On Monday, the Census Bureau will begin one of its first field operations of the 2004 Census Test in three southwest Georgia counties (Colquitt, Thomas and Tift). Census workers will deliver questionnaires to households that do not have street-name and house-number addresses, mostly in rural areas. They also will update address lists to ensure that each household receives a census form. The operation is scheduled to end March 30.

       The 2004 Census Test is an early trial of new procedures for collecting data during the
2010 Census. The Census Bureau relies on the test communities’ cooperation to plan and conduct a more accurate and cost-effective 2010 Census.

       The Census Bureau asks that residents of the test area complete and mail back the questionnaires as soon as possible in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If the questionnaire has not been received and processed by April 12, census workers will visit the home to obtain the information.

       “During the field test, the Census Bureau will hire workers from the test communities to do the kind of detailed work needed to ensure each household has an opportunity to participate in the 2004 Census Test,” said Atlanta Regional Director James F. Holmes. “They will carry easily recognizable, official identification cards and an official Census Bureau bag.”

       Information supplied by residents is confidential. The Census Bureau is not allowed to release information that will identify any individual. Census workers take an oath to protect the information they collect; they can be fined or sent to jail for breaking that oath.

       For more information, call the Thomasville Local Census Office at (229) 228-3836.

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