2020 Decennial Census: What You Need to Know! 

The 2020 Decennial Census, conducted by the federal government and mandated by our constitution is landing in our mailboxes this week! The Census is critical as it helps determine how many seats our states get in congress, shapes what federal funding looks like in your local community for schools, fire departments, infrastructure programs and so much more. It is absolutely imperative that everyone responds! 

Here are some fun facts about the census, how it will impact mailing and the effect it can have on your program. 

Impact of the Census on the USPS Mail System

• The census contains 590 million mail pieces, making it the single largest 1st class mailing in US history.  
• This will be the single largest 1st class mailing within a 90-day period in USPS history. The Postal Service’s previous largest 1st class mailing was for the 2010 census.
• On Sunday, March 15th, the mail entered the Postal Service as 1st class mail in Indiana and Illinois. Continental mail traveled through the postal processing facilities to their end delivery points, while pallets were air freighting to Hawaii and Alaska to hit mailboxes within the in-home targets.
• There were five major releases of mail for the Census series that contained the Census Package itself. Follow up letter mail and postcards have been sent to recipients that did not respond to the first mailing.
• The in-home range for the 1st wave was the week of March 12-20th. By Wednesday, April 1st, every home will receive an invitation to participate. The follow-up mailings will be flowing until Friday, April 27th. 
• This mail will impact every processing and delivery unit in the country, so we may see some isolated delays in the delivery of mail. We will keep you posted if that occurs!
• There will be a significant amount of bulky return mail coming back to the two data centers that will be processing the paper responses (the return booklets are between eight and 16 pages).
• The 2020 census is 20% larger than that of the 2010 census due to population and housing growth. It is being sent to 329 Million residences.

More Fun Facts

• In addition to counting the Census Bureau as an important customer, the Postal Service has benefited from census data itself. The results of the first national headcount in 1790 helped the US determine where to establish Post Offices and how to transport mail to them. Today, the USPS continues to use census data to ensure it is meeting the needs of its customers.
• The Census Bureau is using Informed Delivery! This is the first time in history that the marketing efforts of the census will involve both physical and digital integration! So, if the Census Bureau is using Informed Delivery…why aren’t you?
• Filling out the census determines how many seats your state gets in Congress, and helps to be sure your local region receives its fair share of the billions of dollars of federal funding to support things like:

• • Child Care
  • Nutrition for School Lunch and Breakfast Programs
  • Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance
  • Head Start, and many more programs

There are three convenient ways to respond to the census:  Reply Mail, Phone and Online. Again, it is critical for all US citizens to respond! 

Learn more about the 2020 US Census here.