LaFayette, GA – In 2010, when the U.S. Census Bureau conducted the federally mandated population count, they found 68,756 people living in Walker County. But it’s highly likely thousands of additional residents went uncounted.
Walker County had a 76% participation rate in the 2010 Census. While that number sounds high, it also means nearly one-fourth of all questionnaires mailed to households were never returned.
Since every community in Georgia receives more than $2,300 per person annually in federal funding, being undercounted actually costs a community.
For the upcoming 2020 Census, Walker County formed a Complete Count Committee to help share information about changes in the census, why it’s important to Walker County and help the U.S. Census Bureau reach hard to count populations.
The following individuals accepted an invitation to serve on this committee:
- Andy Arnold
- Ruth Bass
- Rhonda Beasley
- Bill Breneman
- Anissa Collins
- Lecia Eubanks
- Matt Harris
- Joe Legge
- Fanci Moore
- Herman Moore
- Laura Beth Newsom
- Stan Porter
- Jeremy Roerdink
- Eddie Upshaw
- Robert Wardlaw
- Elizabeth Wells
- Rachel Willeford
- Lacey Wilson
One objective of this group will be to prepare the community to take the census survey online. Residents will receive a postcard in March explaining how to fill out the 10 question form online to get counted.
The Complete Count Committee meets for the first time later this month.