Submitted by Herbert A, Jacobs
This is the first in a series of articles intended to help the reader to understand the reasons for taking an active part in the 2020 Census survey and making sure that everyone in Dillon County is counted.
The United States has taken a headcount of everyone residing in the individual states and its territories since 1790. The U.S. Constitution (Article 1, Section 2) has required that every 10 years this count be done. The count includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens, and noncitizens – yes, everybody.
The U.S. Census Bureau collects the population totals to determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. Local states use the totals to redraw legislative and school districts. In South Carolina, the 2010 Census count resulted in the creation of the new 7Th Congressional District of which Dillon County is a part (Congressman Tom Rice).
Census information is used for a number of additional reasons. Some examples include:
• Providing services and facilities for the elderly, for people with disabilities and children,
• Determining areas that are eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation grants and loans,
• Assisting governments (federal, tribal, state, and local) in planning and putting in action programs ( examples; healthcare, medication assistance, schools, clinics, and flood control), services (examples; eldercare, childcare, food assistance, and road maintenance), and emergency response (example; ambulance, fire department, emergency management, disaster response and relief, and law enforcement).
Funding these programs and services requires money.

To help pay for the programs and services mentioned above, the federal government gives back nearly $1 trillion dollars ($1, 000,000,000) per year to state, county and local governments. This amount is given back each year for 10 years until the next census count is done. The amount of money that local government (example, Dillon County) gets is determined by how accurate and complete a count that the local residents (Dillon County residents) send back to the U.S. Census Bureau. If Dillon County does not do a complete and accurate count of all of the people living in the county, then, the amount of that near $1 trillion dollars that Dillon County gets is smaller. Therefore, less money is available to pay for the programs and services that the residents of the county need and want. The end result is less programs and less services.
In the 2000 Census, about 6 out of 10 people living in Dillon County were counted. In the 2010 Census about 7 out of 10 people living in Dillon County were counted.
As a result of the under count of people living in the county, Dillon County did not receive its full share of funding. What the county did not receive went to some other county which did a better job of responding to the census survey.
So, if Dillon County wants to get its real share of the near $1 trillion dollars in funding, let Dillon County residents report a complete and accurate count of its residents by taking the survey. It is easier than ever. Online, it takes less than 10 minutes. It is your choice: you can respond online at:
www.my 2020census.gov
by phone at:
1-844-330-2020
By mail:
Fill out the paper form. Mail back in postage-paid envelope.