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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 Census�4ILY� -.�' AGLE "ollege Station, Texas Sunday, May 31,1970 36 Pages in Four Sections 20 Ce; Why All The Census Fuss? By JANE HOWELL Eagle Staff Writer Why do business and civic leaders get concerned about unexpectedly low census counts? What difference could a couple of hundred people make to a community? What would a metropolitan rating mean? The answers to the first two cuestions may be provided tni ough an answer to the third one. And that answer seems to be that designation of a community as a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area —which Brvan- college Station may fall sh of —would spar business, help in industrial recruiting and res.ilt in greater coordination and cooperation among legal �,overnrnental units. Sherman- Denison became an �MSA in the 1960 census, and Albert Nibling, editor of ,he Sherman Democrat, had only y the Fuss About Census? (Continued from Page 1) statistical publications the U.S, and that many industries and chain consult these publications vonsidering new sites. across large stores when Mann said many feel the benefits will be great for ommunlcations media because , of the large sums of money that National advertisers spend in metropolitan areas. Mayor D. A. (Andy) Anderson (f College Station also noted 'hat the SMSA listing would bring this area more national recognition. "I would hate to see us miss this by 200 people and then have to wait another 10 years," he said. The mayor reported he had written census officials twice, once asking how they counted Texas A &M University students and once to inquire why white census forms had not been sent to residents of Hensel and College View Apartments and the project houses on Russell Street. He said he had not received anv replies as of Saturday. One aspect of the status which come may consider a drawback is the need for long range planning transportation before federal money can be used. But officials feel this won't hurt B- CS because such a plan has already been started. Joe Hanover, Bryan district engineer for the Texas Highway Department, said the greatest impact on his department would be in the need for the long - range transportation study. He said his department, along with other agencies and the two cities. has begun work on such a transportation plan. Bryan City Manager Fred. Sandlin said the long range Vanning was well on its way and he could not foresee any difficulties. Sandlin said that in 1967 the ccmmuni+v leaders considered r6cmesting a special census to determine if the area could ;Weer the metropolitan status, bat they decided it wasn't worth it at the time. The Bureau of the Budget which sponsors the statistical standards development, states that ":he primary objective in establishing standard metropolitan areas is to enable Federal statistical agencies to utilize the same boundaries in Publishing statistical data useful f o r analyzing metropolitan problems." The bureau further states that the areas are not intended to be "market" areas, but are used in much market analysis. With the preliminary census count in for Bryan - College Station, the area has come up j' 228 short of the 50,000 mark good to say about the df- sigr_at'an. "Being an SMSA wins entree to many listings which help in sales of products," said Nibling. "An SMSA gets more detailed and more regular reports which ran be used to sell an area, or products offered in an area. "Also, there is planning on all public works, coordination and elimination of duplication made possible through a regional planning board. Growth needed to achieve metropolitan ,tatus. The status is conferred by the Bureau of the Budget to com- mun;ties meeting three criteria: 1. The two cgr aguous cities m u s t have a combined population of at least 550,000; 2. The smaller of the cities must have a population of at least 15,000; and 3. The cities must represent a single concentration ,)f population and economic activity, with no undeveloped . land areas between. The B-CS area apparently fu!.fills all but the first requirement. According to the preliminary report, Bryan has ;ncreased from 11,396 to 17,283 and College Station has in- creased from 27,542, to 32,489. The total population for Brazos County rose from 44,895 to 56,079, an increase of 24.9 per cent. the preliminary Sandlin, said he final counts are Although count is short had heard th e often higher. Mann said he expects the .1harrber's executive committee to discuss the census situation at its breakfast meeting Tuesday. Mayor Anderson said he plans to attend that meeting. Meanwhile. KBTX -TV and 1'he Daily Eagle have each nvited persons whose census f - rms were not picked up to send in their names and ad- dresses. is controlled rather than haphazard." Nibling said. Fat Mann, executive vice president of the B -CS Chamber of Commerce, said "the most iirm benefit will be to lozal government and to those in charge of public im- p,rovement." He said large businesses %vil1_ also profit. Mann said he had been told that with the new status, B -CS w o u l d appear in many See WHY, Page 4A CS Mayor Asks Census Fgrm Mayor D. A (Afhdy) Anderson appealed to College Station residents today in a news release to indicate promptly if they were not counted in the recent census. Anderson emphasized that the metropolitan status for the Bryan- College Station area is at stake. He added it is essential that all delinquent forms be turned in to the Census Bureau'. by Thursday; otherwise it is too late. Anderson expressed his ap- preciation to the B -CS Chamber of Commerce and +,ie news', media for their all -out help, and particularly to the Eagle for running a form daily. For additional information call th city hall at 846-8868. Were You Counted in the 1910 Census? Mayor D.A. "Andy" An- derson madO a final appeal to the people in College Station today to indicate promptly if they were not counted in the recent cen- sus. At stake is the metropol- itan status for the Bryan - College Station area, which is important in many ways, he related. But 228 people separate us from meeting our goal, he said. The Mayor expressed his appreciation to the B -CS Chamber of Commerce and the news media for their all -out help, and particul- arly to the Daily Eagle for running a form in their running a form 'in their newspaper daily. It is essential we get in missing person forms to the' Census Bureau by Thdrsday of this week the Mayor concluded; other- wise, it is too late. A citizen can call City Hall for information at 846- 8868.