should have mailed in their 2010 Census forms. The return rate has been good: it is ahead of the mail-in rate in 2000. Census questionnaires have been returned by over 80% of the residences in the County, which exceeds the national and state participation rates.

For those who have not responded: The time has come for Census Takers (also called Census Enumerators) to begin knocking on doors of the addresses that have not mailed in the form. A Census Taker is a person from the community who is hired by the Census Bureau to make sure that your neighborhood gets represented as accurately as possible. It is the responsibility of a Census Taker to collect Census information from residences that have not sent back their 2010 Census form. The Census Takers will have a Census ID and a black US Census bag.

Each Census Taker has a notebook with addresses that didn't send back a filled-out Census form. If no one answers the door at a residence, the Census Taker will visit that home up to three times, each time leaving a door hanger with a phone number the resident can call to schedule a time when someone will be home and able to answer the questions on the Census form. Unsuccessful visits will be followed by up to three phone calls. The Census Taker will only ask the questions on the Census form. The Census Takers who collect the information by going door to door are sworn for life to protect the information. Any Census Taker who violates the oath commits a criminal act and can be fined up to $250,000 and be sentenced to 5 years in prison.

The Census Bureau is required by the Constitution to count everyone residing in the United States. For the Census Bureau, it does not matter how hard it is to reach someone - what matters is that everyone be contacted and counted.