The Census is Around the Corner

It won't happen for another 285 days, give or take, but the Census Bureau has been gearing up locally for the 2010 Census for some months already. They have hired local managers and City staff have met with them at least twice. The Census has rented office space in Hill's office building on 5th Street (near the Veteran's Clinic) and they will be hiring about 50 people in the Bemidji area.

This Tuesday (June 23) at 6:00pm the Census Bureau will hold a town meeting at City Hall to talk about "Complete Count Committees." Organizing local committees to support and promote completion of the census is one way the Bureau hopes to increase participation in the count. Local officials and leaders are encouraged to attend and it is open to everyone.

The Census is a count of everyone living in the US every ten years and is important for many reasons, but especially to cities and counties because state and federal assistance is often dependent on population. Non-profits need the additional information on ethnicity, housing, educational attainment, etc. that provides the data they need to make the case in funding applications.

The most important reason everyone in Minnesota should complete their Census questionnaire is to assure that we keep eight congressional districts. There is real concern that our population will decline in comparison to growth in other states that we would lose one federal representative.

The long form survey used to be done every ten years too, but is now an ongoing survey called the American Community Survey and is mailed to a sample of the population and asks for detailed information. That is the survey that Representative Michelle Bachmann seems to be concerned about:



Rep. Bachmann's sentiments don't mesh with leaders around the state, including Governor Pawlenty who signed this proclamation in April. Or Joe Day from Bemidji:

"The American Indian population is near the numbers when Europeans arrived here on Turtle Island over 500 years ago. Our numbers dwindled to a mere 250,000 by 1900, it is important that we be counted in 2010 to show that we are resilient and strong for our children."
- Kay Sha Bow Osay ( Walking Around) Anishinabe, Joseph B. Day

Here is a countdown timer and information about the Census 2010 and more info about the census in Minnesota.