The 2020 Census is here
In mid-March, residents will receive invitations to complete the 2020 Census questionnaire. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your household in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. The 2020 Census will be the first census ever to accept responses online. If you don’t respond to the questionnaire, a census taker will visit your home in May through July to assist.
It’s how we know our population - AND get the funding we deserve...
The purpose of the census is simple: to count each person where they live at this time. This is done every 10 years. It’s how we know our population, which determines how much money federal agencies send to our community for roads, parks, healthcare, emergency services, senior centers, grants, outreach assistance, and more. For each person not counted, our community loses access to approximately $22,000 in federal funding per person over 10 years. With approximately 4,800 households in Oskaloosa, an average of 2.3 people per household, and the 20% non-response rate in 2010, this equates to an astonishing $49 million lost since the last census was taken.
Please don’t ignore the Census...
We urge every household to take 10 minutes to respond. It’s safe, fast, and easy. Help us get an accurate population count for the services Oskaloosa residents deserve. Additional information about the census is available at the links below and on the City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/oskaloosaiowa/.
Informational links and FAQs:
Am I required to respond?
How to respond
Questions asked on the form
Who to count on the form
Importance of the data
How your data is protected
Community impact
How to help
Facts and rumors
Avoiding fraud and scams
Conducting the count
Census takers in your neighborhood
Response rates (with interactive map)