Census is Hiring in Walton County

[Astara]

Well, that will be tough since the only "neighbors" I've had this week are in fact vacationers.

Since you know the system, a question -- even after I told the census taker that we were permanent residents, he only asked our names, dob, race, and relationship to each other. Nothing else. Is that really all the information they are collecting?

If they can't find the person they originally spoke with then they will come try to talk to you.

Kathydwells posted a link above that shows an official census form and explains why each question is asked. A real census enumerator will not ask you for your social security number etc. In a nutshell you are asked the number of people who live at or occupy the home as of April 1, 2010. Next you are asked if there are any additional people staying there on April 1 that were not counted in question 1. Then they want to know if your house or mobile home is rented, owned with or without a mortgage, or occupied without payment. Number four asks your phone number. (This is so that you can be contacted if your form has missing or incomplete data.) You are then asked individual names, sex, ages and dates of birth for each person counted in question one. There are two questions about race or ethnic origin. The last question asks if each individual listed ever stays somewhere else for part of the time.

Here is a link to a map that will show the completion rate of each county in the country. Walton County is at 47% right now. In 2000 we finished with 55%. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/takemap/

 

[DuneLaker]

Everyone needs to call, email their friends and tell them to come home and be counted! The resorts might consider sending out an email to their permanent residents that are traveling or spending time at other places to get them home. Otherwise, is there a chance we will be undercounted or miscounted again? Maybe I'll leave a sticky on the door when I go to Publix.

 

[NotDeadYet]

I like the idea of a direct contact, but if they are going to so easily assume a house is a second home then we are going to have a huge under count.

We had a huge undercount in 2000, no matter what the official line is about that, and this is one of the reasons why. I worked as an enumerator then, first in the Sandestin and Mack Bayou areas and then on Okaloosa Island. In the Mack Bayou area the maps were way out of date - we were hand drawing in entire subdivsions and adding all the addresses. In all three of those areas I worked in there were lots of permanent residents, but finding them was a lot of work - it took persistance and sometimes creativity and flexibility. From what I have seen so far we might fare better this time around but I am still wondering if the enumerators are accounting for each and every residence.

 

[DuneLaker]

Hey, calling everyone to come home isn't a novel idea. South Walton will have to show up to get counted or so it seems. Just got this email. Will pass along. We're behind the national average right now. Guess we all need to stay home and order in. PHONE HOME -- COME HOME --

I tried to cut and paste, but could not. Some of what it said;
Have You Looked Up Your Community's 2010 Census Mail Participation Rate?
If everyone across the nation mailed back their forms, taxpayers could reduce the cost of taking the census by about $1.5 billion.
On the Census Bureau's Take 10 Challenge Map
(Take 10 Map - 2010 Census)
you can track how well your community is participating in the census by seeing what percentage of households have mailed back their census forms. Edit. Just saw Astara's post. This could be the same site.

The nation just surpassed the 50% mark yesterday -- half the nation has returned their census form. Are you above or below this national rate? ... We are behind, or so it seems, right now.

There goal is to beat 2000 national rate of 72%

 

[scooterbug44]

Where can I get a census form to fill out? I would LIKE to be counted, but they are sure not making it easy!

I missed my neighborhood worker and their available time of 5 am to 7:30 am really is not going to work with my schedule.

Really find it hard to believe that in 2010 w/ all the computers we have, the halfassery I am witnessing is the best way to do this!

 

[Astara]

Where can I get a census form to fill out? I would LIKE to be counted, but they are sure not making it easy!

I missed my neighborhood worker and their available time of 5 am to 7:30 am really is not going to work with my schedule.

Really find it hard to believe that in 2010 w/ all the computers we have, the halfassery I am witnessing is the best way to do this!

Interesting. When I went through training we were told not to knock on doors before 9 am or after 8 pm. If you are not available for a face-to-face interview it can be completed by phone. Call the number the enumerator left on your door and tell them you want to complete the survey by phone.

As residents of Walton County we have a limited time to be counted. For the next ten years these numbers are going to dictate our federal funding as well as how many represent us in the House of Representatives. If anyone believes they have valid concerns about being counted (such as the enumerator only being available from 5-7 a.m.) please call the local census office in Pensacola at 850-288-7330. If you need to go further up the chain, the Pensacola office is overseen by the regional office in Atlanta. Those numbers are (404) 730-3832 or 1-800-424-6974. Walton county has grown tremendously in the past ten years and if we don't speak up we very well may be missed. If we're not watching out for ourselves then who will? In my opinion we owe it to our community to make the effort to be counted.

 

[Astara]

I'm wondering if this thread would be better served by moving it to Politics and Current Events?