Census reports slowed growth

Indian Head lost 11, La Plata has 97 new citizens

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau on population estimates shows that La Plata gained 97 new residents between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, raising the population from 8,782 residents to 8,879, according to census officials.

In contrast, Indian Head lost 11 people between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, decreasing the population from 3,769 to 3,758, according to census data. Port Tobacco's population of 19 remained the same.

The Census Bureau did not release county data.

La Plata's slow and steady growth fits right into elected officials' plans to upgrade and improve the infrastructure, said Ward 4 Councilman Joe Norris, adding that residential growth in town in the past produced much higher census numbers.

"The numbers are right on target for the way the economy is right now," he said. "The increase in the town's population tells me that people believe that La Plata is a great place to live just like I do."

Daniel Mears, town manager, said that additional housing units that were built in Agricopia and Edelen Station mainly account for the rise in population, adding that residential growth is slower now that it was even a year ago.

"The census data demonstrate the time prior to the slow down in the housing market and are not indicative of today's housing climate," he said. "The town … has had a few residential permits in the past year ... but the current growth rates are lower now than in this latest census report."

The town's central location, availability of services and its position as the hub for county government also helps keep it a vibrant place to live, said Mayor Roy Hale.

"People still want to move to La Plata even though construction in town has nearly come to a standstill," he said. "I'm not surprised that the population has increased."

"The census data is a sign that we're doing something right because people are moving here," said Ward 1 Councilman Wayne Winkler. "It's a nice place to live and I hope it will stay that way."

On the flip side, Indian Head is struggling to maintain and add new residents. A quick drive along Route 210 in town shows a stretch of boarded-up businesses that Indian Head officials have been trying to fill for years.

But the loss of 11 people in town is not overly worrisome, Mayor Ed Rice said.

"I don't know why the population has decreased by 11 people," he said. "It doesn't make sense, but it doesn't concern me."

A lot of residential development on the drawing board in Indian Head has hit a snag since the downturn in the economy, Rice said. The Villages on the Potomac on Route 210 and the Riverwatch community off the highway are the two newest housing developments to break ground in town, he said.

Losing businesses and a failure to attract enterprises to Indian Head is a much bigger dilemma, Rice said. The town has just re-established an economic development commission to tackle the problem.

Census 2010 is a very important exercise that everyone should take part in because congressional representation and the amount of federal dollars a region receives is based on census data, said Pam Golden of the Census Bureau's Philadelphia regional office.

The 10-question census surveys will be mailed to everyone in March 2010, Golden said, adding that 210 million English language surveys and 13 million Spanish forms will be mailed.

The goal is to have as many people as possible return the simple form by April 1, Golden said.

"We're trying to put a push on to increase the mail back response rate," she said. "It saves a tremendous amount of money if people respond the first time around."

Charles County had a 73 percent response rate during the 2000 census, compared to Maryland which had a 69 percent response rate, Golden said.

"Seventy-three percent is a good rate but our goal is to get that number higher," she said.

Between April and July 2010 census takers will begin visiting households that did not respond to the surveys.

The Census Bureau is set to open an office in the Baldus Centre in La Plata this fall to serve as a base for temporary census takers who will be visiting households door to door, Golden said. This is the first time that an office will be opened in Southern Maryland, she said.

The Census Bureau will begin looking for the 300 to 600 census takers who will work in Southern Maryland in the late fall, Golden said.

Golden urges everyone to participate in the 2010 census.

"It's easy, safe and important," she said. "We protect the confidentiality of people. If the questionnaires aren't filled out people become invisible. Jurisdictions don't get adequate congressional representation and federal dollars that should be allotted to communities. I can't stress enough how important this is."

nmcconaty@somdnews.com