Nevada’s Census response rate holding steady from a decade ago

By Cy Ryan (contact)

Monday, May 17, 2010 | 4:48 p.m.

Sun City Summerlin had the best U.S. Census response rate in the state, while a southwest Las Vegas Valley neighborhood hard hit by foreclosures had among the lowest.

Nevada's overall response to the decennial headcount, however, is a success story, according to David Byerman, chief of the census counting this year. The Silver State and neighboring Utah are the only two Western states to maintain the same response rate as in 2000. The rest of the Western states were lower.

The preliminary count, based on those who returned mail-in census forms, was 69 percent, the same percentage as in 2000.

Byerman, on Monday, briefed the Legislative Committee to Study Reapportionment, which is preparing for the 2011 Legislature when congressional and legislative boundaries will be redrawn according to population.

The committee voted Monday to recommend the hiring of Citygate GIS for $39,600 to provide software to help with the redistricting. Citygate, which supplied the software in 2001, won out over Caliper Corp., which suggested a $55,000 price.

Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said he hoped to interest the university system and some of the counties to share the cost in the reapportionment computer software.

Sun City, the retirement community in Las Vegas, posted a 91-92 percent rate of those who mailed back their census responses.

On the low end was the Highlands area in southwest Las Vegas that recorded a 42 percent return rate. Aliante in North Las Vegas registered a 48 percent return rate.

Byerman said these areas were hit hard by foreclosures.

Census workers will be making house calls to track down residents who have not responded by mail.

The mail-in response in Clark County this year was 67 percent, down 1 percent from 2000. People who lost their homes may be living with relatives or friends and may not be counted. The Census Bureau does not send census forms to post office boxes.

But the growth in population should merit Nevada four seats in the House of Representatives, up from the present three.

Storey County posted the highest response rate in the state at 84 percent with Washoe County at 74 percent, up three percent from 2000. The lowest was Esmeralda County at 32 percent.

His staff of 6,200 will be knocking on doors until mid-July.

To verify the identity of a census worker, an individual may call 750-3430 in Las Vegas; 789-5960 in Henderson or 750-3393 in North Las Vegas. Those who believe they were missed in the count can call 866-872-6868.