Visualizing the Census form return rates

The U.S. Census Bureau and Google Earth announced a project to track the 2010 census participation of returns of forms by state, county, and census tracts. A couple weeks ago the Census Bureau mailed questionnaires to 120 million households... and they are coming in to data centers every day. Using the Google Earth layer will show the percentage of forms that have been received - data is not available by household nor are answers on questionnaires tabulated. Return rates for the 2000 census are also posted. The daily updates will continue through mid April.

As of Friday, March 26 the return rate for the State of Virginia was 39%. Most localities in the CCC area are slightly better: Augusta County- 43%, Rockingham County - 44%, Rockbridge County - 39%, Bath County - 31%, Highland County - 26%, Staunton - 46%, Waynesboro - 44%, and Harrisonburg - 36%.

If you want to save the U.S. Government some money, and yourself some hassle, return your census form promptly. Homes from which no form is received can expect a visit from a census enumerator, perhaps multiple visits, until the information is obtained. Answers are completely confidential and are required by law. For most households completing the questionnaire will only take 5-10 minutes. More.

Save tax dollars... complete the census form

You probably got a letter alerting you that U.S. Census forms will begin arriving in most mailboxes around March 15 (homeowners with PO boxes will often have them hand delivered). With 10 questions, the form should take 10 to 15 minutes to complete for a typical family... perhaps more if you have a large family.

Get 'er done early and mail it back by April 1, otherwise you can expect a visit from census enumerators. And that is where is starts getting expensive for the U.S. Census Bureau. Enumerators are paid and reimbursed for mileage, so the cost of getting the count at one home can escalate quickly, especially if enumerators have to make multiple visits.

The decennial census is required by the Constitution and participation is required by law. Your answers containing personally identifiable information are 100% confidential and cannot be given to other government agencies... in fact, the Attorney General ruled this week that Census confidentiality trumps the Patriot Act. Census enumerators will have an ID badge with a toll free number you can call to confirm their identity and they will not ask for Social Security, bank, or credit card numbers.

More info about the Census, how the count will be conducted at places like college dorms and nursing homes, and toll free helpline numbers can be found in this helpful article in The Roanoke Times.