Census numbers down in Riley County and Manhattan
While response numbers in Kansas for the 2020 United States Census may be up in comparison to the rest of the country, response numbers in Riley County and Manhattan are down.
According to Emily Kelly, U.S. Census Bureau censorship coordinator for Kansas and Oklahoma, Riley County has a response rate of 59.2 percent while Manhattan’s response rate currently sits at 61.2 percent, both below Kansas’s response rate of 65.4 percent and the national response rate of 61.6 percent.
“A lot of that is because college students who are supposed to be counted in the community where they go to school were asked not to come back after spring break due to coronavirus,” Kelley said.
Although college students often don’t have a full-time residence in the town where they attend school, census advocates emphasize that most residents, full-time or not, still use programs funded by tax payers and the government.
Since the census helps determine how billions of dollars in government funds are allocated, census workers are attempting spread the message to college students and anyone else whose full-time residence is in question that they need to participate in the census.
“If you’re a foreign-exchange family who is living here now, you count in the 2020 census,” Kelley said. “If you’re not a U.S. citizen but you’re living here now, you count in the 2020 census. The military families who may be stationed at Fort Riley but may own a home elsewhere, they count right here where they live.”
Responding to the 2020 United States Census
The 2020 United States Census is a grand undertaking spanning several months that will eventually play a large role in determining governmental representation and how billions of dollars in government funds are allocated.
For each individual person, however, it only takes a few minutes to complete.
Those participating in the census can do so by filling out a paper form that was sent out earlier this year, going to my2020census.gov where it is available in multiple languages or by calling 844-330-2020.
The U.S. Census Bureau does ask that whoever fills out the form does so for each individual living at that address.
This request is also extended to college students, even if they aren’t living with their roommates at the time the form is being filled out.
“Ideally, you would have a conversation with those roommates, maybe jump on Facetime or Zoom and go over the questions with each other so there’s one questionnaire submitted for that residential address,” Kelley said.
Spreading the word
Once the census form is fill out, there are opportunities to get others to fill out their’s as well.
As part of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Call for the Count campaign, which spans June 22-28, Kansas residents are being encouraged to reach out to friends and family to see if they have participated in the census.
Those interested in doing so can access resources, such as texts and social-media graphics, at kansascounts.org.
A number of activities are also being put on across the state as part of the Call for the County campaign, including a Census Challenge, social media campaigns and Virtual Questionnaire Assistance.
On June 25 and 28, “Censoteria” (a census-themed version of “Loteria,” a Mexican board game) will take place on Facebook Live and will feature a guest from Sporting KC, which is a professional soccer team located in Kansas City.
(Photo courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau)
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