Census workers visiting Wheeling homes for special study

U.S. Census Bureau workers are visiting homes in Wheeling to gather data for a special population study.

The door-to-door effort began late last week, Village Manager Jon Sfondilis said. Field representatives only are stopping at the homes of people who live in specific neighborhoods and haven’t completed the census online.

The census focuses on neighborhoods north of Hintz Road past Dundee Road, and east of Schoenbeck Road almost as far as Wolf Road. Village officials believe those areas have experienced substantial population growth since 2020 because of relatively new multifamily residential developments including One Wheeling Town Center, Uptown 500 and London Crossing.

About 39,100 people lived in Wheeling during the last census in 2020. If the new census shows the population has increased, the village could receive a greater share of state tax revenues that are population dependent, such as income and cannabis taxes.

Wheeling officials don’t want to wait until the Census Bureau’s next decennial count in 2030 — when funding formulas will be readjusted statewide — to get whatever cash the town is qualified to receive.

Census workers must show official government ID badges that feature their photographs, U.S. Department of Commerce watermarks and an expiration date.

If someone claiming to be a census worker shows up at your home and doesn’t have visible ID, close the door and call police, Deputy Police Chief Michael Conway said.

“Trust your instincts,” Conway said.

If you miss a census worker’s visit, a notice will be left at your door asking you to provide a phone number and the best time to call to complete the survey over the phone.

The in-person surveying is expected to wrap up in mid-September. Village officials anticipate receiving data from the Census Bureau in November.

More information about the special census can be found at wheelingil.gov/2262/Special-Census-2026. That’s also where you can see if your home is in one of the targeted neighborhoods.

What the 2020 census showed

The 2020 census painted a picture of the people who lived in Wheeling at that time. Here’s some of what it revealed.

Population: 39,137

Median household income: $85,205

Bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.8%

Employment rate: 67.1%

Total housing units: 16,045

Total households: 15,171

Median age: 39.9

Language other than English spoken at home: 61.8%

Source: data.census.gov