Fort Bend Count Has the Highest Census Response Rate in Texas
Style Magazine Newswire | 6/11/2020, 10:05 a.m.
Fort Bend County has the highest response rate for the 2020 Census among all counties in Texas.
“I always say the greatest treasure of Fort Bend County are the people that call it home. I credit our first place ranking in Texas to our residents, the incredible work of our 2020 Census Complete Count Committee, and the modern, data-driven 2020 Census Amplification program we designed and supported by local foundations,” said County Judge KP George. “I urge every Fort Bend resident who has not yet responded to step up, join their neighbors and respond as soon as possible. Responding to your 2020 Census questionnaire is so important — these official population estimates are what determine how much funding we get locally for schools, hospitals, roads, and many other programs. Together we can make sure we have enough resources for our growing population.”
Typically, the more diverse a geography is, the more likely it is to be undercounted in a decennial Census. Fort Bend County is not only one of the most diverse counties in Texas, but is also the fastest growing county in the state. “With over $675 billion in federal funding allocated each year based on the official Census population estimates, it was imperative that we deployed a strong, focused, and data-driven effort to ensure as many Fort Bend County residents as possible were counted,” said County Judge KP George’s chief of staff, Taral Patel.
The Fort Bend 2020 Census Complete Count Committee is made up of community leaders like Catholic Charities and the local school districts. They have been meeting and exchanging best practices since October 2019. Three foundations have fully funded the 2020 Census Amplification program which is grounded in data, and utilizes modern tactics to reach hard-to-count residents: the George Foundation, the Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation, and Houston Endowment.