Census Continues In Newark: Here’s How Many Have Responded

NEWARK, NJ — With about five months left to turn in their replies, 42 percent of Newark households have self-responded to the 2020 U.S. Census, according to early data from the bureau.

New Jersey’s overall self-response rate stood at 62.1 percent as of Wednesday, according to the U.S. Census database. The national response rate was 60.1 percent.

During the last census in 2010, about 51.3 percent of Newark residents self-responded by the deadline.

The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States. It’s mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution and takes place every 10 years.

The census is important for several reasons, officials say. Here are a few, according to census.gov:

• It determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress and is used to redraw district boundaries
• Census results help determine federal funding for critical needs such as roads, schools, health care, emergency services and housing
• Businesses use the data to help decide where to open new locations

Want to self-respond to the 2020 census? It can be completed online here. It can also be completed via phone or mail (learn more here).

Due to the coronavirus crisis, people have until Oct. 31 to self-respond this year.

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