Enumerated

Mailed back my 2010 census form today.  Since we don't have home delivery, and only have a post office box, the census bureau dropped off forms at the town hall for us to fill out and mail in.  Those who don't mail them back within about the next week or so will be scheduled for a personal visit.

With this short form, I wasn't too impressed genealogically from the information it asked.  I was surprised to see them ask for the complete birthdate, I would have expected more a month-year type of question like the 1900 census.  Nothing about occupation or education level on this short form, either.

The 2010 census seems overly concerned about whether or not we are Hispanic, for some reason.  Then there is the concern about race.  Always about race in this country.  

I made a copy of the form and filed it with my records, also scanned a copy.  I did the same thing with the 2000 census, though right now I can't seem to lay my hands on it.

This year they wanted college students to be counted where they are going to school.  My stepdaughter told me that no one had visited or sent forms to her school yet.  I didn't include her in my count, so I hope that she gets counted.  Otherwise, she'll end up being one of those mysteries when her descendants can't find her in 72 years.

I can remember filling out the 2000 census, living in Madison County, Indiana at the time.  In the 1990 census, I was a college student in Delaware County, Indiana, living off campus.  I remember my roommate and I receiving and filling out the form.  I was married that May, and I distinctly remember a census worker visiting our home, so I was probably counted twice.  Possibly even a third time, if my parents in Madison County still listed me on their form that year.  

This year, it was Grant County, Indiana.  In a thirty year period, I've managed to be counted in 3 counties in close proximity, yet someone researching my life 72 years from now would be missing a lot of information if all they went by was where I was on census day.  Which makes me realize that for many of my ancestors, it is possible that there is much more to discover between enumerations.


© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com