Tallying up the total

If you haven't filled out the 2020 census yet, somebody is looking for you.

Census takers started hitting the streets recently to tally residents who haven't completed the decennial survey. According to Maureen Schriner, a U.S. Census media specialist for Iowa and Minnesota, Americans have until Sept. 30 to make sure they're counted.

"They will hound you," Schriner said of census takers. "We want to be accurate when we're talking about this, so we want as many people counted as possible."

Just over two-thirds of people in O'Brien and Clay counties have completed census forms already. That's lower than when the last count was taken in 2010: 75.2 percent of households self-reported in O'Brien County back then while 71.3 percent did so in Clay County.

"Households that haven't responded still have time to respond on their own," Schriner noted. "That would avoid having to fill one out with one of the workers."

Locally, 70.9 percent of households in Hartley had completed the census, according to the latest report. Everly has 72.7 percent of households tallied and Royal is sitting at 67.3 percent.

O'Brien County's least-counted city is Sheldon at 63.5 percent and the most counted is Calumet at 74 percent. Dickens is No. 1 in Clay County at 74.7 percent counted and Rossie is dead last at 36.7 percent.

Statewide, Bremer County has the most-counted households at 76.4 percent while Dickinson County has the least at 46.5 percent. Iowa has the sixth-most counted households nationwide. Minnesota is first at 73.9 percent while Alaska is last at 53 percent.

Schriner explained why it's important to fill out the census. A complete and accurate count of each city ensures that a community receives its fair share of representation in Congress and the state legislature as well as in federal funds distributed each year at the state and local level. The money affects many programs such as emergency response services, hospitals and clinics, schools, job training, roads, highways and more.

Schriner also noted Census data is important for decisions by businesses, nonprofits and other entities.

"Our mission is to get a complete and accurate count," she said. "That's why responding to the census is so important, because so many government agencies rely on census data to ensure adequate services."

If you haven't done so already, you can fill out the census by visiting http://www.2020census.gov or by calling (844) 330-2020. The U.S. Census Bureau is also sending a seventh reminder in the mail, along with a paper census questionnaire, to households that have not yet responded.

"If you really don't want to be talking to someone at your door, then respond on your own," Schriner said.