BISBEE — The 2010 U.S. Census is just around the corner, and county officials want residents to know just how important completed census forms are for the future of the county.

Last week, the county Board of Supervisors met with census officials to discuss a strategy to get the forms to county residents and get the residents to return them.

A deputy clerk with the county, Gussie Motter, will be the point of contact for all things census, said deputy county administrator Jim Vlahovich.

And though the census has its own hired staff to handle the project, Karen Lamberton, county transportation engineer who is well-versed in census projects, pointed out that it’s in the county’s best interest to lend a hand.

“We know the most about our region, and we care about our region,” Lamberton said. “And we know our challenges.”

Lamberton told supervisors Ann English, Richard Searle (by phone) and Pat Call that she estimates the county has around 146,000 residents, maybe more. Population figures can determine levels of government funding, the number of government elected representatives and even economic development.

Less than one third of the county’s population lives in rural areas, some very remote, where many residents exclusively use post office boxes rather than receive mail at home. It’s those residents who will be the primary focus of the county’s effort, Lamberton added.

Municipalities also can face similar problems. Take Bisbee, for instance. Residents residing in the historic district of Old Bisbee also use Post Office boxes for mail. The twisting, turning, narrow roads, not to mention the numerous staircases leading to many homes have to be done on foot. In 1990, said Lamberton, census staff refused to climb the stairs, so a recount had to be done. This year, it’s been suggested to have more athletic-types of canvassers take on that challenge.

“They didn’t make sure all the people were counted,” added Motter. “So, there could be a lot of residents that may miss being counted.”

In the 2000 census, the county had a 60 percent mail-back rate from residents who received mail at their homes. Lamberton wants to better that percentage.

So, what can the county do to be sure every home, rented or owned, and every apartment in a complex or other housing unit gets a census form? One way is to turn to county maps to provide homesites to census workers. Other efforts could include reminders in employee pay checks from large employers, a countywide campaign to raise awareness and even going to the schools to get students to talk about the census forms with their parents. 

Lamberton also recommends setting up “Be Counted” sites at various public events.

The new form

The questionnaire will be offered in Spanish as well as English.

“The new questionnaire, which every residential address will receive, is designed to be one of the shortest since the first census in 1790, asking just 10 questions and taking about 10 minutes to complete,” states the 2010 census Web site.

And for the environmentally conscious folks, the government is using 30 percent less ink and 30 percent recycled paper.

The 10 questions deal with the names and number of people (including children and babies) in each household, birth dates, relationships to others in the homes, race and phone numbers. Those of Hispanic and Asian descent are asked their countries of origin.

— census.gov