Data from 2021 census is a benefit to everyone
Data from the federally mandated census is used to help communities receive their fair portion of billions of dollars in funding.
Another census has come and gone, but the data collected from the 2020 Census will live on for another decade.
Like everyone else in 2020, census workers had to accomplish their mission while navigating through the uncertainties of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
Data collection was completed in October of 2020, and post-processing began. The website census.gov reports that 99.9% of all addresses in the nation were accounted for.
Census data will be released over time, and Wayne County Planning Department Director Pete Wearstler eagerly awaits census results.
“Getting the results will help us evaluate and understand the social, economic, and demographic measures of the community,” Wearstler said. “Especially for rural Wayne County, census data is instrumental in providing low- to moderate-income housing options.”
Federal agencies rely on census data to analyze housing markets and determine assistance programs.
Census data not only provides the basis for the distribution of billions of dollars of federal funds throughout the county, including housing, transportation, and healthcare; it helps shape public policy.
The census is mandated to take place every ten years. Included in the count are both citizens and non-citizens. Personal information is strictly confidential. Answers are not shared with any other government agency, including immigration.
“This information helps us realize changes in our community,” Wearstler continued. “We can spot trends early using census data. Using that information, we can plan for and, ultimately, accommodate change.”
The “change” that Wearstler referenced can take many forms. And Wayne Onward (the county comprehensive plan) provides Wearstler with a solid foundation for planning for commercial growth and preserving agricultural land. In 2020 Wayne Onward received the STaR Award (Small Town and Rural Award) from the Small Town and Rural Planning Division of the American Planning Association for excellence in rural planning.
“A lot of effort went into the comprehensive plan,” Wearstler said. “It was developed over a year and a half. We solicited input from people all over the county. We held workshops and installed kiosks where people could drop off comments.”
With census data and the comprehensive plan, Wearstler is confident that Wayne County can continue to grow and prosper while maintaining the rural character it embraces.
“The comprehensive plan serves as a guide for the next decade,” Wearstler said. “We determined that there is a need to expand and having a strategy in place is critical to address funding issues. The census data will be playing a major role in the future of Wayne County.”
A copy of Wayne Onward, the county comprehensive plan, can be downloaded for free at www.wayneonward.com.
Dan Starcher is a public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.