By HERNAN GUTIERREZ
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
A special census is underway in Westfield. City leaders hope it allows them to cash in on recent growth in the community.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 46,410 people lived in the Hamilton County community in 2020.
However, Mayor Scott Willis said his staff believes they now have at least 65,000 residents.
Willis
“I truly believe if you’re not growing, you’re decaying as a city,” Willis said.
Last year, the Westfield City Council approved spending $1.8 million to have its population counted by the federal government again.
Willis says that by showing the city has grown, they can get between $1.6 million and $2 million more from the state every year before the next national census in 2030.
“These dollars are critical for us to be able to continue to grow,” Willis said. “There’s a huge delta that we’re not seeing. That’s our money that we should be reinvesting back into our community.”
The U.S. Census Bureau has already sent postcards and letters to Westfield residents. They contain instructions on how to respond online.
Then, in September, workers will be on the ground knocking on the doors of households the U.S. Census Bureau hasn’t heard from.
“It’ll take literally three to five minutes,” Willis said. “[It’s] very simple, very short, and you’ll be done with it.”
The special census in Westfield was supposed to happen in the spring. However, the Trump administration’s freeze on hiring federal workers delayed the count.
Phil Powell, executive director and professor at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, said communities only ask for this special kind of head count for extraordinary reasons.
“The most energetic local economy in the state of Indiana is really in Hamilton County,” Powell said.
The Republican mayor hopes the boom in population can attract more businesses. That includes expanding the city’s presence in sports tourism. He also wants other sports-related and high-tech manufacturing companies to set up shop in Westfield.
“Every day, every hour, we’re thinking about luring in businesses,” Willis said. “Expanding our tax base is an absolute critical part of what we do as a city. “
Powell said those companies will take notice.
“When people are moving to an area, are attracted to the quality of life,” Powell said. That’s also going to attract business, because good workers are hard to find.”
Westfield officials are also encouraging people to become census workers. Interested candidates do not need to live in the city to apply through the U.S. Census Bureau.
More information on the U.S. Census Bureau’s open jobs in Westfield is available here.
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/local-news/special-census-underway-in-westfield.
Deadline extended to be a Special Census Worker
Applications for census workers are still open, and applicants do not have to be Westfield residents. Because these are federal jobs, hiring is managed by the U.S. Census Bureau. Click the links below to apply.
- Field Supervisor: $28.50 per hour
- Field Representative: $24.50 per hour
- Clerk: $24.50 per hour
Still have questions? Visit westfieldin.gov/census for answers.