Arkansas wins census challenge

TEXARKANA — Texarkana, Texas, Mayor Bob Bruggeman must wear Arkansas Razorbacks gear because Texarkana, Arkansas, earned a victory in the Battle of the Border Friendly Census Challenge.

The wager aimed to boost both cities’ U.S. Census self-response rates through good-natured competition. Whichever city’s rate was higher through August won, and the other city’s mayor agreed to wear clothes associated with the opposite state.

The Arkansas side finished the challenge with a 57.8% self-response rate, edging out the Texas side’s 57.2%.

“Even though the challenge is over, and the response rate has increased, we are still very far from where we need to be,” a joint news release stated.

“Our population count will determine the amount of federal funding Texarkana receives over the next 10 years, and an undercount would mean less money for health care, education, school nutrition, as well as other local needs like fire departments, roads, and housing. With the unknown long-term impact of the pandemic and high unemployment, it is important that we get our fair share of federal funds.”

The deadline to respond to the Census is Sept. 30. Census takers are visiting households that have not yet responded, but anyone can complete the Census questionnaire online at 2020census. gov, by phone at 844-330-2020 (English), or by mailing back the paper form that was delivered to the household.

As of Tuesday, the U.S. self-response rate was 65% with an additional 18.2% counted through followup contacts, resulting in a total response rate of 83.2%, according to the Census Bureau.

Arkansas’ self-response rate was 59.4% and it’s followup rate 25.8%, for a total response rate of 85.2%. Texas’ self-response rate was 60.4% and its followup rate 19.1%, for a total response rate of 79.5%.

Puerto Rico had the lowest self-response rate at 32.3% and Minnesota the highest at 73.9%. New Mexico had the lowest total response rate at 73% and Idaho the highest at 97%.