Huntsville will remain one of just two locations nationwide selected for the U.S. Census Bureau’s scaled operational field test ahead of the 2030 Census, according to updated Census Bureau press releases announcing changes to the 2026 Census Test.
The Bureau confirmed the 2026 test will now focus on operations in only two cities — Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina — narrowing the program from the six sites originally announced in 2024.
The 2026 Census Test is designed as a major real-world trial of new tools and methods that will be used in the 2030 Census. It is the first of two planned on-the-ground tests intended to refine operations, technology, and outreach before the nationwide count.
According to the Census Bureau, the test will evaluate operational changes and innovations aimed at improving how residents are counted, particularly in hard-to-count and historically undercounted populations. Officials say the effort will help improve accuracy and efficiency for the 2030 Census.
The Bureau said test operations will include evaluating expanded use of the U.S. Postal Service in roles typically handled by Census field staff, along with limited in-field enumeration activities. The test will also examine improvements in self-response options and follow-up procedures.
Public participation in the 2026 Census Test is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. Households in test areas will be able to respond online, while census takers and some postal workers will follow up in person with households that do not respond.
The Census Bureau has described the 2026 Census Test as its first major opportunity this decade to try new operational approaches under real-world conditions in preparation for the 2030 Census. Because the program is focused on operational testing rather than official population tabulation, no published census data products will be produced from the test itself.
When the test sites were first announced in July 2024, six locations were selected based on geographic, demographic, infrastructure, and operational criteria. Those original sites were:
- Colorado Springs, Colorado (selected metro areas)
- Huntsville, Alabama (selected metro areas)
- Tribal lands in Arizona — Fort Apache Reservation and San Carlos Reservation
- Spartanburg, South Carolina (selected metro areas)
- Western North Carolina — including Cherokee, Graham, Jackson, and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary
- Western Texas — including Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos, and Presidio counties
In its updated announcement, the Census Bureau said the 2026 test will now concentrate on Huntsville and Spartanburg, reaffirming its commitment to conducting “the most accurate count in history” for the 2030 Census and continuing partnerships with local communities.
The Census Bureau’s updated release did not provide a specific reason for reducing the number of test sites from six to two.
Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.
