Brown County citizens are doing their part to make the 2010 Census a success.

The latest 2010 Census participation map shows that Brown County has a 48% participation rate as of Monday afternoon.  This data shows that Brown County is slightly outpacing the nation which is at 46% and the state at 39% so far.

With most 2010 Census questionnaires having arrived by mail for 120 million households nationwide, the U.S. Census Bureau has launched new interactive Google Map showing initial mail participation rates. The collaborative partnership with Google allows communities the ability to track how their area is responding to the once-a-decade count. The Census Bureau will provide daily updates of the percentage of returned census forms using Google Maps and Google Earth.

The Census Bureau encourages everyone to “Take 10” — that is to take 10 minutes to answer the 10 questions on the census form. The mail participation rate for the nation in 2000 was 72 percent. For every 1 percent increase in the national participation rate by mail, the Census Bureau can save taxpayers $85 million by not having to send census takers door to door to households that failed to return the census form. If every household mailed back its 2010 Census form, the cost of taking the census would be reduced by $1.5 billion.

Check the right hand column on the BrownwoodNews.com homepage for a live feed to the 2010 Census Participation rate for Brown County or visit the interactive map at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.