Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

3 of 4 Census forms back

The U.S. Census Bureau says Washington has exceed it mail-back participation in the 2010 Census compared to 2000. It says nearly 3 of 4 residences, or 74 percent, have mailed back their forms. 

That's 2 percentage points ahead of the mail-back previous census.

Idaho has matched its 2000 mail-back rate, and is just ahead of Washington at 75 percent.

That puts both states ahead of the national return rate of 72 percent, but behind Minnesota, which has an 80 percent mail-back rate.

Other than potential bragging rights between the states, or between this decade and last, the return rate is significant for a fiscal reason. Every form that is returned is a household that doesn't have to be contacted personally by Census workers looking to fill in the blanks.

Spokane, Spokane Valley and Colville are all at 76 percent, the bureau reports. For a full list of Washington cities, go inside the blog.

Washington Cities

Auburn (72%), Beaux Arts Village (86%), Bellevue (74%), Bellingham (78%), Bothell (77%), Burien (74%), Clyde Hill (82%), Colville (76%), Edmonds (80%), Ellensburg (73%), Everett (71%), Federal Way (71%), Forks (72%), Issaquah (76%), Kent (60%), Kirkland (74%), Mercer Island (82%), Mt Vernon (77%), Normandy Parks (86%), Olympia (76%), Port Angeles (80%), Port Townsend (83%), Redmond (75%), Renton (71%), Sammamish (80%), Seattle (75%), Sea-Tac (65%), Shoreline (76%), Snoqualmie (77%), Spokane (76%), Spokane Valley (76%), Tacoma (72%), Tri Cities (Richland 80 %, Pasco 74%, Kennewick 76%). Tukwila (65%), Vancouver (73%), Wenatchee  (77%), Woodinville (74%), and Yakima (75%).




The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.