Across the country, individuals and families will begin receiving census forms in the mail this month. Much has been made in the media about the importance of filling out the forms correctly and mailing them back, but just how important are those little sheets of paper in a local sense?

Officials in Ouachita County commented recently about how an accurate census will not only help the city, but the county and the state as well.

Ouachita County Judge Mike Hesterly said that government relies on population numbers gathered as a result of census information. In turn, a giv...