Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Only 37 percent of households in Steamboat Springs have returned the 2010 census, just more than half of the nationwide response rate of 72 percent. But as 1,500 counters begin making their way across Western Colorado for follow-up visits, census officials say the response rate in mountain communities could be misleading.

For census purposes, the workers want a response from every housing unit in town — often including condos and second homes that are occupied for only parts of the year.

Regional Director Cathy Lacy said census workers would visit each home, and if they find that a unit is not occupied, they will make every effort to verify the status of the unit by asking building managers and neighbors.

“When we go back, we’ll be verifying with the manager, if we couldn’t reach anyone in that housing unit, if it’s occupied by a resident or if it’s not,” Lacy said Wednesday during a conference call with reporters.

Lacy said workers would ask where residents spend a majority of their time. If a person was living in Steamboat on April 1 and lives in Steamboat for most of the year, he or she should be counted.

At the end of the follow-up visits July 10, the census will drop vacant or unoccupied units from the roster of homes, boosting the response rate.

Overall, Routt County has a response rate of 43 percent. Steamboat is at 37, Oak Creek is at 54 and Yampa is at 59 percent. Hayden is leading with 65 percent of households having returned the questionnaire. Across Northwest Colorado, Routt ranks near the center, with rates of 39 percent in Jackson County, 33 in Grand County, 40 in Eagle County, 62 in Grand County, 55 in Rio Blanco County and 63 in Moffat County.

Census workers also are aware that some of the packets left on doorknobs around the county could have been blown away by wind or simply forgotten by residents. Although all census forms in Routt County were dropped off by hand because of the rural nature of the county — and because few residences have home mail delivery — the workers will take the time to talk to residents at each house during the return visits.

Overall, about 2,600 workers will be employed in Western Colorado during this portion of the census, Lacy said.

Census employees can be identified by a credit-card-size ID badge, and anyone with questions about a census worker’s identity can call the local census center at 970-361-3690.

— To reach Zach Fridell, call 871-4208 or e-mail zfridell@steamboatpilot.com