The 2020 Census is underway and some Lakeland residents are concerned that language in the survey will place them in Arlington instead of Lakeland because of the shared 38002 zip code.
Shane Horn, Lakeland city manager said, “Many residents have started to receive the initial mailings from the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2020 Census. We have received a number of inquiries from residents on concerns that the questionnaire lists an Arlington, TN address, as we share the 38002 zip code.
“I have reached out to the Census Bureau to provide clarity on how addresses that share zip codes with neighboring jurisdictions are processed. The response from the Census Bureau is below.”
Data from the 2020 Census are tabulated using geocode assignments for each household, not the “postal city” name or zip code in the mailing address assigned to the household. Therefore, each census tract, voting district, school district, tribal area, county, municipality, and other geographic area receives accurate results from the census.
Link from the Census Bureau that provides a more detailed explanation. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/usps_census_city.html
Call City Hall at 867-2717 with any questions. “We appreciate your quick response to all 2020 Census materials knowing how critical an accurate count is to our schools and essential services that we provide.”
Response to the 2020 Census can be by phone, mail or on line. Link to take the Census:
