Welcome to the Town of Wake Forest Census 2010 information page, your local source for census related information! The following information is provided to help you prepare for the 2010 census.
WHAT IS THE CENSUS?
Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a headcount of every person living in the United States, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution. In addition to determining Congressional representation and allocation of federal and state funds, the Census helps describe who we are as a town, county, state, and nation.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
The 2010 Census forms include 10 short questions and will be mailed out to every address in the United States in March 2010.
One person at each address should fill out the form for all persons living at the address (regardless of whether they are related or not) and send it back by mail (a postage paid envelope is included with the form).
All responses are confidential and protected by law. This information will not be shared with law enforcement, the IRS, or the INS. No social security number, personal financial information, or signature will be requested on the Census form.
Census workers will start going door to door in April for any addresses that have not sent back Census forms by mail.
WHY IS THE CENSUS IMPORTANT TO WAKE FOREST?
A successful census count is very important to Wake Forest because an accurate population number means more county and state revenues come into our local community.
For every man, woman, and child who is not counted in Wake Forest, we lose approximately $175 per person per year, which is nearly $2,000 per person per decade that won’t go toward Town services like parks and recreation, roads and sidewalks, public safety, and town facilities.
The census also determines how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the boundaries of legislative districts, which can effect who represents Wake Forest.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T MAIL MY CENSUS FORM BACK IN?
If you don't send back your form, you may receive a visit from a census taker. If a census taker visits you, here's what you should do:
- First ask to see their ID. All census workers carry official government badges marked with just their name; they may also have a "U.S. Census Bureau" bag;
- Note that the census taker will never ask to enter your home;
- If you're still not certain about their identity, please call the Regional Census Centers to confirm they are employed by the Census Bureau;
- Answer the census form questions for your entire household (you must be at least 15 years old to answer questions) so that the census taker can record the results for submission to the Census Bureau.
Census takers visit local homes several times to capture resident information for the 2010 Census. If you prefer, you can schedule a visit with your census taker. Should the census taker come when you are away from your home, they will leave a contact number. If a census taker has not visited your home or you have a question about your participation with the census, call 800-923-8282.
The Census Bureau projects for every one percentage point increase in the national mail back participation rate for the 2010 Census, the federal government saves $85 million in taxpayer money. It costs substantially more money to send census takers to households that fail to mail back their short 10 question form than it does to receive it by mail.
For more information, visit the following websites:
United States Census 2010 – It’s In Our Hands
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/
North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management – NC Can Count on Me! Census 2010
http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/ncosbm/facts_and_figures/census/nc2010/
Wake County Census 2010
http://www.wakegov.com/census/