Birmingham Lagging Behind In Responding To 2020 Census

Press release from the Birmingham Public Library:

April 17, 2020

Birmingham households have had the opportunity to complete the 2020 Census questionnaire for over a month now, but their response rate is not keeping up with the rest of Alabama or the U.S. As of April 15, 2020, 43.2% of all households located in the City of Birmingham have responded to the Census. In contrast, the response rate for the State of Alabama is 48.5% and the national response rate is 49.4%. Jefferson County is doing a very commendable job in responding to the Census with a rate of 50.8%.

This response data can be viewed on the U.S. Census Bureau’s website. Response rates are updated daily, and data is available at the national, state, county, congressional district, city, and census tract level. You can view the data for an individual location or you can compare data for multiple locations.

Why is it important for all households in Birmingham to respond to the 2020 Census? A higher response rate helps to insure that fewer residents are missed or counted inaccurately. The Birmingham population was undercounted in the 2010 Census due largely to residents failing to respond to the Census questionnaire. In fact, parts of the city had response rates of only 65%, which means, in those areas, we did not get a complete and accurate account of 35% of the population. If Birmingham gets undercounted again in 2020, it could have harsh effects on the city's growth and prosperity in the coming decade. A research study reveals that our state receives over $13 billion in federal dollars based on demographic data derived from the Census. A less than maximum response to the Census questionnaire would have a negative impact on this vital funding for our health care resources, emergency response services, schools and educational programs, road and bridge construction, public transportation, housing assistance, and a variety of community development initiatives.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a grim, but important, reminder that we need maximum Census participation by our residents to secure our fair share of federal funding to help us adequately confront the social and economic challenges that arise unexpectedly in our community.

Fortunately, we still have time to raise our city’s response rate and let everyone know that Birmingham Counts! You can complete your Census online by visiting the Birmingham Public Library’s Birmingham Counts! web page. You can also respond by phone by calling 1-844-330-2020. By responding today, you can help build a brighter tomorrow.

This press release was produced by the Birmingham Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.