Cities

City Partners

Cities are critical to helping the U.S. Census Bureau reach hard-to-count Californians, and help residents receive their fair share of federal funds, census jobs, and congressional and state representation.

This toolkit includes tailored support materials and resources, which will be key in making your communications and outreach efforts effective. It is imperative that city leaders are well-equipped with information and resources – to ensure that every Californian is counted in the 2020 Census!

Because you know your city and residents best, you are uniquely positioned to ensure the people you care about are counted. We know the Census… and have compiled the toolkit below to help you plan and implement a successful outreach campaign in your city.

Resources

Local Complete Count Committee Resources

Mapping Tools

Other Resources

U.S. Census Bureau News for Cities

Other

The National League of Cities has issued a municipal action guide for city leaders. The guide contains useful background information on the importance of the 2020 Census to local communities as well as tips for helping the U.S. Census Bureau complete an accurate count in every neighborhood.

California's Hard-to-Count Index Interactive Map

Click on the map to get started!

HTC Interactive map with logo

U.S. Census Bureau FAQs

What is the decennial census?

The decennial census counts each person in the country, where they live on April 1, every 10 years ending in zero. The last census was in 2010, and the next census will be in 2020.

Do I have to respond to the 2020 Census?

The census is so important that your response is required by law, and your answers are kept completely confidential. By the same law, the Census Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics.

What authority does the Census Bureau have to collect my information?

We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 141 and 193. You are not required to respond to this survey if it does not display a valid OMB approval number.

How is the privacy of respondents protected?

The Census Bureau is required by law to protect your information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you or your household. Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.

Are my responses confidential?

Yes. We take our responsibility to protect your information very seriously. The law puts in place very stringent measures to protect your information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you or your household. All Web data submissions are encrypted in order to protect your privacy.

Search for these and many other Census 2020 FAQs on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Frequently Asked Questions database.