Got my Census notice

[agesilaus]

For those that have not, they have moved online they send you a PIN and a website you are supposed to use to enter your data. They have moved into the late 20th century anyway...

[Chad Heiser]

I got my notice in the mail today.  I plan to take care of it this weekend.

[Kirk W]

2 hours ago, agesilaus said:

For those that have not, they have moved online they send you a PIN and a website you are supposed to use to enter your data. They have moved into the late 20th century anyway...

That was the original plan for 2020, even before the COVID-19 problem came up. I got mine a week ago and took care of it the following day. It takes no more than 10 minutes. 

[moe]

Got mine 3 or 4 days ago got it taken care of lickety split was easy on line and I'm no Wiz Be safe all and stay well folks  Ken in PA

[Kirk W]

Just now, moe said:

Ken in PA

Welcome to the Escapee forums!

[Ray,IN]

I received the first notice Mar 19. I received the second notice Mar. 14????? Oh well, it's a done deal now.

[Kirk W]

11 hours ago, Ray,IN said:

I received the second notice Mar. 14????? Oh well, it's a done deal now.

Interesting.... I got my first one on March 12 and went online to complete it a day or so later. I just got my second notice on March 19. Makes me wonder if the reminders are all automatic even if you have already responded? 

[Lou Schneider]

I also got a reminder about a week after I mailed in the original form.  In between a Census taker appeared at my door to collect the information in person.  Her only question was how many people lived here.

One problem may be that the mailbox numbers in the Pahrump park don't correspond to the physical lot numbers, something I noted when I returned the original form.

So the reminders are either automated or I've been double counted.

Edited March 21, 2020 by Lou Schneider

[2gypsies]

47 minutes ago, Lou Schneider said:

I also got a reminder about a week after I mailed in the original form.  In between a Census taker appeared at my door to collect the information in person.  Her only question was how many people lived here.

I also believe the reminders are automatic just as a reminder to do it online.  I tossed it already but I believe it said something like if we don't receive an online reply the will send you a paper questionnaire in a few weeks. 

I also thought the census takers aren't doing personal visits yet.  That's strange that you were only asked one question.  Are you sure it was a census taker?

[docj]

It's quite easy to complete the online form even if you haven't received the questionnaire and the associated PIN.  Follow the appropriate link for "I don't have the form" and enter your address.  As long as it can identify the location the system is happy.

[Ray,IN]

The  form letter I received explained the progression; letter to complete online page, failing that a hard copy would be mailed, failing that an in-person census taker would visit my HOR=home of record.

As Joel stated, it is quite easy to do online; 10 minutes at most. I didn't attempt, but I suspect it may even be completed on a smart-phone.

[sandsys]

We got our first notice today. Plan to complete it promptly. I was a non-response follow-up agent in 1990 and it amazed me the number of people who "knew" they didn't have to do this. One neighbor tried to pretend they sent it in the day before but I wasn't allowed to accept that answer. Be prompt, people. In our current health situation you don't want a census taker showing up at your door.

Linda

[agesilaus]

It just seems like this years is shorter than usual, names, birth dates, ethnicity and that's about it. 10 mins max. I don't think I have ever been sent the long form.

[Kirk W]

1 minute ago, agesilaus said:

I don't think I have ever been sent the long form.

We were sent a second, more detailed questionnaire once, I believe it must have been 1980. I know it was mailed to us and as an addendum to the original form that had been previously mailed in. It was too long ago to recall any specific questions that were asked, but I do remember that it was a booklet that was pages long and I believe it took about a half hour to complete. I do remember that it asked about our type of housing, veteran status, ages of people in the home, and a lot of other general information. 

[sandsys]

Sometimes the long forms have very odd questions. Like the year they asked how many bathrooms you had in your house. 

Linda

[docj]

This is the first time I recall the short form asking what ethnic background I was.  It wasn't enough to put "White/Caucasian"; one was asked to also include something like "English, German, etc."

[rickeieio]

This is a piece of cake.  The agricultural census is brutal by comparison, easily taking an hour or more to complete. And they ask way too many personal/financial questions.

[sandsys]

1 hour ago, docj said:

This is the first time I recall the short form asking what ethnic background I was.  It wasn't enough to put "White/Caucasian"; one was asked to also include something like "English, German, etc."

