The 2020 Census is wrapping up its count Wednesday.
The national self-response rate is just over 66%, and in Utah about 71% of people have taken the census. Utah ranks 9th in self-response rates in the county.
Breaking down those numbers even further, only 41% of people in Summit County have taken the census, compared to 58% of Wasatch Country residents who have filled it out.
Bianca Gamez, with the U.S. Census Bureau said they have followed up with more than 99% of the homes in Wasatch County and over 97% in Summit County.
She said it’s important to fill out the census because it can improve city amenities, which are paid for with federal funds — funds that taxpayers have put into the system — and deserve to have come back to their community.
“It gives us a better indication of how medical facilities respond like fire houses and police departments,” Gamez said. “It also gives us an indication for if a certain person lives there and their road needs better work, they can go fix those roads.”
She also said the census is easier than ever to fill out.
“So people have been able to self respond while practicing social distancing, answering by phone online or by mail. So now is a perfect time to get your Census completed,” she said. “Even though we've had to push back our operation, the fact that you're able to do it in the luxury of your home at a social distance is a win-win.”
The original deadline for census collection was October 31. The Trump Administration moved the deadline back. Now there’s a lawsuit against the administration to shift back to the original collection date. But as it stands, the census deadline is September 30.
To respond to the census and find more information about it, you can visit 2020census.gov.
