Our Mail In Results – St. Johns County had a 77 percent mail participation rate for the 2010 U.S. Census, according to final mail rate figures posted on the Census website. The 77 percent rate is above the County’s 2000 rate and the 2010 state and national rates, all three of which were 72 percent. County officials extend gratitude to each resident who filled out their Census form and helped St. Johns count.

Citizens may call 1-866-872-6868 and complete the Census by phone. If you have not yet been counted, it is not too late. This option is available 7 days a week between 8 am and 9 pm. By completing the Census over the phone, residents can avoid having a census taker knock on their door.

If You Don't Respond – If you have not mailed in your form nor completed the Census via telephone, then expect a Census enumerator to knock on your door soon. Door-to-door enumeration by the Census Bureau began this week and is expected to last into July.

The Census Taker Visit – According to the Census website, all census takers carry an official badge and a shoulder bag — both with the Department of Commerce seal — and a binder. During a visit, census takers will show ID and hand respondents an information sheet explaining that their answers are confidential. The census taker will complete the questionnaire, which should take about 10 minutes. If no one is home, a "notice of visit" will be left at the door inviting the resident to call the census taker to complete the form over the phone.

Our County's Future Depends on You. This is the last chance for St. Johns County citizens to be counted. A full count in the once-a-decade Census is our opportunity to be fully represented in both the state and national legislatures, where seats are determined by population. Census data also heavily influences how more than $400 billion federal dollars will be allocated during the next ten years. Those dollars are returned in many ways, including grants for parks, libraries, transportation projects, education programs, college financial assistance, social services, health care facilities, job training programs, housing and much more.

A full Census count in St. Johns County is crucial to the future success of our community. For more information, call 1-866-872-6868 or visit www.census2010.gov.