County passes 2010's census self-response rate

Well, at least we’re doing something useful with all this time at home.

Clark County residents have surpassed a noteworthy milestone in their response to the United States Census. On Thursday, the county surpassed its 2010 self-response rate — 70 percent of Clark County’s households have responded, and we still have a few more weeks to go. In 2010, a total of 69.5 percent of Clark County residents self-responded to the census.

According to Toby Nelson, a spokesman for the U.S. Census Bureau, we’re killing it.

“Clark County also continues to have the best response rate of any of Washington’s 39 counties,” Nelson said.

He broke down our self-response rate so far by city:

Battle Ground: 70.1 percent
Camas: 75.2 percent
La Center: 67.3 percent
Ridgefield: 68.1 percent
Washougal: 72.5 percent
Woodland: 66.4 percent
Vancouver: 67.3 percent

It matters because the data collected in the census every 10 years is used to allocate resources to communities — according to the Census Bureau, the results of the 2020 census will determine how an estimated $675 billion will be allocated every year for the next decade. The data is used for other policymaking purposes, too, like dividing states into Congressional districts.

The census bureau is strongly encouraging people to self-respond. It’s cheaper, faster, and during COVID-19, safer than sending enumerators door-to-door.

We still have a few more weeks to self-respond online, by phone (844-330-2020) or by mailing back the paper questionnaire. Soon, enumerators will begin in-person visits to unresponsive households.

Still haven’t responded? Looking for something to pass the time during this seemingly unending quarantine, and sick of baking banana bread? Go to census.gov and hit the link that says “respond today.”