Census 2020

Mayor West signed a proclamation on Tuesday, March 26^th, declaring April 1 , 2019, as Census Awareness Day.  As mandated by the United States Constitution, the U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years.  April 1, 2020 is Census Day although the Census forms open in March and will be complete in the Summer of 2020.  Participation in the U.S. Census is important. The  U.S. Census determines the apportionment of federal representatives and federal funds and grants to states, counties, and communities.  Census 2020 will be the first time forms can be submitted electronically, allowing for easier participation.  A report for Virginia details the programs and amount of money allocated from the 2010 Census.  It is estimated the City loses $2000 per person per year for every resident that does not fill out their census form.  That can total $20,000 per person over the ten years between each Census.  See the Chesapeake Census 2020 information sheet for important points regarding the upcoming Census.   

Complete Count Committee

Mayor West has appointed a Chesapeake Census 2020 Complete Count Committee (CCC).  The committee will assist with education and promotion of the upcoming Census to ensure participation from all people living in the City of Chesapeake.  Contact the Planning Department at (757) 382-6176 if you have a meeting or event and would like a representative to discuss the 2020 Census facts.  Upcoming subcommittee agendas for Education, Faith-Based, Government/Media, and Community/Business/Low Response Areas.

Employment Opportunities

The Census Bureau is hiring in Chesapeake and will be adding more positions over the upcoming year for all levels, training provided.  Jobs are listed by state on www.census/jobs.

Go to the United States Census Bureau's webpage at www.census.gov for the latest information regarding Census 2020 preparations.

Census 2020 Preparations

From the April 1, 2019 Census Bureau Press Briefing providing an operational update one year from official Census Day:  “The Constitution requires that each decade, we take a census of the population to determine the number of seats each state will be allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham.

“To meet that requirement, we go to extraordinary lengths to ensure we count everyone once, only once, and in the right place. We know that the 2020 Census is important to every community. Census data guide how federal, state and local funding for critical services such as schools, fire departments and health care facilities is distributed.” 

Dillingham and Albert E. Fontenot Jr., the associate director for Decennial Census Programs, described how preparations for 2020 Census operations are on track and on budget

“In 2020, all households will have the option to respond to the census online, over the phone and by mail,” Fontenot explained. “We have successfully completed numerous tests to validate our systems and operations to support these innovations, while ensuring that respondent data remain confidential, and we are ready to conduct the most technologically advanced and accurate decennial census in our nation’s history.”