We’re sensing some census participation

Allison Brophy Champion
March 31, 2010

Culpeper's participation in the 2010 U.S. Census is about the same — or slightly lower if you live in town — as the statewide rate and, so far, higher than nationwide participation.

It's been about two weeks since most households received the 10-question census inquiry; as of Tuesday, 51 percent of Virginians had returned them, compared to 46 percent nationally. In the town of Culpeper, 49 percent had mailed back their forms by Tuesday, compared to 53 percent for Culpeper County residents, according to census.gov.

During the 2000 census, 71 percent of town residents voluntarily returned their questionnaire while 76 percent of county residents participated. Residences not responding were eventually visited by census workers until the information was gathered.

Regionwide, the town of Warrenton had the highest census participation as of Tuesday, with 55 percent of residents mailing in their forms. The Plains, also in Fauquier County, had the area's second highest participation rate at 54 percent.

Rappahannock County tied with the city of Fredericksburg for the area's lowest participation rate — both were at 43 percent.

U.S. Census workers will begin making physical visits to unresponsive households on May 1.

South Dakota had the most people mailing back their census forms as of Tuesday, with 58 percent of residents responding, followed by Nebraska (57 percent), North Dakota (57 percent) and Iowa (54 percent).

Alaska (36 percent), Mississippi (38 percent), Puerto Rico (37 percent) and Texas (39 percent) were among the lowest-responding states and/or territories, according to census.gov.

The U.S. Census is encouraging mail participation as a means of saving tax dollars. For every percentage point increase in nationwide mail response, the census says, there is an estimated $85 million savings in federal funds. That's how much it costs otherwise to send census takers to collect responses in person from nonresponsive households.

At a glance

2010 census participation, as of Tuesday, with percent of people who had mailed back their census forms:

Warrenton: 55

The Plains: 54

Fauquier County: 54

Spotsylvania County: 53

Culpeper County: 53

Virginia: 51

Town of Madison: 50

Town of Culpeper: 49

Orange County: 49

Town of Orange: 47

Gordonsville: 45

United States: 46

Rappahannock County: 43

Fredericksburg: 43

* On May 1, census workers will begin visiting households that have not mailed back their 2010 census forms.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau