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2020 U.S. Census
The United States holds a census every 10 years per mandate of Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. The goal of the census is to count every person living in the United States once, only once, and in the right place.
Residents are required by law to respond to the 2020 Census (Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 11 and 193). It’s your civic duty, and it’s a way to participate in our democracy.
The Census Benefits the City of River Falls
The distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants, and support to states, counties, and communities are based on census data. Your community benefits the most when the census counts everyone. When you respond to the census, you help your community gets its fair share of the federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other vital programs.
It’s About Fair Representation
Every ten years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states. The apportionment results will be the first data published from the 2020 Census, and those results will determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next 10 years.
Timeline
**Due to Covid-19, the timeline has changed.**
March 12-September 30, 2020 | The public is strongly encouraged to respond online. |
If you haven’t responded yet: | |
July 16-September 30, 2020 | Census takers will follow up with households that haven’t responded. |
Three ways to answer
When it’s time to respond, most households will receive an invitation in the mail. You can respond in three ways:
- Online - go to my2020census.gov and start the questionnaire
- By phone - call 1-844-330-2020
- By mail - complete the form that is mailed to you
What are you waiting for? Take the census online now!
Helpful Links
- Census 101
- Census Jobs - recruitment is on for thousands of temporary positions to assist with the 2020 Census count
- U.S. Census Youtube page - helpful videos of every kind
- FAQs
- Sample questionnaire