This news item expired on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
Every 10 years, the federal government conducts a population count, or census, of everyone in the United States. Census Bureau data provides the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to communities across the country. As the deadline to respond approaches, Buncombe County wants to remind everyone that all counts must be in by Sept. 30, 2020.
Whether it is housing, education, transportation, employment, health care, or public policy, federal funding provides vital support for programs that impact our daily lives. In North Carolina, census data helps decide how more than $16 billion in federal funding is used each year. As of Aug. 10, 2020, the self-response rate for Buncombe County was at 59.5 percent, meaning one in five households still need to respond. This week the U.S. Census Bureau began following up with households nationwide that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census.
Who counts? Everyone counts.
The census collects basic information about the people living in a household including children and babies. Learn more about who counts here.
Buncombe County Libraries provide internet access and public computers
It is not too late to complete the 2020 census. For the first time, households can respond to the census online, in addition to the call or mail-in options. For those without internet access, Buncombe County Public Libraries offer public computers and free internet access making it even easier to be counted. On Wednesdays and Fridays, individuals can make an appointment to use a library computer. Additionally, free wifi is available in any library parking lot for those would like to use their own device. Look for the Wi-Fi signs in your local library parking lot.
Contact a Buncombe County library at (828) 205-4700 or library@buncombecounty.org and we will be happy to help you find a way to complete your census form online.
The 2020 Census belongs to us all. If you know someone who has not yet responded, please encourage them to do so today online at 2020census.gov, over the phone, or by mail.