2008 Census Dress Rehearsal

2008 Census Dress Rehearsal
Fayetteville and Eastern North Carolina
(Nine-county region of Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee,
Montgomery, Moore, Richmond and Scotland)

The 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal
is the last opportunity for the
Census Bureau to preview the
overall design of the 2010 Census.
While we have tested certain parts
of the plan, the dress rehearsal
will fine-tune methods to see how
well all of the pieces fit together.

North Carolina

Revised August 2006

Fayetteville &
Surrounding Area
Quick Facts
Population
Fayetteville area
710,156
U.S.
281,421,906
Percentage of Population
by Race
Fayetteville area
AIAN*
2%

The city of Fayetteville, N.C., and
the surrounding nine-county area were selected for the dress rehearsal primarily
because it has a mix of urban, suburban and rural areas and has two large military
bases (Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base).
San Joaquin County, Calif., also was selected by the Census Bureau to participate
in the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal.

O the r race
4%

Asian
1%

Two or
more race s
2%

Black
28%

White
63%

United States
O the r race
AIAN* 6%
Two or
1%
more race s
Asian
2%
4%

What You Need to Know
•

Most households in the dress
rehearsal site will receive a census
questionnaire in the mail. Some
may have questionnaires delivered
to their residence by a census
worker. Residents are asked to
complete the forms and return them
by mail.

•

Census workers will visit
households that do not return a
completed questionnaire.

•

Keeping answers confidential is the
Census Bureau’s highest priority—
a commitment that is backed by
one of the strongest confidentiality
laws in the United States.

Black
12%

“Participating in the 2008
Census Dress Rehearsal will
help the Census Bureau
produce more accurate
counts of the people and
housing units in your
community and across the
nation in 2010.”
—Louis Kincannon,
Director of the U.S. Census Bureau

White
75%
*American Indians and Alaska Natives

Hispanic Origin: Percentage
of Population
Fayetteville area
6.6%
U.S.
12.5%
Percentage of Population
Age 5+ Who Speak Spanish
at Home
Fayetteville area
5.7%
U.S.
10.0%
Housing Units
Fayetteville area
294,690
U.S.
115,904,641
Population in Group Quarters
Fayetteville area
29,400
U.S.
7,778,633
Source: Census 2000

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
DX-1120 (NC)

Census Jobs
Census Jobs

A wide variety of temporary positions must be
filled in order to conduct a census. The
Fayetteville Local Census Office will hire
nearly 3,000 residents of the nine-county area.
These employees conduct interviews with
community residents and update addresses.
Most positions require U.S. citizenship, a
driver’s license and use of a vehicle.

Call to schedule an
appointment to take the test
and apply for a job.
Fayetteville Census Office
1-866-673-2008
TDD: 1-704-344-6114

Enumerator pay rates range from
$11.50 to $13.75 per hour.

•

Improved data collection procedures
that will enhance overall data quality
for people and housing units.

•

Improved data collection methods in
group quarters, such as dormitories,
correctional facilities, nursing homes
and other unconventional housing.

Recruiting for temporary staff
begins.

The Local Census Office
opens. It will serve as the hub
of local dress rehearsal activity.
About 500 census workers
verify addresses in the ninecounty area.

Methods and Operations
Improved methods for collecting data
from respondents who speak a
language other than English,
including bilingual questionnaire
delivery in designated areas.

2006

2007

For census jobs, work schedules vary. In the
field, some census operations require working
during daylight hours. For operations that
require interviewing people in their homes,
work must be done during hours when people
are usually home. This includes evenings and
weekends.

•

Dress Rehearsal
Timeline

•

2008
Use of hand-held computers with
Global Positioning System (GPS)
technology for field data collection
and support operations.

•

Mailing of replacement
questionnaires to increase response
rates and thus minimize the need to
conduct personal follow-up visits.

•

Improved methods to eliminate
duplicate responses.

Questionnaires are mailed or
delivered to households.
Census Day is April 1, 2008.
Group quarters are enumerated.
Group quarters include
dormitories, correctional
facilities, nursing homes and
other unconventional housing.
Approximately 2,000 census
workers visit households that
have not mailed back a census
questionnaire.
The Local Census Office
closes in the fall.

Fast Fact
Every year, more than
$200 billion in federal
funds are awarded to
localities based on
census data.

Members of U.S. Congress Representing
the Test Site
Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-North Carolina
Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina
Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-North Carolina, 2nd District
Rep. David Price, D-North Carolina, 4th District
Rep. Howard Coble, R-North Carolina, 6th District
Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-North Carolina, 7th District
Rep. Robin Hayes, R-North Carolina, 8th District

2008 CENSUS DRESS REHEARSAL

North Carolina

Fayetteville, North Carolina Site
(Including the counties of Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett,
Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, and Scotland)

GUILFORD

DURHAM

ORANGE

ALAMANCE

DA
VI

DS

O

N

Cary
(pt)

Pittsboro

RANDOLPH

Siler
City

WAKE

CHATHAM
Goldston

JOHNSTON
Sanford

Angier

Broadway

Robbins
Lillington

Star

LEE

Troy

STANLY

Coats

HARNETT
Biscoe

Erwin

Carthage

MONTGOMERY

Cameron
Whispering
Pines

MOORE

Candor

Dunn

Vass

Foxfire

Norman

Southern
Pines

Pinehurst

Godwin
Falcon
(pt)

Aberdeen

Fort Bragg
Military Res

Pinebluff

Ellerbe

Linden

Spring
Lake

Taylortown

Mount
Gilead

Wade

Pope
AFB

SAMPSON

Fayetteville

Hoffman

RICHMOND
ANSON

HOKE

Camp
Mackall

Rockingham

Raeford

Dobbins
Heights
Wagram
Hamlet

Legend

Hope
Mills

CUMBERLAND

Red Springs
(pt)

SCOTLAND
Gibson

Stedman

Laurinburg
Maxton
(pt)

East
Laurinburg

ROBESON
Dress Rehearsal Site
State

LEE

or
th
ol

4

8

Prepared by Geography Division
(12-12-2005) DX-935(NC)

16

24
Miles

a
in

0

a
in

ar

ol

C

Military Base

ar

th

C

u
So

Incorporated Place
(completely or partially
within site)

Vass

BLADEN

N

County

COLUMBUS