The U.S. Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. Ensuring that every Michigan resident is counted also helps MSU Extension continue to provide high-quality programming throughout the state.

 

What is the U.S. Census? 

The census happens once every decade with the mission of counting every person living in the United States.

According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the 2020 Census is an opportunity for Michigan because our state has likely grown in population since the 2010 Census and our economy continues to do well. Yet many challenges, obstacles and misinformation about the census persist which could hamper participation – especially in rural and urban communities, which have been traditionally undercounted in the census.

Every person living in Michigan on April 1, 2020, or anyone who spends at least 50% of their time in Michigan, should be counted as living in Michigan on the 2020 Census. To help with that effort, the Michigan Census has launched the statewide “Count Me In” campaign, which communicates the importance of completing the census, dispels myths and maximizes participation in the census.

The message is simple and can be summarized with what the Count Me In campaign is calling the Three C’s:

  • Responding to the census is convenient so people can respond by mail, phone or online.
  • The census is 100% confidential and secure and your information will not be shared with anyone.
  • We want to make sure everyone is counted because it’s critical to the future success of Michigan.

Why is the census important?

An accurate count is critically important as it determines how much federal funding our state will receive for essential services that impact local communities.

In 2016, Michigan received nearly $30 billion in federal funding, including:

  • $1.1 billion for highway planning and construction
  • $17 billion for health programs
  • $5 billion education
  • $2.3 billion for food assistance programs
  • $694.3 million for housing assistance

The census count is also used to shape congressional representation and much, much more. Michigan currently has 14 representatives in the U.S. House but stand the chance of losing one seat if our population declines. If that happens, our state’s congressional districts would have to be redrawn, which would also lead to a reduction in the number of electoral votes we have in presidential elections.

How it works

Beginning in March 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau will send each household a postcard inviting residents to respond to the census online, by phone or by mail. The census questionnaire will ask for the names, sex, age (including date of birth), race and ethnicity of each person living at the residence, whether you rent or own your home, and for a phone number in case they need to follow up. Only one person should complete the census for the entire household.

What is the timeline?

The process begins in mid-March 2020 and ends July 31, 2020. Anyone who doesn’t respond to the March invitation will receive reminders in the mail until early May 2020. Census staff will then go door to door to contact those who still haven’t responded. The final census count must be delivered to the president by Dec. 31, 2020.

Is it secure?

By law, your information is CONFIDENTIAL. The U.S. Census Bureau collects data for statistical purposes only and cannot share or publish any household-specific census data including: name, address, Social Security number or phone number. The U.S. Census Bureau will not identify your household, any person in your household or business.

For more information about the census, visit www.michigan.gov/census2020 or www.2020Census.gov.

Michigan Census FAQ

Text source: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Census 2020.

Census Toolkits

MSU Extension staff and other organizations can obtain presentation materials, fact sheets and other helpful resources by visiting the 2020 U.S. Census websites. 

Michigan-specific Census Resources 

General U.S. Census Resources

 

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