Stay Informed

Every 10 years, the Census Bureau counts everyone who lives in the United States and five of its territories. Based on that count, congressional and legislative districts are drawn and decisions are made about how money for infrastructure and services is allocated.

Participation is particularly significant for rural Hoosiers, said Bob White, INFB director of national government relations.

“It’s just really important,” White said. “It’s the way we get our money back. Indiana sends a lot of money to the federal government, and one of the ways to get it back is through the census.”

The census is required by the U.S. Constitution to determine the number of seats each state gets in the House of Representatives, and it also provides data for redrawing legislative districts. But just as important is that state, local and federal lawmakers use statistics from the census to help them determine how more than $675 billion in federal funds will be spent every year for the next 10 years.

“Funds influenced by census statistics are used for critical infrastructure and public services such as roads and bridges, hospitals and health care clinics, emergency response, and schools and education,” the Census Bureau said in a news release.

“All federal agencies use the census data in order to figure out who can get what,” White explained. “But it’s critical for rural areas because a lot of the grants and low-interest loans that help fund rural hospitals, rural roads and infrastructure  – all of these are dependent on the census numbers.”

Most households should have received an official letter from the Census Bureau between March 12 and March 20, and it includes detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone or by mail. 

April 1 was Census Day – a key reference date for the census, but not a deadline.

“When you respond, you'll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020, and include everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home,” the Census Bureau said. “You can respond before or after that date. We encourage you to respond as soon as you can.”

The original timeline asked for responses by July 31, but due to the COVID-19 outbreak, that date has been extended to Aug. 14.

“In Indiana we’re typically a net loss state – that is, we send more back to the federal government than we receive,” White said. “Participating in the census is a way for rural Indiana to get its fair share of dollars back.”