Rural Communities
Rural Partners
Rural partners are critical to helping the U.S. Census Bureau reach hard-to-count Californians.
This toolkit includes tailored support materials and resources, which will be key in making your communications and outreach efforts effective. It is imperative that rural community leaders are well-equipped with information and resources – to ensure that every Californian is counted in the 2020 Census!
Because you know your community 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 community.
Resources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 Census at a Glance
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 Census Timeline
- U.S. Census Bureau: Milestones and Timeline
- U.S. Census Bureau: Census 101
- U.S. Census Bureau: Census 101 for Students (PDF)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Community Outreach Toolkit (PDF)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Counting Young Children in the 2020 Census (PDF)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Providence, Rhode Island Testing Results and Infographic
- U.S. Census Bureau: Race and Ethnicity (PDF)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Why We Ask Fact Sheet (PDF)
Mapping Tools
- California Interactive Map: California Hard-to-Count Index by Census Tract and Block Group
- Identifying California’s Hard-to-Count in Census 2020
- Interactive Map: California Hard-to-Count Index by Census Tract and Block Group
Rural Populations
- U.S. Census Bureau: Rural and Lower-Income Counties Lag Nation in Internet Subscription
- U.S. Census Bureau: How Does the U.S. Census Bureau Define “Rural?”
- U.S. Census Bureau: Life Off the Highway: A Snapshot of Rural America
- U.S. Census Bureau: Rurality Matters
- U. S. Census Bureau: A Comparison of Rural and Urban America: Household Income and Poverty
Other Resources
- Funding Methodology and Documents including FAQs
- U.S. Census Bureau: Report: Uses of Census Data in Federal Funds Distribution
- U.S. Census Bureau Contacts – Los Angeles Regional Office
- U.S. Census Bureau Jobs in California
- U.S. Census Bureau: Training and Workshops
Census Bureau News for Rural Communities
- Census Bureau and Postal Service Team Up for 2018 Census Test
- 2020 Census Count to Begin in Remote Alaska
California's Hard-to-Count Index Interactive Map
Click on the map to get started!
U.S. Census Bureau FAQs
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.
Why does the census happen every 10 years?
The Constitution of the United States, Article 1, Sections 2 and 9, directs that a census or population count be taken every 10 years. Throughout the decade, we conduct research and testing to inform design decisions for the next census.
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. Your information is also protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data. All Web data submissions are encrypted in order to protect your privacy.
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.
Search for these and many other Census 2020 FAQs on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Frequently Asked Questions database.