2020 Census

By Tracy Leigh

Help get Rutherford get counted.

The 2020 Census is HERE! Counting an increasingly diverse and growing population is a massive undertaking. It requires a ton of planning and the support of thousands of people.

Ultimately, the success of the census depends on everyone’s participation.

Once a decade, America comes together to count every resident in the United States, creating national awareness of the importance of the census and its valuable statistics. The decennial census was first taken in 1790, as mandated by the Constitution. It counts our population and households, providing the basis for reapportioning congressional seats, redistricting, and distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to support states, counties and communities’ vital programs — impacting housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy.

The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for our community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.

The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you or your household. Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data. All web data submissions are encrypted in order to protect your privacy.

How can you help Rutherford get counted? Go online at my2020census.gov and encourage others to do the same! You should be receiving your Census ID very soon if you haven't yet.

Here are a few benefits that will impact our community:

Businesses use Census Bureau data to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, and these create jobs. This could be extremely valuable in our ever changing community.

Local government officials use the census to ensure public safety and plan new schools and other important government facilities. It can also help to obtain grant money to improve roads and bridges.

Real estate developers and city planners use the census to improve neighborhoods and understand how overcrowding and development can impact a community.

The 2020 Census is important for our town and you can help! Contact Census Committee Chairperson, Tom Mullahey at tmullahey@rutherfordboronj.com with any questions.