Georgia towns among first to file census appeals

The tiny town of Chester, in Dodge County in central Georgia, is among the first municipalities in the nation to appeal its 2020 census results, arguing that its population had been majorly under-counted.  The census reported just 525 residents, but city officials believe that they have more than 1,500, including the inmates at Dodge State Prison, who are supposed to be counted as part of the city’s population.  Census taking was made difficult during the pandemic, particularly when it came to prisons, many of which went into full lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID.  An  underreported population total could spell a budget disaster for Chester, which relies on state and federal funding based on its total number of residents.  Similarly White County, in northeast Georgia has filed an appeal, as has Glennville, in southeast Georgia, which like Chester is home to a state prison which officials say wasn’t tallied correctly.  Census revisions are historically rare, but due to the difficulty in taking the 2020 version local leaders, particularly in these rural Georgia towns, are hoping they get their numbers corrected and proper funding secured.