Organizations question Census count

By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

“It makes no census to me,” joked Ron Rogers on Monday.

The issue at hand, though, is actually no laughing matter to those concerned with the federal government’s nationwide count.

The website of the US Census Bureau shows that as of 2009 the population in San Benito was 25,365 and 23,444 in the year 2000, a growth of 1,921.

According to the city’s numbers, however, the Census count for the year 2010 Census numbered 24,500, a difference of 1,056. To add confusion to the conflicting reports, Rogers, the president of the South Texas Adult Resource and Training (START) Center, found the Census count to be different from the rest; although he cited another news source.

“According to the numbers in (another) newspaper, and I haven’t verified it with the Census yet, it’s only a difference of 810,” said Rogers of the city’s growth since 2000. “(Regardless) we, the START Center and the Equal Voice Network, think that it should be more than that. We think that county-wide it should be more than that; and in Hidalgo County as well.”

For more on this story, pick up a copy of the March 2 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.