Plano had the fourth-highest census response rate among Texas cities with at least 100,000 residents, according to the federal census department.
The numbers reflected the most recent count May 10 and showed 65% of Plano residents had completed the once-in-a-decade questionnaire intended to serve as a complete count of the national population.
Plano’s share of counted residents outpaced that of Texas as a whole. An estimated 53% of the state’s population had been counted so far. The national response rate on May 10 was just under 59%.
The census informs decisions about government funding for state and local programs, representation and a host of other public questions.
Alan Johnson is the chair of Plano’s complete count committee, which has been working to promote response to the census, particularly among groups that have been historically difficult to count.
“[Plano’s high response rate so far] reflects, of course, the fact that generally Plano residents are aware of their communities’ needs and connected to the web and fairly adept at using computer technology,” Johnson wrote in an email to local census volunteers.
Plano was one of six North Texas cities to rank in the top ten for response rate among Texas municipalities with at least 100,000 residents.
Residents of Allen had completed the survey at a 72% rate, while McKinney residents narrowly led Plano, with nearly 66% responding.
