Benton County is No. 1 in the state for filling out census questionnaires

When it comes to counting, Benton County is leading the state for the number of households who have filled in the 2020 Census.

Washington also is ahead of the curve with the second-highest rate west of the Rockies.

Census Day was April 1, and the average U.S. response rate to the questionnaire is so far 41.3 percent.

Washington has a response rate of 45 percent.

Benton County topped that at 50.1 percent and Franklin County also is slightly ahead of the national response at 41.7 percent.

“Every city council in our bi-county area made a proclamation for census awareness because they know how impactful it is for the future,” said LoAnn Ayers, coordinator of the Benton Franklin County Complete County Committee, a volunteer census education group.

Those efforts along with socioeconomic demographics have contributed to higher rates in some areas of the Tri-Cities, said Ayers, who also is the president of the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties.

Richland has seen 53.3 percent of households respond, 56 percent in West Richland, 49 percent in Kennewick and 42.9 percent in Pasco.

Benton City was lower, at 31.2 percent which aligns with lower response rates often seen in rural areas, Ayers said.

“We are lucky to have 14 census educators continuing to work from home to promote the census,” she said.

Invitations were sent out in mid-March to respond via phone or online.

For more information and to complete the census go to bfcensus2020.org and use either a Census ID on materials you’ve received or your address if you can’t locate the ID.

You may also call 844-330-2020 for English speakers and 844-468-2020 for Spanish Speakers.

Households who have not responded will receive a paper questionnaire starting around April 8.

This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 6:00 AM.