Counting Americans Begins in Alaska
2020-01-25
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1This week, the U.S. Census to count everyone who lives in the country started in a small Alaska town called Toksook Bay.
2The count starts in Alaska for several reasons.
3Traveling to some of the places there is difficult.
4In the winter, when the ground is very cold, census workers can travel more easily.
5Census workers are also more likely to find people at home in the winter.
6In the spring and summer, Alaskans may be away from home fishing, hunting or doing warm-weather jobs.
7The U.S. government has done a census every ten years, beginning in 1790.
8This year's has some new ways to answer the survey, and new questions about one's ancestors.
9In the past, the census had only had one choice for ethnicity, such as "White," "Black," "Indian" or "Other."
10The 2020 form allows people to claim more than one ethnicity.
11Emily Edenshaw is Director of the Alaskan Native Heritage Center.
12She spoke about her search for her family roots.
13"...On the 1900 census, it had my great-grandfather listed on there, and next to his name, it said, 'mixed.' ... I remember feeling really confused. ... But I'll never forget having the conversation with my auntie when she said, 'Hm. Mixed. Almost as if he's a breed of something.'"
14 In American English, the word 'mixed' is used for a pet of unknown origin.
15Edenshaw says she is happy that this word is no longer on the census form.
16In 2020, there is a blank space to write in the original country or tribe of one's family.
17This year's survey also asks more exactly about people's possible Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origins.
18Respondents can claim Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or another heritage.
19Every year, the U.S. Census plans to make sure there is a good count of people who have no home.
20This year, plans are to make a special effort to count homeless people on these three days:
21March 30, 2020: Count people in temporary housing for the homeless
22March 31, 2020: Count people in places where free food is available
23April 1, 2020: Count people outdoors, in tents, and on the streets.
24This count will help to assign the right amount of government money to support the programs that serve the homeless.
25April 1, 2020 is Census Day: every home will be asked to respond by that day.
26Beginning in March, residents will have a chance to answer the survey online, by phone, or on paper.
27The main paper questionnaire is in English and Spanish.
28In Alaska, native language workers in Tooksok Bay translated the census into Yupik, Yupiak, Gwich'in and Athabascan.
29For Census workers, the questions will be available in 60 languages.
30This is the first year for the online census.
31Other digital tools are in place to make a better count, such as mapping and a new app for workers to use as they walk around from house to house.
32In the years between the main census, the U.S. Census Bureau does smaller surveys and also tests questions and ways to collect information.
33For example, the American Community Survey (ACS) helps local officials understand changes in their communities.
34I'm Jill Robbins.
1This week, the U.S. Census to count everyone who lives in the country started in a small Alaska town called Toksook Bay. 2The count starts in Alaska for several reasons. Traveling to some of the places there is difficult. In the winter, when the ground is very cold, census workers can travel more easily. 3Census workers are also more likely to find people at home in the winter. In the spring and summer, Alaskans may be away from home fishing, hunting or doing warm-weather jobs. 4Constitutional requirement 5The U.S. government has done a census every ten years, beginning in 1790. This year's has some new ways to answer the survey, and new questions about one's ancestors. 6In the past, the census had only had one choice for ethnicity, such as "White," "Black," "Indian" or "Other." 7The 2020 form allows people to claim more than one ethnicity. Emily Edenshaw is Director of the Alaskan Native Heritage Center. She spoke about her search for her family roots. 8"...On the 1900 census, it had my great-grandfather listed on there, and next to his name, it said, 'mixed.' ... I remember feeling really confused. ... But I'll never forget having the conversation with my auntie when she said, 'Hm. Mixed. Almost as if he's a breed of something.'" In American English, the word 'mixed' is used for a pet of unknown origin. 9Edenshaw says she is happy that this word is no longer on the census form. In 2020, there is a blank space to write in the original country or tribe of one's family. 10This year's survey also asks more exactly about people's possible Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origins. Respondents can claim Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or another heritage. 11Counting the homeless 12Every year, the U.S. Census plans to make sure there is a good count of people who have no home. This year, plans are to make a special effort to count homeless people on these three days: 13March 30, 2020: Count people in temporary housing for the homeless 14March 31, 2020: Count people in places where free food is available 15April 1, 2020: Count people outdoors, in tents, and on the streets. 16This count will help to assign the right amount of government money to support the programs that serve the homeless. 17Census Day is April 1 18April 1, 2020 is Census Day: every home will be asked to respond by that day. 19Beginning in March, residents will have a chance to answer the survey online, by phone, or on paper. The main paper questionnaire is in English and Spanish. In Alaska, native language workers in Tooksok Bay translated the census into Yupik, Yupiak, Gwich'in and Athabascan. For Census workers, the questions will be available in 60 languages. 20This is the first year for the online census. Other digital tools are in place to make a better count, such as mapping and a new app for workers to use as they walk around from house to house. 21In the years between the main census, the U.S. Census Bureau does smaller surveys and also tests questions and ways to collect information. For example, the American Community Survey (ACS) helps local officials understand changes in their communities. 22I'm Jill Robbins. 23Jill Robbins wrote this story based on U.S. Census Bureau publications for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. 24________________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26census - n. the official process of counting the number of people in a country, city, or town and collecting information about them 27form - n. a document with blank spaces for filling in information 28survey - n. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something 29assign - v. to give out something or to provide someone with something 30Does your country count its people? How important are the numbers to your daily life? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.