2020 Census: Rural communities count too

Rural communities face challenges in retaining and securing resources to support human and physical infrastructure, such as access to healthcare, job opportunities, limited reliable broadband internet services, educational resources, and economic development opportunities.

At the policy level, federal funding is distributed across the country based on decennial census counts. Historically, those living in smaller communities and rural areas have been less likely to be counted in the U.S. Census. And this undercount of rural populations means those areas will receive less federal resources than they might have.

Several Missouri rural counties fall into the U.S. Census Bureaus’ hardest-to-count areas. The Bureau defines ‘hardest-to-count’ as areas where 25% or more households didn’t respond to the first rounds of notices to complete the 2010 Census.

The hardest-to-count areas also tend to experience higher levels of poverty than the state of Missouri as a whole. Children living in poverty face immediate and long-term consequences that impact every aspect of their lives including health status and educational achievement. Government agencies will use 2020 Census data to determine federal funding for rural areas that address the needs of children such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and the National School Lunch Program. That’s why it’s critical for people living in less populated areas to answer the 2020 census.

The federal government and our state government have taken measures to reach rural populations. Governor Mike Parson established the Missouri 2020 Complete Committee that is comprised of government, businesses, and non-profits across the state. This volunteer committee strives to ensure there is an accurate count of everyone living in the state through outreach and educational programs.

For the first time people can submit their census response online. While that will streamline the process for many Missourians, 18.5% of Missouri’s households have either no internet or dial-up only according to the Census Bureau. The other two options for responding are by mail and phone.

The federal and state government are also working to educate those who are fearful of the government having their personal information. To respond to concerns, they are reminding the public that information collected is confidential. Additionally, there are no questions about citizenship, social security numbers, banking or credit card numbers, or political affiliation, and the information will never be shared with immigration agencies or law enforcement.

It’s vital for everyone to take part in the 2020 Census. A complete count means uplifting all of Missouri’s families and communities.

May 19, 2020