State and local officials are urging Alabamians to take time to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census as Census Bureau officials said the counting effort will end a month earlier than previously planned.
Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham said this week that counting will now end September 30.
Originally, Census counting was supposed to be completed by the end of July but was pushed back to October 31 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Federal law sets a December 31 deadline to deliver the new population totals.
According to the Census Bureau, as of Saturday, August 8, the 2020 Census national self-response rate was 63.2%. Alabama’s self-response rate was 60.7%.
Self-response rates reflect households that responded to the 2020 Census online, by mail or by phone.
Lauderdale County had a 66% self-response rate.
Colbert County had a 64.9% self-response rate.
Limestone County had a 58.6% self-response rate.
Among Lauderdale County’s municipalities, St. Florian had the highest self-response rate at 78%.
Waterloo had the lowest self-response rate in the county (40.7%).
Self-response rates in Lauderdale County:
- St. Florian – 78%
- Killen – 76.2%
- Lexington – 65.6%
- Florence – 63%
- Rogersville – 61.1%
- Anderson – 58%
- Waterloo – 40.7%
Population numbers in the 2020 U.S. Census will determine the next reapportionment of the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Based on current census response rates, Alabama could be in danger of losing one of its seven House seats.
Alabama businesses are being asked to set aside time on Wednesday, August 12, for their employees to respond to the census.
In addition to apportioning Congressional seats, an accurate census count is important in determining the distribution of federal funding. Data derived from the census helps create other data sets that are used to determine how the federal government distributes money to state governments, local governments and organizations.
U.S. Census field workers are set to expand household visits beginning Monday, August 11, to count those who have not self-responded.
Field workers will be wearing face coverings and adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Complete the census online at my2020census.gov; call 844-330-2020; or respond by mail by filling out your official U.S. Census mailer.
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