In Guilford, Rockingham and Randolph counties, about 1,200 people have been hired to take the census. They're part of a national staff of more than 500,000. Some people duck census takers, called enumerators, because they fear Big Brother. Immigrants and the homeless often fear they will be arrested if the government finds them. The Triad's growing cultural mix is just another challenge, said Rea Ferrell, a local census administrator.
Some census takers speak Spanish or other languages.