Panola County ranks 29th in Census response
Published 12:28 pm Thursday, May 7, 2020
It’s now time to respond to the 2020 Census. In Panola County, the reported response so far is 48.8 percent.
County officials are urging the other half of the population to get their forms counted because the data gathered will affect federal participation rates for a wide range of projects over the next 10 years.
Of the 82 counties in Mississippi, Panola ranks 29th (as of Monday this week) in response to census requests. The U.S. Census Bureau has been preparing for this once-a-decade population count for years.
Here are 10 quick tips to help you to respond and it should take just a few minutes:
● If you don’t regularly check the mail, please do so now. By now, most households have received at least one invite to respond to the 2020 Census, which includes instructions for how to respond online, by phone or by mail.
● Even if you don’t get an invitation in the mail, you can go online to 2020census.gov and respond now. You don’t have to wait for the paper questionnaire to arrive, either.
● Your name isn’t on it. The invitation will be addressed to “Resident” – that’s you (and everyone in your household). Don’t throw it out just because your name isn’t on it. But do be aware of scam and fraud mail.
● Determine how you will respond. If you want to answer on paper, you can. Paper questionnaires are arriving by mail to households that haven’t yet responded.
● Responding online is easy. Your invitation includes a Census ID number. But if you lose it, you can use your address. You can go online on any device, including a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Remember: If you respond online, you must complete the census in one sitting. You will not have the ability to save your progress and come back to finish.
● You can respond in English and 12 different languages online and by phone. There will be a drop-down menu online, or a special phone number on your invitation. Other languages are: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Japanese.
● On the paper questionnaire use blue or black ink – no pencils! You can write in the margins, though, if you need space. Be sure to return the questionnaire in the envelope provided. If you lost it, return it to: U.S. Census Bureau, National Processing Center, 1201 E 10th Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47132.
● Figure out who is “Person 1/Head of Household.” If you’re the only person in your home, then you are Person 1. If more than one person lives in your home, Person 1 is generally someone whose name is on the mortgage or rental agreement and who is over age 15.
● Count everyone who lives in your home – including children. Count everyone who lives and sleeps in your home most of the time, including relatives, friends and others. If more than 10 people live in your home, respond online at 2020census.gov where there is plenty of space.
● Respond as soon as you can. Respond on your own now to avoid a visit from a census taker later this year.