I put USA in the origin box. I decided everything else was too many generations ago to matter. OUR origins are here.

Linda Sand

[Lou Schneider]

6 hours ago, 2gypsies said:

I also thought the census takers aren't doing personal visits yet.  That's strange that you were only asked one question.  Are you sure it was a census taker?

She certainly looked official.  I believe the in-person visit was because this park (Pair-A-Dice) doesn't use the lot number as the mailbox number so short of a personal visit there's no way to match up mailed notices with the physical lots.

I went through the same thing when I registered my vehicles at the DMV, after I said it was the SKP park they knew what I was talking about.  So all my vehicle registrations have separate mailing and physical addresses, differing only in the box or space number.

The census taker was satisfied when I said I had already mailed in the initial form.  And she stood 6 ft. back from my RV door the whole time.

Edited March 22, 2020 by Lou Schneider

[docj]

30 minutes ago, sandsys said:

I put USA in the origin box. I decided everything else was too many generations ago to matter. OUR origins are here.

I like your approach.  Sorry I didn't think to do that.  Who cares where my grandparents immigrated from over 100 years ago?

[Big Rick]

I reviewed the on line version, while short, they ask way too many personal question for an “enumeration “

 

None of their business what my name is, my race, age number of different items.

I normally  return it with only the number of people in the household 

Edited March 22, 2020 by Big Rick

[Bill w/bus]

Received the long form in 1990. I got annoyed at the detailed questions. Basically mind your business. The form had every box checked where multiple answers were available. In 2000 got the long form again. Checked every box again. A couple weeks later a neighbor, working for census, came in the driveway. He said "Bill about the census form, it wasn't properly filled out."  I replied that the number of people living in the house was properly enumerated.  After  some discussion he admitted that were no legal consequences and left. Number of people at that address is all that is required. 

My $.02

Bill,

[Kirk W]

Every 10 years this discussion comes up on Escapees and most other forums. Since I have never been one to believe in government conspiracy, I have always willingly responded honestly as I can to whatever has been asked, but I am also a person to check things out and so I have done that with the US Census several times over the years. While it can be a lot of fun to speculate on what they ask and why the ask it, you could learn more by visiting the US Census, What We Do from the internet.

Quote

Our Mission

The Census Bureau's mission is to serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy.

As near as either of us can remember, the time we got the booklet sized questionnaire it did ask most of the questions others have suggested. If you are interested you can discover what the data collected is used for, but the census is the source of data for the division of nearly all federal money for specific projects for things from road construction, to economic improvement funds, to supporting of the arts, building parks, to funding senior centers & medical centers, caring for the homeless, facilities for veterans, and a very long list of other things. I will say that the question of national origin for each of us surprised me but it doesn't frighten me to respond as it might lead to some interesting statistical data and I am comfortable in the knowledge that Lou Schneider  will be able to learn that I have only 1 bathroom and where I live or what income range we fall into! It is what they call, safety in numbers. If you mix my answers in with those of 300 million other Americans, I really doubt that Lew or anyone else can learn anything personal about me.

13 hours ago, Lou Schneider said:

She certainly looked official.

That is interesting as I just took the following information from 2020 Census at a Glance.

Quote

June 2020 through July 2020—Census takers go door to door to count people who have not responded to the 2020 Census. Census takers are Census Bureau employees and will provide proof that they are official government personnel.

 

[LindaH]

I'm sad to hear that many of you don't complete the forms, check all the boxes, or otherwise don't answer truthfully.  For people who do genealogy, census forms can provide a wealth of information.  They are not released to the public until 70 years after the census year.  In 2010, the 1940 census was released.  This year, the 1950 census will be released. 

[docj]

1 hour ago, LindaH said:

I'm sad to hear that many of you don't complete the forms, check all the boxes, or otherwise don't answer truthfully.  For people who do genealogy, census forms can provide a wealth of information.  They are not released to the public until 70 years after the census year.  In 2010, the 1940 census was released.  This year, the 1950 census will be released. 

I agree with the overall principle, but some questions, such as the one about "ethnic origins" I mentioned previously seem ridiculous.  I'm a second generation American and even I have a number of ethnicity boxes I can check and still be truthful.  But what about my grandson whose ethnicity includes: Polish, German, Ukrainian, English, Cherokee, African, and Puerto Rican?  Does it really help anyone for him to check all those boxes?