Aurora’s special census begins in designated new-construction areas

Aurora began the internet self-response period for its 2026 Special Census on July 23, starting a targeted count in specified recently built and occupied areas of the city.

The effort is not described by the city as a count of all Aurora residents. Instead, the city says it is intended to update the population count for designated areas where new construction has been built and occupied.

Residents in the designated area will receive four mailings

According to the city, residents in the special-census area will receive four mailings: two letters and two postcards. Each mailing will include a unique 12-digit Census ID.

The ID is tied to the city’s internet self-response phase, which began July 23. The city’s published materials identify the mailing sequence and the Census ID, but the materials in this report do not specify the full geographic boundary of the special-census area.

That means residents should not assume the special census applies citywide solely because they live in Aurora. The count is directed at the specific newly built and occupied areas identified by the city.

Why the city is conducting the count

On its Ward 1 page, Aurora said it reported a loss of approximately 17,000 people in the 2020 Census. The city linked that reported result to more than $4.3 million per year in city revenue.

Those population and revenue figures are the city’s own statements. They were not independently audited for the approved source packet, and the city’s statement does not establish that an individual response will produce a particular funding result.

The special census is therefore focused on updating the count in the newer occupied areas rather than making a citywide claim about Aurora’s current population. The city has confirmed the start of the internet self-response period and the planned mailings, while the cited materials do not provide a complete public boundary description for the participating area.

What is known so far

The known next part of the process is the arrival of the two letters and two postcards for residents in the designated area, each carrying the 12-digit Census ID. The approved city materials do not provide a response deadline or describe additional phases beyond the internet self-response period and mailings.