Contents hide
1 Island residents need to respond to 2020 Census
2 How the 2020 Census Helps You
3 Goals Of The Census

Island residents need to respond to 2020 Census

Island residents have been slow to respond to the 2020 Census count. According to Kurt D. Wesolek, who is in charge of twelve tracts in Ottawa County, the Put-in-Bay tract has the lowest response rate with just over 10%. Ottawa County is the lowest in the state at just under 40% and the state of Ohio as a whole is at 55%.

Kurt understands that there are a lot of summer homes and cottages on Put-in-Bay, but says those have been taken into consideration and the 10% response rate actually is taken from their actual figure of 188 permanent households on the islands. Based on the latest census estimates (for 2014-2018), 355 people
live in 188 homes in the Put-in-Bay tract, and 24 people live in group quarters with a total population of 379.

How the 2020 Census Helps You

The results of the 2020 Census will assist in determining how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. That funding shapes many different aspects of every community, no matter the size, no matter the location.

Think your morning commute: The 2020 Census results influence highway planning and construction, as well as grants for buses, subways, and other public transit systems. Or think of your local Put-in-Bay schools: Census results help determine how money is allocated for the Head Start program and for grants that support teachers and special education.

The list goes on, including programs to support rural areas, to restore wildlife, to prevent child abuse, to prepare for wildfires, and to provide housing assistance for older adults. Census results affect planning and funding for infrastructure—including programs for highway planning and construction, Section 8 housing, federal transit, community development, and rural water and waste disposal systems.

 Did you know that census data helps communities respond to natural disasters and secure funding for hospitals and fire departments? Explore these videos and stories to learn more.​

It is important that residents on the island fill out the 2020 Census form and return it as soon as possible so that government funding is distributed appropriately in the next few years, and your tract has a better chance at receiving its fair share of services and political representation. If someone doesn’t complete and send in their Census report, the Census Bureau will have to send out a real live census taker to interview you and get the information they need. Usually this is done in May
since Census responses were due in April, but because of the Put-in-Bay Covid-19 rules, the census takers won’t be around until mid-summer.

Goals Of The Census

The goal of the 2020 Census is a complete and accurate count of everyone living in the United States and its five territories. You should count yourself at the place where you are living and sleeping most of the time as of April 1, 2020 (Census Day).

For some, this is straightforward. But others—including college students, service members, and people in health care facilities—may have questions about where they should count themselves or how they should respond. Other circumstances can cause confusion as well, such as moving, having multiple residences, having no permanent address, living in a shelter, or living at a hotel or RV park.

The Census Bureau does not really want to send out census takers unless absolutely necessary. You can self-respond to the 2020 Census by one of three ways: online
at 2020census.gov, by phoning 844- 330-2020, or (if you’ve received a paper questionnaire) returning the census form by mail. If you have questions about the Census for our area, you can contact Kurt directly by emailing kurt.d.wesolek@2020census.gov. He will be glad to help in any way