More Nevadans respond to census questionnaires than in 1990

Efforts to convince more Nevadans to respond to Census questionnaires apparently are working.

Secretary of State Dean Heller says the percentage of residents who have mailed in their Census 2000 questionnaires this year is up to 63 percent. That compares to a response rate of just 58 percent in 1990.

Heller said that moves Nevada up from 45th in response rates to 29th overall.

"Nevada's improved census response rate is clearly good news for Nevada," said Heller. "But that does not mean the work is done. In a very real sense, the hard work is only now beginning."

Over the next two months, census workers will visit homes of those who did not return the questionnaires to try gather the data in person.

Heller said it's important to count as many Nevadans as possible because huge amounts of federal funding are apportioned among the 50 states according to population. Census officials say Nevada missed an estimated $190 million in federal funding over the past 10 years because of its low count in 1990.

The census is taken every 10 years.