Lincoln County Officials are encouraging citizens to make sure they fill out the U.S. Census survey and for the first time in history this can be done online.

Destry Dearden, GIS & IT Director for the county, says many people have gotten a notice in the mail with a code that is tied to your house. Once you go the website you can input that code to make filling out the survey quicker.

“If you have not received that card,” Dearden said. “You just go right on their website and do the same thing. Where it asks for the code just say I don’t have a code and it will allow to ask for your address.”

He says for now it is only a self-response quest. Eventually when regulations are lifted for social distancing and people can move around again out a Census worker will come to your home if you haven’t filled it out. Dearden says they are hoping to get it done within the next couple of months.

On the Lincoln County Facebook page they are tracking each town incorporated with the county and displaying their response rate. As of Friday Kemmerer is easily leading the pack at 50.7%. Here are the results of each town per that report:

• Afton: 7.7% (+1.1%)
• Alpine: 15.7% (+1.6%)
• Cokeville: 16.5% (+1.0%)
• Diamondville: 4.6% (+0.8%)
• Kemmerer: 50.7% (+1.2%)
• LaBarge: 3.1% (+0.9%)
• Opal: 1.6% (+0%)
• Star Valley Ranch: 29.5% (+3.0%)
• Thayne: 10.0% (+0.6%)

Dearden says Kemmerer is sixth in the state in response rate. He reminds everyone it is required by law to respond, but he says the Census website itself points out the data retrieved this year impacts many years to come. Here is what it says:

“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.”

Dearden says this is why it is so important they have these demographics for towns and counties that will ask for grants and such things. He also says if you have any questions or need help he can be reached at the county. He also hopes more people will respond.

“We’re having this little fun, friendly competition which is kind of fun to get things going,” Dearden said. “But overall Lincoln County itself is only at 21% on response rate, we’re way behind a lot of counties in Wyoming.”

You can access the Census response clicking here.