Census Bureau Director Encourages D.C. Area Residents to Return Census Forms at Iconic Ben's Chili Bowl on National Census Day

WASHINGTON, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following news advisory is issued by the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

What:  To commemorate National Census Day on April 1, Census Bureau Director Robert Groves will answer questions about the census and encourage D.C. area residents to mail back their census forms at iconic D.C. eatery Ben's Chili Bowl on the historic U Street Corridor.  Adams Morgan. Residents who have not yet mailed back their forms can turn in to the United States Postal Service mail carrier on site from 8 to 9 a.m. WPGC (FM 95.5), a popular Washington urban-format radio station, will also be on-site to promote the event and encourage residents to bring their census forms.

As of today, the national mail back participation rate is 50 percent. Washington, D.C., ranks slightly behind the national average, at 44 percent.

The Census Bureau recently launched its "Take 10" program, which features interactive maps showing 2010 Census mail participation rates. Communities across the region can track the percentage of households mailing in their census forms at http://2010census.gov/2010census/take10map. The data are updated daily at 4 p.m.

When:  Thursday, April 1, 2010, 7 to 9 a.m. (remarks at 8 a.m.)

Who:  Robert Groves, director, U.S. Census Bureau

Shack Nd Pack, WPGC (FM 95.5), D.C. radio station

Where:  Ben's Chili Bowl

1213 U Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20009-4442

Editor's note: More information, electronic press kits, news releases, fact sheets and multimedia are available on the Census Bureau's online news room at 2010census.gov.

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau