2010 Census: Florida Approaches Its 2000 Mail Participation Rate

WASHINGTON, April 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As of Friday, April 16, Florida is just one percentage point away from matching the mail participation rate it achieved in the 2000 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today.  New rates released today show that 68 percent of Floridians have mailed back their forms so far, compared with 69 percent in 2000. The nation as a whole -- at 69 percent -- is still three percentage points away from matching the mail response rate achieved in 2000 (72 percent).

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A number of counties and cities across the country have already matched or exceeded their Census 2000 rates (see: http://2010.census.gov/news/xls/match_surpassed_4-16.xls for the full list).

"If you mail back your 2010 Census today you can ensure that your household is counted," U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. Households that normally pick up their mail from a post office box are already slated for in-person follow-up from census workers.  

The rates for all states, counties, places, towns and townships are updated each afternoon through April 23 at 4:00 p.m. on the Take 10 Challenge Map (http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/). A final rate will be announced May 3.

ABOUT THE 2010 CENSUS

The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau