Federal response works both ways, as coronavirus focuses critical York County count.
The same coronavirus that disrupts the count of people living in the tri-county area, may also drive home the importance of that tally.
“The 2020 Census is still ongoing and it’s more important than ever that people self-respond,” said Jan Smiley, state partner specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau.
Smiley made rounds in recent months to area county and municipal councils. Her message is one of money and power, that a proper count in 2020 impacts federal decisions from legislative district maps to funding for roads, schools and a host of other items.
As COVID-19 and social distancing keep many people in the area home, and businesses closed, attention turns to federal response. There are stimulus checks, small business loans, health supplies from a national stockpile. Decisions on medical equipment and other issues rely on a federal understanding of how many people live where.
“2010 census info still being used regularly for potentially life-saving supplies,” Smiley said.
In March the census bureau released some of its final population estimates ahead of the official 2020 count. York and Lancaster counties rank in the top 50 in the nation for projected residential growth since 2010. Both counties rank in the top 100 for single-year growth from 2018 to 2019.
Municipalities like Fort Mill, Tega Cay and Rock Hill have seen significant growth in annual estimates. So have unincorporated areas like Indian Land and Lake Wylie. Turns out, some of those highest-growth areas also are the most likely to volunteer their information early on for the census.
As of Monday morning, the 48.2% of York County households that already completed the 2020 census ranks higher than South Carolina at 44.5%, and the federal rate at 44.5%. Tega Cay leads the way in response rate, followed by Fort Mill and McConnells. Clover also has a rate better than the national average, Rock Hill and York rates better than South Carolina as a whole.
York County paced South Carolina back in 2010 with a 73.3% self-response rate. This year there is an online option, along with phone and paper methods. Through midnight Sunday morning, Lancaster County self-reported at a rate of 47.2%. Chester County reported at 38.1%.
Self-response is important to census workers because it helps them avoid sending field workers door-to-door. Field operations are impacted by social distancing brought on by coronavirus.
“Due to COVID-19, field operations have been pushed back,” Smiley said. “There are currently no census bureau field staff going door-to-door.”
Census data includes information on the people living in a residence as of April 1. Questions also ask basic demographic data, though information beyond the count of residents won’t be released for decades.
For more on the census or to respond, visit my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020.
