Town Officials Want Everyone Counted in 2010

The Town of Clayton will be working with the US Census Bureau over the next year to make sure everyone in town gets counted in the upcoming 2010 census.

Though details have not yet been worked out, officials are certain to make a special effort to reach the town's minority residents, including Hispanic residents who sometimes go uncounted due to language barriers and a distrust of government.

"It's important for many reasons that each person be counted, including monetarily," said Town Manager Steve Biggs. "For each person here who doesn't get counted, we lose money for the next ten years."

State and federal money to local municipalities is largely based on population figures, and changes after each 10-year census. Other important uses for census date includes:
• determining how many seats the state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives
• guiding officials on community planning, such as where to build new roads, schools and more
• guiding the private sector on where to build new shopping centers, housing and other facilities

Residents should receive a short census questionnaire by mail sometime in March of next year. Unlike questionnaires from previous years, this one will be quick and easy to fill out and return. Residents who are slow to return their questionnaire will be sent a reminder. After the April 1 deadline, census workers will begin making telephone calls and even go door-to-door, if necessary, to reach those who haven't responded.

The 2010 Census is Different -
The Census Bureau has changed the way it conducts the national count.

In the past, most households received a short-form questionnaire, while one household in six received a long form that contained additional questions and provided more detailed socioeconomic information about the population.

The 2010 Census will be a short-form only census and will count all residents living in the United States as well as ask for name, sex, age, date of birth, race, ethnicity, relationship and housing tenure – taking just minutes to complete.

The more detailed socioeconomic information is now collected through the American Community Survey. The survey provides current data about your community every year, rather than once every 10 years. It is sent to a small percentage of the population on a rotating basis throughout the decade. No household will receive the survey more often than once every five years.

About the 2010 Census -

What 
The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.

Who 
All residents of the United States must be counted. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens.

When 
Every 10 years, and the next census occurs in 2010. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. The questions ask you to provide information that is accurate for your household as of April 1, 2010. The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the President by December 31, 2010. The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then.

Where 
The census counts everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. Residents should be counted where they live and sleep most of the year.

Why 
The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2) mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the United States. The population totals determine each state’s Congressional representation. The numbers also affect funding in your community and help inform decision makers about how your community is changing.

How 
The Census Bureau will mail or deliver questionnaires to your house in March 2010. They will mail a second form to households that do not respond to the initial questionnaire. Households that still do not respond will be called or visited by a Census worker. (Census workers can be identified by a census badge and bag).