In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis and expanded stay-at-home orders, it was easy to overlook that Wednesday was Census Day.

Nationally, 36.2 percent of households have responded since invitations started arriving in mailboxes last month.

Pennsylvania — 39.5 percent — exceeds that national average with Warren County at 40.6 coming in a little higher still. Erie’s 43.6 percent is the sole border county ahead of Warren in percentage of self-response. Crawford, Venango, Elk and McKean are all in the 30s while Forest County’s return rate is 11.8 percent.

Looking specifically at city and township in Warren County, three municipalities – Conewango (54.9 percent), Glade (56.1 percent) and Pleasant (56.4 percent) are the sole municipalities over 50 percent.

Response rates in the City of Warren are at 40.7 percent while the lowest rate in the county is Limestone Township’s 5.7 percent.

According to a Census Bureau release, field operations have been suspended through April 15 in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Beyond just being a Constitutional mandate and setting how our Congressional seats are divided, the Census has far-reaching impacts in our community.

Hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding over the next 10 years are allocated based on census numbers. That includes medical, school and transportation funding.

“The Census Bureau is strongly encouraging the public to respond to the 2020 Census online using a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet,” a statement from the Bureau explains. “Some households – in areas less likely to respond online – have already received a paper questionnaire along with their first invitation. Households that have not responded online or by phone will receive a paper questionnaire April 8-16.”