The census is more than just a head count. It is used to help allocate more than $400 billion in federal funds as well as re-apportion seats in the U. S. House of Representatives.
This means that Dakota County could lose about $1,300 each year for every person not counted. And, it is estimated that an undercount of only 1,100 people could result in losing a Congressional seat. Losing a seat could mean less focus on important priorities in Minnesota and Dakota County.
Every person who lives in Dakota County needs to be counted, even if they are not yet a citizen and English is not their native language. Residents who temporarily leave the state during winter months also need to be counted.
It only takes 10 minutes to answer the 10 questions.