By and large, fewer people responded to Census 2000 than the U.S. Census Bureau had hoped.

Nationwide, the response rate was 67 percent, which fell 3 percent short of the national target rate, according to numbers posted on the bureau’s Web site.

Mercer County’s response rate was higher at 72 percent, though the county finished 11 points below its set target.

Municipalities also had their own target rates. Several area officials were not sure how the bureau set those goals. But failing to meet them will result in interviews to get information from residents who didn’t respond.

Of Mercer County’s 48 municipalities, only four exceeded their targets. French Creek Township topped its target by 7 percent. Mill Creek Township (3 percent) and New Lebanon and Lake Township (both 1 percent) also exceeded their targets. Pulaski Township in Lawrence County topped its target by 1 percent.

Of Mercer County municipalities, 28 met the national target rate of 70 percent. Six responded at 80-percent-or-better.

Clark led the county with a response rate of 84 percent; its target rate, set at 95 percent, also was a county high. Mayor Douglas Bradley attributed the success to "the support and cooperation of the residents" and a team the borough appointed to comb address lists and street maps.

And, Bradley added, "We talked the Census day in and day out." Bradley said the borough took the Census seriously because over the next decade the numbers could be the difference between landing or not landing grants.

Clark was followed by Hermitage and Hempfield Township at 83 percent. Some think Hermitage, edged out by Sharon as the county’s largest city in the 1990 Census, could overtake Sharon in this count.

"We publicized throughout the schools and the city," said City Manager Gary Hinkson.

"We had Census posters up and (reminder) stickers on all correspondence, like sewer bills. We also had a story in the city newsletter. Nothing that cost a lot of money," Hinkson added.

Sharon had a 73 percent response rate.

Four communities had a response rate of less than 50 percent and all were boroughs: Fredonia (23 percent), Stoneboro (29 percent), Sandy Lake (33 percent) and West Middlesex (40 percent).

West Middlesex Mayor David George said most of his borough’s residents have post office boxes, but the Census bureau would not allow forms to be put in the boxes or included with sewer or other bills.

Despite having notices "every place," George said relying on a door-to-door count hurt the numbers.