Ramsey County and the 2020 Census
The U.S. Constitution requires a census of all people living in the United States every 10 years.
A complete, accurate census count is necessary for equal political representation, fair distribution of federal and state funding, and sound planning and investment in infrastructure, real estate, business development, and public policy.
An important opportunity
Ramsey County has a wealth of diversity, including diverse racial and ethnic communities, thriving immigrant and refugee communities, a large student population, and many English-language learners.
However, the Census has disproportionately undercounted such communities in the past. Both past and projected response rates show that broad areas of Ramsey County, especially Saint Paul, are at risk of being undercounted. Low-wealth areas are particularly vulnerable.
Moreover, if a question on citizenship is added to the 2020 Census, it could suppress participation and result in an undercount of our immigrant and refugee communities. According to the American Community Survey, Ramsey County has a foreign-born population of 15 percent. Saint Paul’s foreign-born population is nearly 19 percent.
Complete count committee
The 2020 Census represents an opportunity to have all our residents counted. Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul have established a joint Complete Count Committee (CCC) for the 2020 Census. The purpose of the committee is to work together to achieve a complete count of all our residents. It brings together diverse representatives from local government, community organizations, faith-based groups, education, media and the local business community.
Working together, CCC members raise awareness about how the census works, the importance of an accurate, complete count, and the confidentiality of census data.
The joint CCC is co-chaired by Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt and Saint Paul City Councilmember Mitra Jalali Nelson.
For more information about the joint CCC and other efforts to prepare for the 2020 Census, please reach us using the contact form on the right.
Frequently asked questions
How is the information that is collected used?
Data from the census provide the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to communities across the country to support vital programs—impacting housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy.
The data is also used to determine the number of congressional seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and redraw the boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts. Minnesota currently has 8 seats in the House, but we’re at risk of losing one. A complete count gives our state the strongest possible voice in DC.
Are my answers safe?
Yes, your information is confidential. The census bureau never identifies you individually. It combines your responses with information from other households or businesses to produce statistics, which never identify your household, any person in your household, or business. Your information is CONFIDENTIAL. They never identify you individually.
Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects the confidentiality of all your information and violating this law is a crime with severe penalties. In addition, other federal laws, including the Confidential Statistical Efficiency Act and the Privacy Act reinforce these protections. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.
No law enforcement agency (DHS, ICE, FBI or CIA) can access or use your personal information at any time. Data collected can only be used for statistical purposes that help inform important decisions, including how much federal funding our community will receive.
What information will be asked?
The decennial census will collect basic information about the people living in your household. When completing the census, you should count everyone who is living in your household on April 1, 2020.
What information will not be asked?
The Census Bureau will never ask for:
- Social Security numbers.
- Bank or credit card account numbers.
- Money or donations.
- Anything on behalf of a political party.