Collingsworth falls behind census reporting rate
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Door to door visits start Aug. 11
Judy Gurule of Wellington demonstrates the simplicity of completing the Census 2020 survey online at Collingsworth Public Library last Thursday. According to Librarian Vicki Decker, anyone can use the dedicated computer for Census purposes without library membership or log-in requirements. (Courtesy Photo)Judy Gurule of Wellington demonstrates the simplicity of completing the Census 2020 survey online at Collingsworth Public Library last Thursday. According to Librarian Vicki Decker, anyone can use the dedicated computer for Census purposes without library membership or log-in requirements. (Courtesy Photo)
By Bev Odom/The Red River Sun—
WELLINGTON — Nearly half of Wellington residents, 49.4 percent, have completed the 2020 Census report as of Thursday, July 30, lagging behind the national response rate of 62.7 percent, according to Census Media Specialist Brenda MacDonald in Lubbock.
Collingsworth County’s rate is 43.1 percent of the 2,920 estimated residents while Texas is at 57.7 percent.
Lila Valencia, senior demographer at the Texas Demographic Center at UT San Antonio, said the next step for the census bureau is to begin door-to-door visits to those households that have not self-responded to the census.
“Enumerators will begin going door to door August 11, reaching out to households in those counties with less than 50 percent response,” Valencia said, adding they will be knocking on doors from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Census Bureau also will be sending out emails to those who have not responded, Valencia said. The email address to look for is: 2020census@subscriptions.census.gov.
Residents also can still self-report by going online at my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 for English 844-330-2020 or 844-468-2020 for Spanish.
Wellington resident Judy Gurule said “it takes funds away from our school, hospital and county if we don’t report our numbers.”
An accurate count of the population serves as the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to communities across the country to support vital programs that impact housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy,” Elva Yanez, with the Dallas Census Center, said during her January 2020 visit to Collingsworth County. “We want to make sure the Panhandle is represented, so it’s important that everyone answers the notice received in the mail in mid-March.”
