Bedford Residents Urged to Complete Their Census Forms

April 1 is Census Day, the day in each decade when the federal government takes a headcount of everyone living in the country.

Each household in Bedford should have received a census form and residents are being urged to fill out the form so that the town's population is determined accurately.

"It is important that we count every single person who lives here," said town supervisor Lee Roberts.  The population of Bedford will affect how much state aid and federal aid the town receives, she explained.

"The census is important politically on two levels," said State Senator Vincent Leibell, who represents the 40th Senate District, which covers Bedford.

"So many of the federal dollars are based on census numbers," he said. "But also reapportionment. The census determines how many seats in the House of Representatives that each state gets. It directly impacts your representation."

The number of seats in the state legislature are also based on census figures, he added.   

"I do not see the Bedford population changing much," said Roberts. "We have not had a building boom here." The 2000 census found that Bedford had 18,333 people. "I don't recall that we had any problem with it or that we were undercounted," Roberts noted.

The census form asks 10 questions, including how questions asking many people are living in the household on April 1, and their ages, sex, and race. There are also questions on home ownership. In the past, one in every six households got a longer census form with more questions. This time, everyone gets the same, short form. Anyone who has not filled out their form may receive a visit from census workers, who will start following up on unreturned forms on Thursday.

For answers to commonly asked questions about the census, see the accompanying document.  To see how Westchester County's response rates compare to other areas in the country, click here.  As of March 31, the town with the highest response rate was Dubuque City, Iowa at 70 percent; Westchester is at about 47 percent.

A census is required every 10 years by the Constitution of the United States. It has been conducted every 10 years since 1790. Children who are away at college are not counted as Bedford residents if they are not home on April 1, but the inmates at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women are counted as Bedford residents.