After a long wait, Aurora has finally launched its long-delayed special census as of Wednesday, July 22, zeroing in on neighborhoods built since 2020. City leaders say this targeted count is meant to fix what they describe as an undercount in the 2020 decennial census and claw back shared revenues they believe the city has been missing. The focus is on new-construction census tracts where officials suspect the official tally overlooked occupied homes.
Households in those selected areas should keep an eye out for two letters and two postcards from the U.S. Census Bureau. Each mailing will include a personal identification number that lets residents respond online. The self-response portal opens July 23 and runs through Aug. 24, with field workers scheduled to follow up after that window, according to Chicago Tribune.
Check whether your address is included
The city has posted an interactive map and FAQs so residents can quickly see whether their address falls inside the special census boundaries and get step-by-step instructions on how to respond. The materials emphasize that all responses are confidential and protected by law, according to City of Aurora. A Spanish-language page and an outreach toolkit are also available for residents who prefer or need assistance in Spanish.
Help sessions and deadlines
For anyone who would rather have a human nearby while they fill things out, city staff will host in-person help sessions at the Santori Library. Drop-in assistance is scheduled for July 30 from 9 a.m. to noon and Aug. 3 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., per Chicago Tribune. Residents are asked to bring the census mailer that includes their 12-digit code. The Santori branch is downtown at 101 S. River St.
Why the city is pushing a recount
City officials say the 2020 census put Aurora’s population at about 180,542 residents, which is roughly 17,000 fewer people than were counted in 2010. That gap is not just a pride issue. The city estimates it translates to about $4.3 million in lost shared revenue every year. “Attaining an accurate population count would restore critical federal appropriations funding and help plan for future growth,” Mayor John Laesch said in a city release, according to City of Aurora.
How the special census works
The Census Bureau’s special-census process starts with mailed invitations that include a personal identification number and a link to the respondent portal. Households can use that portal to fill out a short questionnaire, and after the online response period closes, census workers follow up in person with homes that did not respond online, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s respondent portal. The federal portal for this effort is open to invitees at U.S. Census Bureau.
If you do not receive mail but live in a fast-growing neighborhood, you can expect a field representative to knock on your door after Aug. 24. Residents with questions can email [email protected]. City leaders say getting new households counted could reshape how Aurora plans for roads, public safety coverage, and other services in the years ahead.
