Schuylkill County residents who have not responded are urged to respond as soon as they can.

The Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners are encouraging all Schuylkill County residents to participate in the 2020 Census.

“It is more important than ever for Schuylkill County citizens to complete their census questionnaires, and it’s not too late,” said Schuylkill County Commissioners’ Chairman Barron Hetherington.

As of Aug. 25, only 62.8% of Schuylkill County residents had responded online, by phone or by mailers sent out to every address in the spring.

While the county’s response rate is trending near the national response rate of 64.5%, it is still in the middle of the pack for the surrounding counties in the Times News coverage area.

Monroe County has the lowest response rate at 52%; Carbon County, 58.7%; Lehigh, 73.7%; and Northampton County, 74.8%.

Every single response from residents impacts the services that communities receive - funding for education, housing, nutrition assistance, health care, roads, fire and emergency services relies on a complete count.

County Commissioner George Halcovage said, “More than $675 billion in federal public funding is distributed annually using census data. For every person not counted, Schuylkill County loses $2,000 per year. Multiplied by 10 year years, that’s a potential loss of $20,000 per person that can go directly toward programs our residents depend on.”

Schuylkill County residents are urged to complete the census online at 2020census.gov, or by calling 844-330-2020 for English, 844-468-2020 for Spanish, or 844-467-2020 for residents who are hearing-impaired.

Census takers, also known as enumerators, have been going door-to-door since the middle of August to those households that have not yet responded to the census.

Census takers can be identified by their official Department of Commerce ID badge that will have their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. You can also look for a 2020 Census bag.

Census takers will follow local social distancing and safety protocols, including wearing a face mask.

“If you complete the census online or by phone, then there will be no need for a census taker to visit in person,” said Susan Smith, Schuylkill County Planning Director.

If you need help completing your census questionnaire, mobile questionnaire assistance locations have also been set up in four of the lowest responding communities in the county.

Census response representatives will be available to help people answer questions and directly access the census questionnaire.

• Ashland: American Hose Company, 639 Walnut St., Sept. 1, 2-7 p.m.

• Mahanoy City: Good American Hose Company, 738 E. Mahanoy St., Sept. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Mahanoy City: West End Fire and Rescue, 700 W. Mahanoy St., Sept. 3, 3-7 p.m.

There is an urgency for all residents to respond quickly with the U.S. Census Bureau’s announcement that the nationwide count will end earlier than expected on Sept. 30.

Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess said, “Please take a few minutes to respond. Remind your family, friends and neighbors. Think of filling out the census as your opportunity to help shape our children’s, neighbor’s and community’s future.”