DeSoto happy with Census return rate

Seventy percent of DeSoto County households returned their federal census forms as of Friday's deadline to return the forms by mail, and local officials said Monday they were pleased with the response.

At 70 percent, DeSoto County outpaced the state as a whole, which had a return rate of 64 percent. The local figure was also slightly above the national return rate of 69 percent.

The figures were the most current available as of Monday afternoon.

"We're about 50,000 more (in population) than we were last census but still had about the same response rate," Matt Hanks, DeSoto County Geographic Information Systems director, said. "I think that's pretty impressive."

Hanks said the percentages may continue to creep up slightly even though the deadline has passed as late-arriving forms continue to be counted through May 3.

Friday was set as the deadline nationally to return forms received by mail. Those residences that didn't return forms by the deadline will be counted manually by census workers.

"I think one reason we did so well was the strong participation by officials in each city, encouraging residents to return forms," Hanks said. "I understand Mayor Alday was going door to door asking people to send in their forms,"

Hanks was referring to Walls Mayor Gene Alday, who said it's important for DeSoto County's smallest incorporated municipality to get an accurate count to secure certain grants.

Sixty-one percent returned forms in Walls, the lowest return rate among DeSoto County's five cities.

"Within the next 10 years, we're going to need federal assistance -- more fire, more police," Alday said. "We need to be eligible to apply for those grants in order to operate."

With only about 460 residents as of the last census count, Walls said he believes his community now stands at about 1,800 population. And that number could swell significantly if on-hold developments begin moving forward as the economy improves.

DeSoto County as a whole had an estimated population of 158,719 as of last July 1, representing a population gain of 51,520 since the 2000 census.

-- Ron Maxey: (901) 333-2019

Final count

Friday was the deadline to submit federal census forms by mail. DeSoto County's response rate as of Monday was 70 percent, compared to 69 percent nationally. The Mississippi return rate was 64 percent.

The return rates in DeSoto County's five incorporated municipalities, which figure into the countywide total along with returns from unincorporated portions of the county, were:

Olive Branch: 73 percent

Hernando: 72 percent

Southaven: 67 percent

Horn Lake: 63 percent

Walls: 61 percent