Guinea and the James Store areas of Gloucester County have low turnouts for the 2020 U.S. Census, and those living there only have until the end of September to be counted.

The census will be ending a month sooner than previously expected, so it is important for residents to respond to the census. The census helps determine how billions of federal dollars are allocated for the next decade, and funding helps support many of the services residents depend on, such as fire and rescue.

Currently, the national self-response rate for the U.S. Census is 64.4 percent and the Virginia self-response rate is 69 percent. Gloucester is currently above both of those averages, at 70 percent.

Gloucester County’s Community Engagement and Public Information department is working to boost awareness by increasing the advertisement and signage in the low-responding areas.

Census-takers are out now going door-to-door to the homes of those yet to respond. Census-takers will not ask for personal i...