By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
Yukon has Oklahoma’s highest self-response rate on the 2020 Census among all municipalities across the state with populations above 10,000.
Meanwhile, Canadian County has the top census response rate – 70.1% – among all 77 counties statewide.
These findings are based on data reported Aug. 12 by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Some 76.7% of Yukon households have responded to the 2020 Census, equaling the City’s final self-response rate (76.7%) on the 2010 Census.
“I am thrilled we have had so many complete the 2020 Census, but we are not done,” Yukon Mayor Shelli Selby said this week.
U.S. Census workers on Aug. 11 started door-to-door canvassing to reach those who haven’t voluntarily completed their census forms either online or by phone or mail. This field collection will continue through September.
Only four smaller Oklahoma municipalities, one of them in Canadian County, have higher response rates than Yukon: Cedar Valley (84.7%), Woodlawn Park (80.5%), Piedmont (78.8%), and North Enid (78.1%).
Rounding out the top 10 among all Oklahoma municipalities are: Yukon (76.7%), Mustang (76.4%), Lake Aluma (76.2%), Edmond (76.2%), Forest Park (76.1%), and Broken Arrow (75.2%).
Yukon’s final self-response rate on the 2010 Census was 76.7%.
The mayor recently thanked those Yukon residents who’ve already responded but added, “We still have a-ways to go.”
It typically takes less than 15 minutes to complete the census questionnaire and an accurate count is critical, Selby noted.
“The results of the census are so very important to our community,” she said. “The data obtained determines our federal funding for health care, schools, job assistance, infrastructure like roads, bridges and emergency response programs.
“It also determines the number of seats our state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. Please be counted.”
People can complete their census forms online or by phone and regular mail.
Yukon’s Internet response rate is 66.7%.
CANADIAN COUNTY NO. 1 – BY FAR
Canadian County’s 70.1% self-response rate (on Aug. 12) is well above the second ranked counties, Rogers and Cleveland (both 66.7%). Canadian County’s final 2010 census response rate was 71.6%.
Canadian County’s Internet response rate is 61.2%.
Other counties in the top 10 are: Wagoner County (65.4%), Washington County (65.2%), Tulsa County (64.0%), Logan County (63.7%), Oklahoma County (63.5%), Garfield County (63.5%), and Pottawatomie County (61.2%).
Three eastern Canadian County municipalities – Yukon, Piedmont and Mustang – are ranked among the highest ranked census responders.
Self-response rates for the other five Canadian County cities and towns on Aug. 12 were: Union City (63.3%), Oklahoma City (62.7%), El Reno (58%), Okarche (49.1%), and Calumet (40.2%).
The State of Oklahoma’s 2020 Census response rate stood at 58% this week, behind the final 2010 rate of 62.3%. The national response rate is 63.4%.
The 2020 Census asks a few simple questions about people living in the household as of April 1, 2020. This includes the type of dwelling (house, apartment or mobile home), number of people living there, and each person’s name, sex, date of birth, race, and origin.
One person who is at least 15 years old should respond for each home. They should live in the residence themselves and know general information about each person living there.
Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year. The results also determine how many seats in Congress each state gets.
Census questionnaire responses are “anonymous”, and data collected is used only to determine federal funding and congressional representation.
The census is mandated by the Constitution every decade and the U.S. has counted its population every 10 years since 1790.
For more information about the 2020 Census, visit my2020census.gov.
