High-vacany urban area a challenge for Census

CINCINNATI (AP) — An inner-city Cincinnati neighborhood with high vacancy rates, poverty and squatters presents a tough challenge for the U.S. Census count.

The census tract that includes parts of Over-the-Rhine and the West End neighborhoods is getting special attention in the effort to determine populations and other demographic information. In 2000, only 15.7 percent of addresses that got forms filled them out.

Assistance centers are being set up and extra recruiting is under way for field workers.

Federal statistics indicate at least 40 percent of the area’s houses are vacant or occupied illegally.

Census counts help determine how much federal aid a city can receive, besides congressional representation and other issues.