Sample Census Forms (PDF)

On May 1st, census takers will begin going door-to-door to roughly 1/4 of households that did not mail back their forms. They also will verify that housing units indicated as "unoccupied" to us by the postal service or others are indeed unoccupied and vacant. The census taker's primary responsibility is to collect census information from residences that have not sent back their 2010 census form. The census taker will present an ID badge with a Department of Commerce seal and will ONLY ask the questions that appear on the census form. Learn more about your Census Taker.

If you would still like to obtain a census form or respond to the census questionnaire over the phone, you may call one of the following numbers:

English: 1-866-872-6868

Spanish: 1-866-928-2010

Chinese: 1-866-935-2010

Korean: 1-866-955-2010

Russian: 1-866-965-2010

Vietnamese: 1-866-945-2010

TDD (Telephone Display Device for the hearing impaired): 1-866-783-2010

Participation Rate Award

On August 11, 2010, Debra Stanley of the Kansas City Regional Census Bureau visited Minneapolis City Hall to present City leaders with an award for its extraordinary success in local outreach efforts for the 2010 Census. As of May, the City's mail back "participation rate" was 76%, up from 68% in 2000 and the highest of any city with populations of 300,000 or more in the country."

City leaders and staff receiving the ‘Participation Rate’ recognition from Debra Stanley of the Kansas City Regional Office. From left to right are: Sok Silaphet, CPED, Claudia Fuentes, Mayor’s office, Saeed Fahia, Confederation of Somali Communities, Debra Stanley, Hannah Garcia, CURA, Council Member Robert Lilligren, and Jeff Schneider, CPED

View Minneapolis’ 2010 Census participation rates compared with 2000 Census participation (PDF)

An accurate count of Minneapolis in the 2010 census is vitally important to the city’s future. Census data is used to determine how nearly $400 billion is annually distributed for 170 Federal programs. Census data is also used to determine the need for additional social services, including community development block grants and other grant programs essential to many communities. It is estimated that for every 100 people who are not counted, $1 million is lost to the people of Minneapolis over the next decade. What’s more the census count is used to distribute Congressional seats to states and Minnesota is on the cusp of losing one of those seats.

The census is required by law and all the information that can identify respondents or households must remain confidential for at least 72 years. Even the President of the United States cannot access your personal information.

If you have any questions about the census, or if you would like to get involved as a volunteer, please contact Hannah Garcia at garci398@tc.umn.edu or Jeff Schneider at Jeff.schneider@ci.minneapolis.mn.us