On August 3, U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham released a statement regarding an update on the 2020 Census.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in order to ensure a complete and accurate 2020 Census Count by the statutory deadline of December 31, 2020, the deadline for field data entry collection has been moved up one month earlier than previously announced. The new deadline is September 30, 2020. Self-response options will also close on that day in order for data processing to begin.

To date, 93 million households (nearly 63% of all households in the U.S.) have responded to the 2020 Census. Chester County’s response rate is 74.7%, while the overall PA response rate is 66.1%. This number is great, however there are still some areas with low-response rates, including our urban centers and low-income areas.

A complete count of all Chester County residents is more important now than ever, as these numbers help to ensure funding for our communities for the next decade. If you have not yet completed the census, please do so as soon as possible. If you have completed it, help spread the word and encourage others to do the same! Census takers are currently visiting homes that have not yet completed the 2020 Census, and are following proper health guidelines when visiting. To complete the census online and learn more, visit 2020Census.gov.