Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

March 31, 2010

Don't forget to fill out your census form

It's quick, it's easy, and it helps allocate funds

BY LINDSAY VANHULLE

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TRAVERSE CITY -- Marcia Hughes sent in her U.S. Census form about a week ago, a few days after it arrived in her mailbox.

Hughes said the 10-question form was easy to navigate, especially since the Traverse City resident lives by herself.

"It was a lot quicker," she said. "I don't think it took me more than five minutes."

Taken each decade, the census is used to measure population trends and allocate federal spending to communities. Census workers encourage residents to return their forms by Thursday.

As of Tuesday, Grand Traverse County residents had the highest mail participation rate -- 52 percent -- of the 13 northern Lower Peninsula counties covered in a Traverse City regional office, according to the census.

The region also includes Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Montmorency, Otsego and Presque Isle counties.

Alpena County posted the second-highest participation rate, at 46 percent, data show. Montmorency County trailed at 31 percent.

Nationally, 46 percent of households participated by mail as of Tuesday, as did 47 percent of Michigan residents.

"We have awhile to go yet," said Nancy Brethauer, manager of the local census office.

Local workers expect to collect information through the summer. This week, they planned to visit human services agencies and shelters, she said, and starting May 1 they will go door-to-door to track down people who didn't mail in their forms.

About 1,300 people will work the latter throughout the 13 counties, Brethauer said. Their starting rate is $11.25 per hour, the lowest wage -- tied with the Upper Peninsula -- for such workers in Michigan, according to the census.

The highest is $16.50 per hour in Detroit.

Some openings for workers remained this week, Brethauer said.

Local concerns appear to be minimal, she said, but people have asked why so many questions are needed.

The form was simplified this year to ask such things as birth date and age, race, family members and home ownership status.

"Ten questions aren't that many," she said.

Holly Joaquin, of Traverse City, said she had anticipated more detailed questions.

The county's 52 percent mail participation "is not a very good percentage," Joaquin said. "It's going to be tough complaining about things your community needs if you didn't fill it out."

Brethauer said she expects the rate will increase. Prior to Tuesday, her most recent numbers showed Grand Traverse County at 36 percent.

Kalkaska resident Jeremy Weatherholt has not yet submitted his census form. It's the first time he will fill one out.

"I'll read it and find out what it's all about," Weatherholt said, adding that he thinks more people will respond in time. "It'll change. It'll go up."

By the numbers

As of Tuesday, the 13 counties that a Traverse City-based regional census office covers posted mail participation rates ranging from 31 percent to 52 percent. They include:

-- Grand Traverse County: 52 percent
-- Alpena County: 46 percent
-- Otsego County: 40 percent
-- Leelanau County: 39 percent
-- Presque Isle, Cheboygan counties: 37 percent
-- Kalkaska County: 36 percent
-- Benzie, Charlevoix counties: 35 percent
-- Crawford, Emmet counties: 33 percent
-- Antrim County: 32 percent
-- Montmorency County: 31 percent

To search by state, county or local municipality, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.

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