2020 Census Results: What they mean and what you can do

Course curriculum

With 2020 Census results gradually being released, some communities have expressed surprise (and disappointment) in their decennial census population results. Population results are critical to many communities because these results are tied to federal and state funding formulas for roads and social services. They can also impact whether a community meets state-mandated requirements for Home Rule authority. Municipal officials often turn to planning staff to get a better understanding about why population number may have come in lower than hoped and what can be done to address the situation. US Census staff member Craig Best will lead a discussion on how to navigate the US Census process for requesting the Census Bureau to review and re-consider 2020 Census results and how communities can prepare to conduct a Special Census when that option becomes available in late 2023. Co-presenter Scott Hanson, AICP will also provide his insights as city planner for an Illinois community that formally appealed their 2010 Census results and later conducted a successful Special Census.

Scott Hanson, AICP

CMT

Scott Hanson, AICP has worked for much of his professional career for two fast-growing municipalities known for well-planned urban environments, and the past 5 years for the reputable civil engineering firm Crawford, Murphy & Tilly (CMT), Scott Hanson, AICP has 18 years of local government planning experience. Specializing in land use and comprehensive planning, he has successfully led numerous award-winning public engagement initiatives, including the City of Edwardsville (IL) 2010 Comprehensive Plan, the I-55 Corridor Plan and Development Code (2016), and the City of Marshfield (MO) 2020 Community Growth Plan. Scott has also managed a local Special Census, historic preservation grants, and the creation of a community-wide neighborhood association grant program. During his time with CMT, Scott has specialized in working with communities with populations of under 15K, engaging in zoning code and subdivision regulation updates for cities such as Fulton, MO, and Strafford, MO, and Comprehensive Plans for Seymour, MO, Fordland, MO, and Hamel IL. During his free-time, Scott hosts a weekly radio show (“Looking for Lewis and Clark”) where he seeks out the best in “college radio” music. He recently passed the 1,200 show mark, a run that dates back to the 1990’s.

Craig Best

US Census Bureau

Craig Best is a Geographer with the US Census Bureau’s Chicago Regional Office. He began his 38-year career as a geographic clerk helping to build the Census Bureau’s TIGER mapping database. Throughout his career, Craig has worked as a Supervisory Geographer, Geographic Coordinator, and Assistant Regional Census Manager. Currently, Craig spends most of his time working on geographic partnership programs with tribal, state, and local governments.