The City of Irvine is encouraging all residents to participate in the 2020 Census to ensure everyone in the community is accurately counted during the nation's once-a-decade count of every person in the United States.
The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities including the City of Irvine every year for the next decade. That funding shapes many different aspects of every community throughout the U.S., from highway planning and public transit to educational programs and housing assistance.
“It’s critical that each and every person living in the City of Irvine be counted for the Census,” stated Mayor Christina Shea. “The 2020 Census will shape so many aspects of our community over the next decade—including education, transportation, healthcare, and more. The state of emergency that we are experiencing right now only further reiterates how important it is to have an accurate count of who is living in our City so that we can receive our fair share of federal funding.”
Residents should have received an invitation in the mail last month to participate in the Census. There are three ways to respond:
- Online: Use the code in your invitation or your address at 2020census.gov.
- By mail: Send back the paper questionnaire you received.
- By phone: Call a toll-free number—numerous languages are available.
As of April 1, the City of Irvine’s self-response rate was 42.5%, compared to the County of Orange response-rate of 43.6%. You can view real-time response rate updates here.
COVID-19 and the 2020 Census
The U.S. Census Bureau is adapting or delaying some of its operations to protect the health and safety of its staff and the public. Field operations have been suspended until April 15, when officials will reassess the situation. Updated information on the Census Bureau's plans can be found here.
The Importance of an Accurate Count
The 2020 Census will be used to determine:
- How more than $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to states and communities. These funds are spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other vital programs.
- The number of seats each state gets in Congress.
- How state and local officials draw boundaries for congressional districts, state legislative districts, and school districts.
For more information on the 2020 U.S. Census, visit 2020census.gov. Information is also available at cityofirvine.org/census.