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2020 Census Field Operations Draw to a Close

Census worker walkingThe conclusion of 2020 Census self-response and field operations is September 30th. With just eight days remaining in this phase of the process, efforts to complete the count of Tennessee’s residents continue.

Here is where state stands as the enumeration phase draws to it’s close:

  • 95.9% of housing units in Tennessee have been counted: 65.4% by self-response and 30.5% were enumerated by Census Bureau field workers
  • Tennessee ranks #28 nationally in the rate of overall enumeration
  • With the exception of Arkansas (#12) and Virginia (#32) states bordering Tennessee make up six of the ten states with the lowest overall enumeration rates; these six states average 90.7% complete as of Sept. 20
  • We estimate there are 114,500 non-responsive homes to be visited in the next eight days by Census field staff
  • The Census Bureau’s goal of reaching at least 99% of housing units in the state is achievable by September 30, but the current pace leaves little margin for error

While much has been accomplished, two Census Bureau efforts are just getting started. Operations to count people experiencing homelessness at shelters and service providers begins September 22nd and locations where people are known to sleep outdoors will be counted the evening of September 23rd. Work also began on the Post Enumeration Survey, a key tool used to assess 2020 Census quality.

As counting concludes, the shift focuses to the delivery of the first 2020 Census data products. Delivery of state-level apportionment counts is expected before January 1, 2021. This will be followed by the redistricting data release no later than April 1, 2021. In advance of these milestones, The State Data Center is holding a webinar on Tuesday, October 27 featuring James Whitehorne, Chief of the Redistricting and Voting Rights Office at the Census Bureau. He’ll be joined by Matthew Hill from the Comptroller who will discuss their roll supporting local government redistricting in the state.

UPDATE:  Following a federal court order,  the U.S. Census Bureau announced on Friday, September 25th the non-response follow-up field operations would continue until October 31st. Information about the deadline for submitting self-response is not currently available.