What Mountain City lacks in population it is making up for in participation — regarding Census 2020 at least.
The tiny municipality (population 780 in 2018) leads Hays County in terms of participation in the Constitutionally-mandated count of everyone living in the U.S.
According to the most recent figures presented to the Hays County Commissioners Court, 88.5 percent of Mountain City residents have responded by filling out their Census form. That figure has stayed steady for some time.
Anita Collins, assistant to Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra, and the county’s Census coordinator Jessica Meija briefed the court July 7 on outreach efforts. Meija participated over the phone because, she said, she is in quarantine because of COVID-19.
Second in terms of participation is Bear Creek, an unincorporated Hays County village, where 77.1% of the population have completed their Census forms. Bear Creek edged up 0.6% since the last update.
Buda, with a participation rate of 71.3%, edged up 1.4%, though Kyle, with a participation rate of 63.5%, stayed the same.
Rounding out the Hays County municipalities with participation rates above the Texas average of 56.8 percent is Dripping Springs at 59.9% (up 0.2).
Municipalities below the state average are, in order, Woodcreek at 59.1% (up 0.3%), Wimberley at 55%t (no change), Uhland at 52.0% (no change) and Niederwald at 51.0% (no change).
Bringing up the bottom is the county seat of San Marcos, with a participation rate of 42.6% (up 0.3%).
That last number, noted Pct. 1 Commissioners Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, needs work.
Meija agreed, and said that around 500 San Marcos residents had been reached through the Hays County Food Bank.
Mejia also mentioned Census banners put up at different locations in Driftwood and Dripping Springs, and a countywide youth essay contest that is intended to encourage children to engage their parents in filling out their Census forms.
That contest is being held in conjunction with the Indigenous Cultures Institute and youth 18 and younger can submit their entries through indigenouscultures.org through July 24.
Mejia said despite those initiatives, she is encountering “people who have no clue what the Census is.”
The coronavirus pandemic has hampered how Census workers have interacted with the public — for example they are not doing a lot of in-person events — but Mejia noted that the pandemic has also presented another opportunity for outreach and contact including testing sites and food distributions.
“Where there is COVID education, we will be teaching about the Census,” she said.
She said the deadline to fill out the form has been extended to Oct. 31, and is hopeful for more participation once school starts, especially in low-performing San Marcos.
Census forms can be completed online or over the phone.
