What is the Census?

The Census is a complete of the U.S. population conducted every 10 years. Many government functions at the federal, state and local levels depend on a complete count to carry out services essential to the quality of life in communities across the country.

Two reasons to fill out the 2020 Census: 

The two primary uses of census data revolve around representation and federal funding. 

  1. Representation: the count is used to determine how many seats each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is essential to ensuring the community gets a voice in the government.

  2. Distribution of federal funding: a complete count gives government officials the information needed to plan for allocating funds to support health, welfare, education, public safety, and transportation programs throughout our communities. 
    • An undercounted community will miss out on proper representation and funding for community resources. 

How Teton County Benefits from the 2020 Census:

  • Locating areas for more transportation access
  • Giving funding to public institutions like schools, hospitals and public works 
  • Emergency preparedness resources
  • Road building
  • Health and welfare programs
  • Distributing public safety personnel

Public institutions like schools, hospitals, libraries can receive the funding they need to promote their community services. A complete count also ensures Jackson and communities across Teton County receive their fair share of funding to sustain health and welfare programs.

It gives city planners data to justify where to build new roads, which communities need more access to public transportation, and where to build housing. 

Public institutions like schools, hospitals, libraries can receive the funding they need to promote their community services. A complete count also ensures Jackson and communities across Teton County receive their fair share of funding to sustain health and welfare programs.

All the ways the census benefits this community is impossible to list. Still, the city and county need a complete count to continue to receive the necessary support and information to promote safety, welfare, and higher quality of life for all its residents.

The info gives county and city officials an idea of where to distribute public safety and emergency preparedness resources.

Important Things to Know/Common Misconceptions:

What does residency means to the Census?

The Census counts every person, one, in the right place. The Census counts you at your current place of residence at the time of the survey. Even if Jackson isn’t your “forever home,” it is your current residency, and it’s where you should be counted. 

Your information is safe:

The census will never ask for Social Security numbers, bank or credit card numbers, money or donations, or anything related to political parties. Your responses to the 2020 Census are safe, secure, and protected by federal law. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics. They cannot be used against you by any government agency or court in any way—not by the FBI, not by the CIA, not by the DHS, and not by ICE. 

How do I receive and fill out the survey?

Every home and apartment will receive a survey in the mail that is to be filled out once per household. Even if each room is rented separately, every person in the house is counted only once. 

For the first time ever, the 2020 Census is available to be completed online. Each household will receive a survey in the mail with a unique code. Want to complete the Census right now? Go here where your census can be completed quickly without trips to the mail box or post office.

For more info on Teton County and the 2020 Census, go here.