Census forms will soon hit mailbox

Hernando County residents should receive the 2010 census questionnaires in their mailboxes within the next couple of weeks.

Some residents in more remote areas of the county may be counted in person by a census taker. Citizens and non-citizens will be counted.

The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years to count the population and determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The count is also used to determine boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts and to determine federal funding allocations to state and local governments. This funding is used for community services, such as school lunch programs, senior citizen centers and new construction for highways.

One of the shortest forms in U.S. census history, the 2010 census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Responses to the census questionnaire should include everyone who will be living at that address as of April 1, 2010.

Census questionnaires should be returned as soon as possible in the postage-paid envelopes provided, according to the Hernando County community relations department. Beginning in May, census takers will visit households that did not return the questionnaires by mail.

Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) will be established in Hernando County to assist residents in completing the forms.

Also, all Hernando County library branches will have the census forms available as well as additional information about the 2010 Census.

The QAC locations are:

Withlacoochee Bicentennial Hall
March 19 to April 17
Tuesday to Saturday
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Hernando County Airport
March 19 to April 23
Monday to Friday
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Hernando County Government Center
March 19 to April 23
Monday to Friday
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

For more information, visit www.2010.census.gov., call the Hernando County planning department at 352 754-4057 or the local census office at 1-866-861-2010 or 277-3096.