Klobuchar, Fischbach Request Update on U.S. Census Bureau Case Involving the City of Marshall’s Undercount in 2020 Census

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representative Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) sent a letter to the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Robert Santos, to urge the Bureau to work with the City of Marshall to resolve the reported undercount in the 2020 Census results. The City opened a case with the Bureau due to an undercounted student population at Southwest Minnesota State University. The Census Bureau informed the City in December 2023 that it had resolved its case, but the City has still not received an updated census figure or any additional details.

"An accurate and comprehensive census is fundamental to our democracy and the well-being of communities across the country," wrote the lawmakers. "The City of Marshall is home to Southwest Minnesota State University, which enrolled 6,660 students in the fall of 2019, including 427 who lived on campus. Very few of these students were present on campus on April 1, 2020 due to a shift to remote learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the population of the City of Marshall was undercounted during the 2020 Census."

"Accurate population counts are critical for cities for municipal planning and applications for grants and other resources. We strongly urge the U.S. Census Bureau to work with the City of Marshall to resolve this undercount and update the City's population count to reflect the college student population that lives there," continued the lawmakers.

Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Director Santos:

We write to request an update on the 2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review case submitted by the City of Marshall, Minnesota.

An accurate and comprehensive census is fundamental to our democracy and the well-being of communities across the country. The City of Marshall is home to Southwest Minnesota State University, which enrolled 6,660 students in the fall of 2019, including 427 who lived on campus. Very few of these students were present on campus on April 1, 2020 due to a shift to remote learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the population of the City of Marshall was undercounted during the 2020 Census.

Following the release of 2020 Census results, the Census Bureau created the 2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review (PCGQR) to allow local governments to request that the Census Bureau review population counts of group quarters, including college dormitories, believed to have not been correctly counted as of April 1, 2020. The City of Marshall submitted a case through the 2020 PCGQR on November 3, 2022. The Census Bureau informed the City in December 2023 that it had resolved their case, but the City has still not received an updated census figure or any additional details.

Accurate population counts are critical for cities for municipal planning and applications for grants and other resources. We strongly urge the U.S. Census Bureau to work with the City of Marshall to resolve this undercount and update the City's population count to reflect the college student population that lives there. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

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