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The U.S. Census Bureau is ending all counting efforts for the 2020 Census on September 30, which is a month sooner than previously announced.

The September 30 date was confirmed by U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham on August 3. The statutory deadline for the completion of data collection and apportionment counts is December 31, 200, as required by law and directed by the Secretary of Commerce.

According to the release by Dillingham, four out of 10 households nationwide are yet to be counted.

Information from Alabama 2020 Census, has the Pike County 2020 Census Response Rate as of July 31, 2020, at 48.6 percent.

The City of Brundidge leads the way in response to Census 2020 at 50.6 percent. Troy is close behind at 49.9 percent with Goshen following at 47.1 percent and Banks at 39.2 percent.

Linda Faust, Brundidge city clerk, said the 2020 Census is important to all cities but it is especially important to Brundidge.  “According to the last census, the population of Brundidge was 2,076,” Faust said. “If our population falls below 2,000 in the 2020 Census, Brundidge will be designated as a town, not a city.”

Faust said the drop in the designation from a city to a town would mean less federal and state dollars available to the “town” of Brundidge. That loss funding could result in a reduction of city programs and/or projects.

To assist the City of Brundidge with its efforts to inform the city’s residents of that added importance of Census 2020, Brundidge applied for and received a matching grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) in the amount of $5,642.

Faust said the ADECA grant funds were used for 2020 Census signage throughout the city, to hire 10 Pike County High School students to distribute 2020 Census flyers, locally printed cards and brochures to residents and for radio and newspaper advertising. The city also enlisted city library staff members to assist residents with completing their 2020 Census forms.”

Faust said Pike County residents, along with all Alabama residents, have to be concerned about the 2020 Alabama Census.

“A significant drop in the number of Alabama residents could mean the loss of a Congressional seat,” Faust said. “That could mean a reduction in federal funding available to our state and that would affect Medicare, OCAP and a variety of community programs that help our cities and towns.”

  

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