Beech Tree News Network

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Census is underway.  The official count of the population - the Census - is mandated by the U.S. Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. The 2020 Census counts the population in the United States and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each home should have received an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail—between March 12-20.

If you have not received an invitation by mail, go to  https://my2020census.gov/ and complete the form online. It only takes about 3 to 4 minutes.

The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to offer daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.

The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

It's also in the Constitution: Article 1, Section 2, mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every ten years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.

A complete and accurate count is critical for our community because the results of the 2020 Census will affect community funding, congressional representation, and more.