Everyone living in Pierce County deserves to be heard. When individuals and communities are not counted in the census, we miss out on critical funding, political representation and a wealth of perspectives that make Pierce County a great place to live.
You know your family and your community best. Taking the census helps us make sure that those in power know we are here and know what we need.
There is a lot at stake for this year’s census. Census data determines how more than $800 billion in federal funding is given each year. We need the census to accurately count the number of Pierce County residents to ensure we get our fair share of funding over the next decade and beyond.
Think about some of the issues that are most important to you: a high-quality education for your kids, transportation to get you where you need to go and health care to keep you and your family well. These are some of the many resources that are funded based on census data.
By taking the census, you’re making sure your needs are counted when these issues like transportation, education, and health care are addressed in our county. Everyone, in every community, benefits when we have a fair and accurate count.
We need to get everyone in Pierce County counted to ensure we have enough local leaders with the power to speak out on our behalf on the national stage.
Billions of dollars of economic activity are determined based on census data. For example, when a grocery chain decides to open a new store, it looks at census data to determine whether Pierce County is the right place to open the shop. Having accurate representation of Pierce County could bring more business and employment opportunities to our communities.
Basic census information
For more than 100 years, the United States has used the census to get a detailed count of each and every person living in the country.
The census is taken every 10 years and includes a few simple questions about your income, household, and gender and racial identities.
Data collected from the census helps determine how much federal funding communities across the country receive to fund everyday resources like health care, education and transportation. Census data also determines how many representatives each state has in Congress.
People can start taking part of the census as early as March 12, 2020.
The census is offered in 13 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Korean, Arabic, Tagalog, Portuguese, French, Haitian Creole, Polish and Japanese.
2020 is the first year that the census will be offered online. Your online responses will be kept safe and private, and the online option makes it easier than ever to participate. Responses will also be collected by mail, over the phone and in-person.
Your responses will be kept confidential. Your name will not be shared with anyone, and your answers will not be used to identify you or your family. It is against the law to share your census information with anyone outside the census department.
You can find complete information about the 2020 Census here.
