U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Skip to main content   end of header Census.gov Newsroom Releases 2010 Census
 Newsroom Archive
 Skip left menu navigation
 About the Newsroom
 				Facts for Features
 				**News Releases**
 				Press Kits
 				Tip Sheets
 Release Information CB10-CR.43 **Contact:**  Public Information Office
(301) 763-3030 (phone)
(301) 763-3762 (fax)
(301) 457-1037 (TDD)PIO@census.gov
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 2010 Census Mail Participation Rates in New Orleans Behind Rest of the Nation Census Bureau Director Robert Groves noted today that some areas are lagging behind the rest of the country in terms of mailing back their 2010 Census forms. With Census Day on April 1, New Orleans still has one of the lowest rates of mail participation. Nationally, 46 percent of households have mailed back their forms so far. But in New Orleans, the mail participation rate is significantly lower, at 24 percent. “We're concerned about the relatively low response from New Orleans,” said Census Bureau Director Robert Groves. “Every household that fails to send back their census form by mail must be visited by a census taker starting in May — at a significant taxpayer cost. The easiest and best way to be counted in the census is to fill out and return your form by mail.” The emphasis on encouraging mail participation in the census is a practical one. For every percentage point increase in mail response, taxpayers will save an estimated $85 million in federal funds. Those funds would otherwise be required to send census takers to collect census responses in person from households that don't mail back the form. After the 2000 Census, the Census Bureau was able to return $305 million in savings to the federal Treasury because mail rates exceeded expectations — a move the Census Bureau would like to repeat in 2010. “The 2010 Census is easy, important and safe,” Groves said. “It's only 10 questions and should only take about 10 minutes to complete.” In 2000, 58 percent of New Orleans households returned their census form by mail. The national rate in 2000 was 72 percent. The Census Bureau is urging communities nationwide to take charge of their census mail participation rates. Anyone can visit the 2010 Census Web site to see how well their state, county or neighborhood is participating in the census. From the same interactive rate map, anyone can also embed a Participation Rate Tracker “widget” on their Web site that will display an area's latest participation rates. How to Embed a 2010 Census Mail Participation Rate Tracker Widget on Your Web Site: To find and embed a state-wide rate: On the main map page (http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/), click on “View Participation Rate.”
  Enter a zip code or a county or city followed by a state, e.g., “22206” or “New York City, NY,” and click FIND.
  The map will center; click on the chosen state.
  A bubble will appear showing the current 2010 rate and the 2000 rate. A “Track Participation Rate” link will be in the bubble. Click on the link and follow the instructions for embedding tracker in your Web site.
  Note: To find and embed rates for a lower level of geography, click on the “Zoom In” link.
  CONNECT WITH US

Information Quality
                    Data Linkage Infrastructure
                    Data Protection and Privacy Policy
                    Accessibility      
                    FOIA
                    Inspector General
                    No FEAR Act
                    U.S. Department of Commerce
                    USA.gov
                   Measuring America's People, Places, and Economy