By Victoria Schweitzer
With a new decade under way, the decennial census is just around the corner.
The census aims to count every person in the U.S. and five U.S. territories. The results have an impact on planning and funding for highways, fire departments, disaster response, education programs and college tuition assistance, among other items.
This year, Census Day is April 1. Residents in Carmel and elsewhere will receive a postcard encouraging them to be prompt in their participation. It will include information on how to record their information.
Kristi Barber, a senior partnership specialist with the Census Bureau, spoke at the Carmel Police Dept.’s annual Crime Watch meeting Feb. 4 at City Hall.
“We want to make sure every single person sitting inside the United States is counted,” Barber said.
Barber said that Indiana had a 78 percent rate of return in the 2010 census, which was third-best in the U.S.
This year, citizens have the option to submit information online for faster results. The option must be done before April 20.
Residents should be aware that census employees knocking on doors will wear federal identification and carry a 2020 census bag.
All data will be collected by Dec. 31. For more, visit 2020census.gov or call 1-800-923-8282.
