Can Oak Forest "Count" on You?

About 56,000 census workers began hand delivering 2010 Census questionnaires on March 1 to roughly 12 million addresses across the nation, mostly in rural areas where people do not receive mail at the same location as their residence. Most of the nation's 120 million households, about 90 percent of the U.S. population, should look for their 10-question forms to arrive by mail mid-March.

We hope all residents take 10 minutes to answer 10 census questions. It is very important to our community, business develop, schooling, roadways, and more. Mark your calendar for these important dates:

Mid March: residents should receive their 2010 U.S. Census Package - 10 questions 10 minutes

March 24: 2010 U.S. Census Road Tour pulls into the Oak Forest Park District (15601 S. Central Avenue). All are welcome to join us!

April 1: National Census Day

On Wednesday, March 24, from 2 to 9 p.m., the 2010 U.S. Census Road Tour will be pulling into the parking lot of the Oak Forest Park District (15601 S. Central Avenue). All are welcome to join us! We will have guest speakers, local entertainment, free raffles and, of course, great census information to share with all!

The U.S. Census is in need of approximately 20 additional candidates from Oak Forest for a variety of positions with pay ranges from $11 to $19 per hour. Anyone interested in the positions must take the basic skills test as well as pass an FBI background check. It can take up to four weeks for a background check to clear. Therefore, it is important that potential candidates take the test as soon as possible and submit their fingerprints for the background check. Testing is being administered Monday, February 8 through Thursday, February 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Eisenhower High School, which is located at 12700 S. Sacramento in Blue Island. Each candidate should arrive early and bring two forms of identification to the test location.

In March, a census packet will be mailed to your residence. Please take 10 minutes to answer the 10 questions and return the form to the government. If the government does not receive a form from you, a U.S. Census worker may visit your house to gather the information and/or verify your address. Please be cooperative but cautious. Ask to see the census worker's identification and badge before answering any questions.

10 minutes – 10 questions – April 1^st is Census Day!

1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?

2. Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Questions 1?

3. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home – (owned, rented, etc.)

4. What is your telephone number?

5. What is Person 1's name?

6. What is Person 1's sex?

7. What is Person 1's age and what is Person 1's date of birth?

8. Is Person1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?

9. What is Person 1's race?

10. Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else

You will be asked to answer questions five through 10 for every person living in your residence.

Questions regarding 2010 Census can be e-mailed to census2010@oak-forest.org

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has become the 150,000th partner for the 2010 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau recently announced. The U.S. Chamber joins a long list of national, local and community-based organizations that are voluntarily promoting awareness of the 2010 Census. National corporations such as Target, Best Buy and Sprint as well as nonprofits like the AARP and NAACP use their own resources to promote the census with employees, customers, members and the public. Community-based organizations, whether churches, neighborhood associations or service clubs, send the message that participating in the census is vital to ensure that the more than $400 billion in federal spending allocated annually based on census figures is fairly distributed.

In March 2010, the Census Bureau will mail or deliver more than 130 million questionnaires to households across the United States. It is important to our community, government, schools, etc. that the quick, 10-question form be completed and returned to the Census Bureau.

Did you know on Census Day 2000…

There were 281,421,906 people counted in the United States.
There were 49.1% males (138,053,563) and 50.9% females (143,368,343).
Just over 74% of the population counted was 18 years or older.

When was the first census completed by mail?

Census counters were sent out in 1970 to collect information from non-responding residents as it was the first census to operate on a true mail-out, mail-back system.

What is the U.S. Census Bureau?

Census quiz: Which takes the least amount of time? Filling out your census form, making a hard-boiled egg, changing a tire, or watching your favorite sitcom? Answer: Filling out your census form. The census form is quick and easy to fill out. Just 10 minutes is all it takes to have your say in how over $400 billion a year will be spent on our communities.

The Census Bureau is the largest statistical agency of the federal government. Its work has expanded commensurate with the nation's population and economy, keeping pace with the demand for current facts and figures. Activities involve survey and questionnaire design, geographic infrastructure updates, data collection, processing and dissemination. The Census Bureau's many programs include censuses, surveys, estimates and projections. These are invaluable planning tools for citizens, businesses and government officials. Federal law protects the confidentiality of all the information the Census Bureau collects.

When was the first census taken? In 1790 and every 10 years thereafter. Remember in March 2010, you will be receiving your census form in the mail for completion. We hope that you will complete the form and return it to the Census Bureau in the envelope they will provide in the mailing. Oak Forest is COUNTING on You!

United States Census 2010 forms will be mailed to all Oak Forest residents in March. It is very important that every resident complete and return the form. Census data is used in many ways, most importantly to determine our representation in Congress and determine the amount of federal funds distributed to Oak Forest.

If you have questions about the 2010 Census, e-mail Oak Forest Census Representative Rhonda Ceska at census2010@oak-forest.org, submit this form to City Hall or visit www.census.gov.