Bluffton and Richland Township residents appear to be on the ball when it comes to responding to the 2020 U.S. Census. (See map at bottom of this story.)

As of today (Aug. 10), Bluffton and Richland Township have a response rate of 80.1, and is among the highest recorded total response among Allen County municipalities.

The census response rate for Allen County is 68.4%, compared to 67.5% for the state.  

The response rate for cities, villages, and townships located within Allen County ranges from 41% (Lafayette) to 81.7% (Elida).

“Our goal for 2020 is an 80% Census Response Rate.  Only Elida and Bluffton have met our established goal, said Sharette Smith of the Census Bureau.

Earlier this week, President Trump issued an Executive Order cutting the deadline for responding from Oct. 31, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2020.

“While the health and safety of everyone living in Allen County is of the utmost importance in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, we need to make sure we continue to shift our 2020 Census outreach tactics to effectively reach every person in Allen County,” said Smith.  

At this time, the most important census message we can convey during this time is that the census can still be completed online, over the phone, or by mail—all from the safety of home.

In 2020 you can self-respond one of three ways: 
• Online at www.my2020census.gov
• By phone at 844-330-2020
• By returning the census form by mail.

What is at stake:
• Representation: Census data determines how many seats Ohio will be allocated in the House of Representatives. 
• Federal Funding: Census data determines allocations of funding for public services, schools, hospitals, fire departments, police departments, and other public agencies.

Community and Economic Development: Census data is used to plan for new homes and businesses and improve neighborhoods.

Allen County was under-counted by 11,457 households for the 2010 Census. This under-count resulted in an estimated $515,402,200 in federal and state funding that  did not come to Allen County from 2010 – 2020.

A complete and accurate count for the 2020 Census could bring over $2.3 billion in federal and state funding to the Lima / Allen County community. That amounts to $19, 800 per person over a 10-year period. 

The 2020 self-response rate in the chart above reflects households that have responded through any of these three ways. In 2010 and 2000, self-response meant mailing back the paper questionnaire.