Greene County ahead of national census response rate

Both Greene County and the state of Missouri are ahead of the national return rate for the 2010 U.S. Census as of March 29, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Roughly 36 percent of Greene County residents have returned their census forms, while 40 percent of Missourians have responded - ahead of the 34 percent national rate, the bureau reports on its tracking Web site.

“We are pleased to see these early indications of participation in the census,” said Kelvin L. Simmons, Office of Administration commissioner and chairman of the Missouri Statewide Complete Count Committee, in a news release. “Our committee has been working hard for the past year to educate residents about the census and to encourage them to look for the form, fill it out and mail it back. It looks like our efforts are paying off.”

Taxpayers could save $1.5 billion in follow-up costs if 100 percent of households fill out their forms, according to the bureau.

High return rates are especially important in Missouri, according to the release, because current research indicates that the state could retain or lose a seat in Congress by counting or missing less than 1 percent of the population.

The Census Bureau updates response rate data on its Web site Monday through Friday.[[In-content Ad]]