Census 2020
The US Census 2020 is a federal initiative that every 10 years counts how many people live in the country. This decennial census is required by the US Constitution to be conducted by the US Census Bureau.
And it's important to all Burlington and Alamance County residents because this census count affects how much federal funding our city and county gets for various programs for the next 10 years.
Our state could lose about $16,000 in federal funding over a 10-year period for each NC resident who isn't counted in the 2020 Census. Read more.
That's why the City has partnered with the US Census Bureau to support the decennial census and is working to ensure our community is accurately represented.
All info provided and linked to below is from official state and federal census-related websites.
FAQ'S ON CENSUS 2020
- What is the census?
- When does the census happen?
- Who counts? Every body!
- How will my responses be used?
Beginning in March 2020, every household in the country -- people living at the same address -- will be asked by the US Census Bureau to fill out a census questionnaire. Your household must count people, including babies, who live and sleep there most of the time.
Examples of information the census will ask for include:
- How many people are living in your household as of April 1, 2020
- Is the housing unit rented or owned
- Age, sex, race, relationship to the person in the household who is filling out the questionnaire
- Educational levels.
Examples of information the census will not ask for include:
- Social security numbers
- Bank or credit card account numbers
- Money or donations
- Anything on behalf of a political party.
Remember that every household must count
people of all ages and citizenship statuses.
Having an accurate head count of the people in our country, state, county and city and what their needs are or may be in the next 10 years, helps the government budget for appropriate funding for a location's need services. Those services include roads and utility infrastructure, education, medical, and emergency services, to name a few.
When you fill out the census questionnaire, you also help provide a picture of our community that determines where to build schools, hospitals and businesses and how congressional seats are allocated. You also help our city, state and country see how communities have changed over time.
In mid-March 2020, your household will receive a notice in the mail from the US Census Bureau asking you to take the census online and giving you the website address to go to to fill out the questionnaire. Most areas of the country will likely respond online.
Areas of the US that are less likely to respond online will receive in the mail a paper questionnaire with their notice. The notice will also include information about how to respond by phone or online.
Every household has the option of responding
online, by phone or by mail.
Online responses will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese (simplified), Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Japanese.
Phone responses will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese), Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Japanese.
Paper responses will be available in English and Spanish.
If you miss the initial notice in the mail, you will receive reminder letters and postcards. It doesn't matter which initial notice you get or how you get it, the US Census Bureau will follow up in person with all household that don't respond.
Count Everyone Once, Only Once, and in the Right Place.
The mission of the US Census Bureau is to count every person living in the US regardless of age, race, and citizenship status. Count everyone in your household on April 1, 2020 who lives and sleeps there most of the time.
Visit this Web page for more details on where to count people who are living in special circumstances, such as students away at college, active US military personnel, and people in health care facilities, shelters or transitional places like hotels, and prisons and correctional facilities.
Census data is widely and wisely used.
Some examples include:
- Distributions of more than $675 billion annually in federal funds back to state, local, and tribal governments.
- Redistricting of state legislative districts.
- Forecasting future transportation needs for all segments of the population.
- Determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans.
- Assisting federal, tribal, state, local governments in planning and implementing programs, services, and emergency response.
- Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly, and children.