If we count everybody, Hidalgo County will be at 1.2 million
MCALLEN, RGV Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez says if everyone in his county is counted during Census 2020, the population will be close to 1.2 million, not the current 860,000.
Cortez spoke about the importance of an accurate and full census count in a speech to the McAllen Chamber of Commerces governmental affairs committee last Wednesday. He brought with him a map of the county showing lots of yellow and red areas. These signified rooftops missed by the Census Bureau.
Why is the census important? Well it affects us politically, socially, health-wise and also economically, Cortez said.
It affects how many representatives we have in the (U.S.) House and in our state government. It affects our social and health well-being because of Medicaid programs, the indigent care, the disabled, nutrition programs, childrens health, CHIP. If we are 35 percent poor here, all of that becomes very important.
Read more: https://riograndeguardian.com/cortez-if-we-count-everybody-hidalgo-county-will-be-at-1-2-million/