In mid-March, homes across the country will start receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census. The upcoming 2020 census is the first census with the option for participants to respond online, by phone, or by mail.
The ATL Counts website, which provides information on the 2020 census in Atlanta, states that population totals, which include people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens, and noncitizens also affect funding in your community.
In response, the federal government is hiring up to 2,900 people in the Atlanta-area for the 2020 census, with jobs expected to pay $17.50 to $22 an hour, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Since 1790, the United States Census has been recorded every 10 years. Article 1, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution, mandates a division of the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states every decade.
In the National Public Radio (NPR) article, “What You Need to Know About The 2020 Census,” reporter Hansi Lo Wang states that the 2020 population numbers will shape how political power and federal tax dollars are shared in the U.S. over the next 10 years.
The U.S. Census Bureau website, which collects national, state and local demographics, states that this information is used to assist in redrawing legislative districts based on population changes.
The census will guide how an estimated $880 billion a year in federal funding is distributed for schools, roads and other public services in local communities.
It also helps to determine how many seats each state gets within the House of Representatives. By March 31, 2021, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to states.
The U.S. Census Bureau is anticipated to report the new population counts by the end of December.
Atlanta’s population could reach a half-million by the final count of the census, according to U.S. Census data. In 2018, Atlanta had a population of nearly 498,044 people.
The census will ask questions regarding how many people are living in your home on April 1, whether the home is owned or rented, the name, sex, age, date of birth and race of each person in the home, whether they’re of Hispanic or Spanish origin and the relationships of each person in the home.
When responding with the number of people in a household, residents should be mindful to include everyone living in the residence including, roommates, young children, newborns and anyone renting a space.
All personal information is kept confidential, bounded by federal law all data is used for statistical purposes only.
The official U.S. Census Day is April 1. ATL Counts states, an accurate count is critical to ensure Atlanta receives its fair share of public resources to support everything from Head Start to public transportation.
