CLEARFIELD – Clearfield has not only ranked itself among the top participating counties in the state for the 2010 U.S. Census, but has also surpassed both the Pennsylvania (76 percent) and the national (72 percent) participation rate as of Thursday.
John D. Kaskan, director of Clearfield County GIS, said the county currently has a census participation rate of 82 percent. He said it was an increase from 75 percent for the 2000 U.S. Census.
Of the 67 in Pennsylvania, 25 counties have a participation rate of 80 percent or better. Further, Clearfield is among the 11 counties that have a rate better than 82 percent, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
In Pennsylvania, both Elk and Jefferson Counties currently have the highest participation rates at 84 percent. Cambria and Westmoreland are next in line with 83 percent. Clearfield falls among the seven counties that come in two percent lower than the top.
Kaskan said families who have post office boxes or haven’t returned their form will be visited by census enumerators. He said the U.S. Census Bureau will send them to collect information in May and June.
“Please make sure they identify themselves as Census workers,” he said. When a census enumerator visits, he said residents should:
- first ask to see their ID. Kaskan said all census workers carry official government badges marked with just their name. He said they may also have a “U.S. Census Bureau” bag;
- note that the census enumerator will never ask to enter a home. But Kaskan said they are permitted to enter if a resident invites them to do so;
- if still uncertain about their identity, please call the Regional Census Center in Philadelphia to confirm they are employed by the Census Bureau at 1-866-511-5822; and
- answer the census form questions for the entire household. He said a resident must be at least 15 years old to answer questions so that the census enumerator can record the results for submission to the Census Bureau
Kaskan said census enumerators may visit local homes several times to capture resident information for the 2010 Census. If it’s a resident’s preference, he said they can schedule a visit with their census enumerator.
Kaskan said if the census enumerator comes when a resident isn’t there, they will leave their contact information at the home. He said if a census enumerator has not visited and or a resident has a question about their participation with the census, they can contact the Regional Census Office at 1-866-511-5822
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Philadelphia Regional Office Web site, the census information has an impact nationwide. It affects the numbers of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives, the site says.
In addition, the site reports “people from many walks of life” use census data to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate pools of skilled workers and more.
“When you do the math, it’s easy to see what an accurate count of residents can do for your community. Better infrastructure. More services,” it reads.
“ . . . In fact, the information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services.”
It continued, “That’s more than $4 trillion over a 10-year period for things like new roads and schools, and services like job training centers.”
It indicated that hospitals and emergency services, job training centers and schools, senior centers and bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects were among those services eligible for that federal funding each year.
The U.S. Census feedback also benefits each person’s individual community. It said residents have used census data to support community initiatives involving environmental legislation, quality-of-life issues and consumer advocacy.
“When you fill out the census form, you’re making a statement about what resources your community needs going forward,” the Philadelphia Regional Office Web site says.
Any person who hasn’t received a 2010 U.S. Census application should call 1-866-872-6868. They can have their information entered via phone, or request an application be mailed to them.
“Rest assured that we are going to make sure you are counted,” the Web site says. Beginning in May, it says they’ll be sending hundreds of thousands of census takers to every neighborhood in the country. It said these individuals will count each housing unit that hasn’t returned the form.
According to the Web site, any person who doesn’t have a permanent address can still be included in the census. It says they should be counted where they live and sleep most.
It says they have also established the Service Based Enumeration (SBE) operation to provide people who are experiencing some form of displacement (or lack of permanent address) to be included.
It says they will have census takers collecting information from those at service-based locations, such as homeless shelters, soup kitchens, etc.
The site also indicated “Be Counted” forms are available at locations in each community. It says these are for anyone who either hasn’t received a form, or doesn’t believe they’ve been included on any other form.
For more general 2010 Census information or if you are interested in working as a local census enumerator visit the Decennial Census Web site.