As of April 1, 52 percent of the households in Polk County have returned their 2010 Census forms. The city of Rockmart is reporting a 51-percent return rate while citizens within the city of Cedartown are right behind at 49 percent.

Odds are if you haven’t returned your form through the mail, you’ll be getting a second form in the next couple of days. Residents in specific Census tracts with low return rates may even get a third form prior to April 10.

There are currently Census 2010 assistance centers at both public libraries in Polk County, as well as Pine Bower Baptist Church in Cedartown. Help will be available at these location through April 19.

see an interaction participation map here

Jeff Wright, local Census office manager for 12 counties in Northwest Georgia, said even the Latino population has responded pretty well to the Census count. He credits that to the fact the Census budgeted for partners to work with minority communities in 2010, posts that were volunteer positions in the past.

Wright said his office in Dalton is just now moving into its most significant part of the Census operation.

“Non-response field operations will begin May 1,” Wright said.

It’s at that point the door-to-door canvassing of homes will get under way.

On the Census form, four general questions are asked about the household: if the housing unit is owned or rented, the telephone number, how many people live in the residence, if any additional people who lived at the residence on April 1, 2010, were not included.

And for each household member: The name, sex, age and date of birth, as well as relationship to the person who owns or rents this residence, ethnicity and if this person sometimes lives or stays elsewhere.