County Judge Lucy Hebron has challenged Wood County communities to get on board with the 2020 United States Census.

The census activities, which normally target April 1 for the once-in-10-years population count, had to be curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Census workers resumed in-person deliveries of census forms last week for households that did no respond to the initial and follow up mailings.

Hebron will award the community with the best response to a dinner for the mayor and city administrator and their spouses at a local restaurant.

The winner will be the city with the highest percentage response rate by July 8.

Respondents can file census information online and by phone, as well as by mail.

As of Monday, response rates for cities included Alba- 41.7% Hawkins-37.9%, Mineola-60.2%, Quitman-58.2%, Winnsboro-58.3% and Yantis-44.5%.

The state response rate is 55.1% and the national rate is 60.4%.

“Everyone in the community benefits when everyone is counted properly,” Hebron said. “So, please be sure to complete your 2020 Census. Today, more than ever, it is very easy to do and takes very little time to complete. In addition, it is worth it to our community to take a few moments now so that our area can receive its fair share of more than $675 billion per year in federal funding.”