Everyone living in the United States is required by law to be counted in the 2020 Census.
As of May 25, only 39.2% of Johnsonville's citizens have responded. This is compared with a national response rate of 60% and a response rate of 55% among Florence County residents.
Getting a complete and accurate census count is critically important. That's why your response is required by law. If you do not respond, the U.S. Census Bureau will follow up in person to collect your response.
Why is the census so important? The results are used to determine how much funding local communities receive for key public services and how many seats each state gets in Congress. State and local officials also use census counts to draw boundaries for congressional, state legislative, and school districts.
And while you are required by law to participate, the Census Bureau is also required by law to protect your answers. Your responses are used only to produce statistics. The Census Bureau does not disclose any personal information.
Congressional Representation
The 2020 Census will determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding every year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade.
The 2020 Census will provide a snapshot of our nation—who we are, where we live, and so much more.
The results of this once-a-decade count determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. They are also used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
Over the next decade, lawmakers, business owners, and many others will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions. The results will show where communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads, and more services for families, older adults, and children.
The results will also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.
Redistricting
The U.S. Constitution mandates that the country count its population once every 10 years. The results are used to adjust or redraw electoral districts, based on where populations have increased or decreased.
State legislatures or independent bipartisan commissions are responsible for redrawing congressional districts. The U.S. Census Bureau provides states with population counts for this purpose.
Federal Funding
The results of the 2020 Census will inform decisions about allocating hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding to communities across the country—for hospitals, fire departments, school lunch programs, and other critical programs and services.
Business Decisions
The 2020 Census will be valuable to businesses, as the results will provide a rich set of data on the communities they serve, including population trends and growth projections.
Business owners rely on census results to make decisions, such as where to open new stores, restaurants, factories, or offices, where to expand operations, where to recruit employees, and which products and services to offer.
Please complete the 2020 Census today!
https://2020census.gov/?cid=20003:census%202020:sem.ga:p:dm:en:&utm_source=sem.ga&utm_medium=p&utm_campaign=dm:en&utm_content=20003&utm_term=census%202020
Individuals that don’t have access to the internet my call 844-330-2020 to complete their census form by telephone.
The Johnsonville Festival Committee presented very special woven throws to Johnsonville City Councilman Doolittle Stone and his daughter, Melexa, recently. The throws featured pictures of Stone’s late wife, Hazel, taken during her time serving on the committee before she passed away in December 2019.
Hazel Stone was one of the original members of what was the Founders Day Committee from 2004 to 2015. She was the head committee member over the chicken cook-off each year.
“After her hip problems, she gave up the committee but was a major fixture at the event each year and the cookers, along with the committee members, loved her dearly,” commented committee member Kem Poston.
The committee members had planned to dedicate the 2020 Heritage Festival at the River in her memory and present the throws on opening day. This year’s festival was cancelled due to the coronavirus.
The City of Johnsonville, along with Florence School District Five and the Johnsonville Area Chamber of Commerce (JACC), is recognizing the 2020 graduating class of Johnsonville High School with banners attached to utility poles along Highway 41/51 and Broadway Street in town.
Each double-sided banner features a picture of a graduate and their name and will given to the senior once the banners are removed.
“We are doing this as a kind gesture to the graduates who were not able to have the traditional celebration and recognition given to Seniors before them,” said Johnsonville Mayor Johnny Hanna.
JACC president Barbara Black added, “These seniors had so much taken away from them because of the pandemic. This is our way of making a positive impact on their graduation year.”
“The Board of Trustees and Florence five staff are very proud of the accomplishments of the senior class of 2020” commented Florence School District Five superintendent Randy Smiley. “The banners, donated by the town, Chamber of Commerce and the Florence 5 Board of Trustees serves to honor each of our graduating students as they move to the next phase of their lives,” he added.
Johnsonville High School principal Sam Tuten concluded, “The collaborative effort between the entities to recognize the Class of 2020 at Johnsonville High School displays the commitment to the young people of our community and the school.”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, JHS will not be able to have tradition graduation exercises. The school has prepared a plan to allow each of our seniors to graduate in the gym with their family present.
