Friday, April 02, 2010
With the deadline for mailing in forms having arrived, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the national response rate is down considerably from the 2000 headcount. Whereas 72% of household mailed back their census forms 10 years ago, only 54% had done so as of April 2.
Some states are well ahead of the national response rate. Leading the way is Wisconsin with 66%, followed by South Dakota at 64%, Iowa at 63%, and Nebraska, North Dakota and Minnesota with 62%.
As of April 2, the only states with less than half the population responding were Alaska at 42%, Texas and New Mexico at 47%, Louisiana with 48% and New York with 49%.
Alaska is considered a special challenge for census workers because so much of the population has irregular mail service. In fact, there are only two parts of the United States that the Census Bureau flags as needing special travel arrangements: Maine’s North Woods and most of Alaska.
-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff
The Take 10 Challenge Map (U.S. Census Bureau)
Low Response in 6 States Concerns Census Bureau (by Ed O’Keefe, Washington Post)
Snowmobiles, ATVs, Lobster Boats Used for Census (by Clarke Canfield, Associated Press)
Fortune Cookies to Promote 2010 Census (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
2010 Census Begins in Remote Alaska Village (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
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