How does the national census affect cities?
By Adelia Henderson
Next year is 2020, which means a census will occur. The Constitution calls for a count of the United States population every 10 years in order to allocate seats for the House of Representatives. But how does the census affect cities across America?
The short answer: census data is used for much more than just determining government representation.
“Data at the census block level is used by governmental entities for defining the representative boundaries for congressional districts, state legislative districts, school districts and voting precincts,” said Becky Taylor, director of federal relations and research for the Georgia Municipal Association.
A census block is defined by the Census Bureau as a statistical area, generally small in size, that serve as building blocks for all geographic boundaries the Census Bureau tabulates data for.
“Census data is used in a wide variety of funding formulas including locally-negotiated intergovernmental agreements such as Local Option Sales Tax, as well as in the distribution of state Local Maintenance Improvement Grant funds,” she said.
Census data also determines how much federal funding communities receive, which is an estimated $675 billion annually, Taylor said. These funds go to programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Taylor said that census findings are beneficial for cities and their economies.
“Local businesses use Census Bureau data on topics such as population growth and income to decide whether or where to locate restaurants or stores,” she said. “Real estate investors rely on Census Bureau data to measure the demand for housing, predict future need and review aggregate trends.”
Businesses are not the only community members to use census data in planning. Anthony Jones, director of research, evaluation, assessment and accountability with the Bibb County School District, said that the school system uses census data to plan ahead and project trends in enrollment.
“We look for trends in coordination with planning and zoning, where people are moving in the city,” he said.
Jones said the BCSD also uses the census to help evaluate future needs for the student population.
“We need that (data) for long-range planning — where we build schools, where do we not have schools,” he said. “We try to project student population for the next year, but we also try to keep an eye out on the next four to five years, as well.”
Data gathered by the census is also used to compile statistics regarding unemployment, crime and poverty rates, as well as health data, according to Taylor.
Taylor said that 2020 will be the first “online” census, as residents will receive a postcard in the mail with a unique URL code to participate online. Residents also have the option to fill out the survey by phone or mail, and any personal information submitted is protected by law, she said.
According to the Census Bureau, nearly every household in America will receive their invitation by mail in March 2020. Residents who use P.O. boxes or live in areas recently affected by natural disasters may receive their card in-person from a Census Bureau worker. You can expect to be visited by a Bureau worker at your door by late April if you have not responded online.
For more information about the national census, visit the Census Bureau’s official website.
