Washington County

U.S. census organizers have been doing a lot to publicize the count, which is under way locally now that households have received their census form, and to counter what they say are misconceptions about the decennial tally.

They asked the Washington County Board Tuesday to approve a resolution supporting the census and encouraging local residents’ participation. In seeking the request, Barb Ronningen, an Afton resident and staffer in the Minnesota demographer’s office, discussed the census.

Confidentiality is a concern for some, and Ronningen said census data is protected by law and, in fact, is kept private for 72 years.

As for the information sought on the 10-question form, Ronningen said the online DVD rental company Netflix asks for more personal information from its subscribers than the census seeks from citizens.

"We’re not asking very much," she said.