The new census will be a measurement of the U.S. population as of Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The Census Bureau is also scheduled to release its estimates of 2019 population numbers in April. Follow-up work aimed at ensuring an accurate count will continue through July. In South Carolina, many local governments created Complete Count Committees intended to improve response rates.
In South Carolina, the statewide population is estimated to have grown from 4.6 million in 2010 to 5.1 million in 2018. Official 2020 Census numbers will come at the end of the year. The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts from the 2020 Census in December, and then redistricting counts by March 31, 2021.
Census data drives a huge number of important decisions, including the apportionment of legislators and the drawing of district lines. The data helps to determine who receives billions of dollars in federal funding each year for everything from transportation to education and healthcare. In South Carolina, the new data will determine Local Government Fund allocations. The official numbers for each community also inform decisions made outside of government, for example, businesses deciding where they will locate or expand.
Find more information on the 2020 Census, including the timeline for the rest of the year and information about Complete Count Committees..