JONESTOWN — “Last 2010 census, we didn’t do so well in Coahoma County.”
Reggan Mason, partnership specialist for Atlanta Regional Census Center, said those very words to the Jonestown City Council Monday night as she explained the next census is April 1, 2020.
Mason said Coahoma County’s response rate in the 2010 census was between 22 and 29 percent, which she considered low.
“This census in 2020, we’re trying to make sure everyone is counted and that’s why I’m coming here to talk to you all,” Mason said. “You all are the trusted voice of Jonestown and Coahoma County.”
Mason urged the council members to encourage people go out, respond to the 2020 census and make sure they are counted.
“Numbers, people that we counted, we get money for those people,” Mason said. “The money is allocated from state to local government. The numbers that we got for Jonestown the last 2010 census was about 1,100 and I’m not sure if that’s the correct population count for Jonestown or it could be more or it could be less. If it’s less, that’s less money for Jonestown. The more numbers we get, the more money we get for Jonestown.”
Mason continued by explaining the process.
“This 2020 census, we’re going to be doing it online and we’re going to be doing it sending out cards,” she said. “Cards are coming out the end of the year and the first of the year as well.”
Mason said cards could be used by punching a code in the computer or phone. If someone wants to participate in the census, but not online, he or she can request to be counted by mail.
“When you request for it to be done by mail, you have to wait a couple of weeks because we want to make sure we get the code out to everyone and then you do it online or by phone,” Mason said.
Mason said everything is confidential and citizens will not need to provide Social Security, bank account, driver’s license information or any other information. She added the only goal is to make sure everyone is being counted in the census.
Individuals are being hired to help the United States Census Bureau make sure everyone is counted. More information can be found at https://2020census.gov/en/jobs.
“We’re trying to get people hired in the community because, like I said, trusted voices and people that live in the area are quicker to get inside of homes,” Mason said.
More information on the census may be found at https://2020census.gov/en and contact numbers and emails may be found at https://2020census.gov/en/contact-us.html.
