracts. Zoom in on Washington State (or any point on the map) for greater detail.
Households considered self-responders are those receiving their census form through the mail or dropped off by a Census worker. These processes began in time for most households to receive their census forms between March 12th and 20th. The self-response rate includes all unduplicated online, regular mail, and phone responses of an area, while excluding any nonresponse follow-ups. No adjustment is made for vacant homes or undeliverable addresses.
Don’t forget to check Census 2020 Response Rates map in the following weeks and months as the numbers get closer to, but never achieving 100%. The national self-response rate during Census 2010 was 74%, with only twenty cities larger than 100,000 residents self-responding at 80% or higher.
Since all households in the U.S. need to be accounted for, it takes an army of Bureau of Census workers on the ground to follow-up with non-responding households. But Census 2020 hasn't reached the point of knocking on doors yet and are encouraging people to respond "as soon as you receive your invitation" to minimize in-person follow-ups. The official message is this:
"It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker."
