The 2020 Census, set to begin on April 1st, will provide Duluthians with a chance to change and correct how the city’s population is reflected for the next 10 years.

First taken in 1790, the U.S. Census looks to produce an accurate counting of who lives in the United States, including their demographics, ownership of living spaces and the relations between those living in the same home.

This information, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is used by the government to determine how over $675 billion federal funding money gets divided into the nations schools, hospitals, roads, and other public programs. Understanding who lives where allows that funding to get used efficiently.

“Federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race and other factors,” Census.gov explains.

The information from the census continues to be important once made public. The results, published without any names of participants, is used by other parties to dictate decisions.

The federal government’s census website states that, “Businesses use census data to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, and this creates jobs.”

Dr. Rajiv Vaidyanathan, a professor at UMD and the Department Head of the Department of Marketing, feels the census is a highly important example of data collection.

Dr. Rajiv Vaidyanathan, courtesy of the University of Minnesota Duluth

“The Census is basically nothing but a large scale research/data collection project,” Vaidyanathan explained. “My interest stems from the fact that I teach about all the different sources of error in research and how most of the focus tends to be on sampling error (there is zero sampling error in a census) but non-sampling error (things like incomplete forms or incorrect data in the forms) is a bigger source of error in almost every case.

That data isn’t just useful for analysts or businesses. It can provide insight into countless choices made by local, state, and federal governments.

“The census is critical to the city, state, and the country because a huge number of federal decisions are based on the census numbers,” Vaidyanathan continued. “Failure to do an accurate count can result in loss of significant funds… Every single uncounted resident can result in thousands of dollars of lost funding for the city and state over the next decade.”

The census is also not just for long term residents of Duluth or specifically U.S. citizens. The census takes in information from anyone who resides in Duluth, a misunderstanding Vaidyanathan hopes lessens this coming year.

“The process should only take a few minutes and every person who completes their form online is doing the country a service by saving taxpayer money,” Vaidyanathan explained. “Remember, it does not matter whether you are a citizen or not. The census is intended to count residents… Sometimes students believe that they should just let their parents fill out the form, but the census bureau is clear that students who usually live in Duluth for school most of the year count as Duluth residents for the purpose of the census.”

Some concerns arose earlier this year around whether or not the 2020 census would ask questions about citizenship status. While this was proposed, it did not pass into law and will not be featured as a question on the census.

The census bureau uses both employees and volunteers to complete various tasks, for more information on how to get involved or what makes one qualified to do so, take a look at this hiring page.

The census will provide the people of Duluth with a way to ensure they are counted amongst the people of the city, along with opportunities to volunteer and/or work with the census bureau. For more information, consult the Census Bureau and its resources.

Vital Census Taking Awaits Duluthians in 2020