Census 2010 -- What are you waiting for?

This year the month of March brings more than spring rains and blustery winds our way. It is time for the 2010 U.S. Census, when officials are attempting to get an accurate count of every person in the United States. In our country, the census is a decennial event -- meaning it happens only once every ten years. Census surveys were mailed out in early March, and if they are not returned, it becomes the duty of more than 140,000 census workers across the country to knock on doors and gather some simple information on each resident: things like name, age, gender and race. The basic information they obtain is confidential and protected by law*. This means the Census Bureau cannot give out information that identifies you or your household -- even to law enforcement or tax collection agencies. It is not used to identify persons who are here without citizenship papers.

While some people object to what they consider an infringement on their privacy, an accurate census is actually beneficial to the area. More than $435 billion in federal funds will be distributed each year, based upon the population count. The money will fund services for children and the elderly, roads, and many other local needs. We need an accurate count in order to receive our fair share of these funds. Additionally, our state's representation in Congress is determined by these figures. How much has our county's population grown? Are we entitled to more tax money? More senators or congressmen? Only an accurate census will tell.

Now that you know how important it is, you can help ensure that the census is successful. If you have not mailed in your survey, do so at once. If you have misplaced it, expect a call or visit from a census taker. Rural areas like ours make their job harder, so be sure that your 9-1-1 address is plainly visible.

Still, we are constantly warned never to give strangers our personal information, fearful of identify fraud, etc. So how can you be sure that you are talking to a legitimate census worker? The Better Business Bureau offers these guidelines. - Every U.S. census worker will be wearing a badge and carrying a Census Bureau canvas bag, a confidentiality notice and a computer equipped with GPS software. They should be happy to comply if you ask to see their identification and badge before answering any questions. - True census workers do not ask for money or solicit donations. They will not ask for your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers. - Census workers will NOT contact you by e-mail. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that claims to be from the Census Bureau.

For more information, visit the U.S. Census website: www.census.gov/2010census

*Census data becomes public after 72 years, and this information can be used for family research. On a personal note, when my husband and I were researching his family tree, we discovered that we were not the first Goodwyns to live here in Leon County. The 1860 census showed his great-grandfather, Leonidas Duane Goodwyn and his brother, Samuel, lived close to Centerville--just a few miles from our home. We were sure glad Grandpa completed that survey when the census taker knocked on their door!