April 1, 2010 is a lot closer than you realize and its significance shouldn’t be overlooked.

It’s Census Day. The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States. On the local level it means counting the men, women and children in Demopolis, Linden Marengo County and all its communities.

By law, all residents of the U.S. must be counted. All residents mean people of all races and ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens.

The U.S. Constitution requires a national census every 10 years. The census shows state population and determines, based on that data, representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

As much as that representation is important to the state, this area could benefit from a complete count.

Every year, the federal government can allocate more billions of dollars to states and communities based partially on census data. If everyone in this area participates that means that the data is more accurate. Additionally, that information helps determine locations for schools, roads, hospitals, job training, child-care and senior citizens centers.

You’ll hear a good deal about the census during the upcoming months but a questionnaire won’t be delivered to you until March 2010.

Please remember to fill yours out. Census workers will visit households that do not return questionnaires.

Demopolis Mayor Mike Grayson and Linden Mayor Mitzi Gates have both stressed the importance of an accurate count.

There’s plenty of money available to communities with an adequate count.

With so much at stake, we urge the people of this county to look for their census forms in the mail and to return them promptly.