Preparations under way for Census 2010
OXFORD,
Miss. – The first U.S. Census, in 1790, counted 3.9 million people.
While that number is significantly lower than the nearly 300 million
Americans recorded on April 1, 2000, it’s still much greater than the
2,844,658 Mississippians counted in Census 2000.
Despite the
fact that the decennial count is mandated by the government and has
been in effect for more than 200 years, many Americans need to be
reminded of its importance, said Clifford Holley, interim director of
the Center for Population Studies at the University of Mississippi.
“Although growing 10.5 percent between 1990 and 2000, Mississippi still lost a seat in the U. S. House of Representatives,” Holley said.
Determining how many seats each state gets in the House is just one of the purposes of the Census. The Census also determines voting district boundaries within the states and the allocation of government services.
“The Census helps determine who receives government money needed for social services, roads, jobs, schools, hospitals and other programs,” Holley said. “That’s why it’s important to be counted.”
Still, with all the technology available, the accuracy of the Census is dependent upon people’s cooperation.
“It is important for the public to participate in the Census either by returning census forms or speaking with an enumerator,” Holley said. “While some may be concerned about sharing information, the Census does its best to keep your answers safe, secure and confidential.”
And because Census 2010 will determine the distribution of $300 billion of government funding, it’s important to ensure that every state – especially a small state like Mississippi – gets a fair share.
Shirley Anderson-Scott, partnership specialist in the Dallas Regional Census Center, agreed.
“Census 1990 counted only 2,629,548 Mississippians and Census 2000 reflected slow population growth,” she said. “As a result, the state’s voting boundaries were reconfigured, and Mississippi lost a state representative.”
Since 2000, Mississippi has undergone tremendous change. The latest estimates show Mississippi has grown to nearly 3 million people; however, recent hurricanes may make it difficult to get an accurate count.
“So many people were displaced after 2005, and we simply don’t have accurate addresses or phone numbers on where they moved,” Holley said. “This year, Mississippi seemed to be last in everything good and first in everything bad, but, if everyone is counted, we will be eligible for more money to tackle issues, health concerns – like obesity – and much more.”
Both Holley and Anderson-Scott are determined to help Mississippi get an accurate count. In November, they hosted a training session at Ole Miss to review early census estimates and train counters on using the new one-page census form.
“The longer forms were problematic; now, there are only seven questions, and it’s all general,” Anderson-Scott said.
Still, she predicts that some people won’t comply with completing the more user-friendly form.
“That’s when we come in,” she said. “Our job is to count everyone right – once and in the right place. It’s easy, confidential and it’s important to the community and state.”
“We test and train people to get the information by phone or by going door-to-door,” Anderson-Scott said. “Mississippi needs better services, better schools and better hospitals. That’s what the census means to Mississippi – doing better.”
For more information on the Center for Population Studies at UM, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/sdc/info.htm .