The abundance of heavy machinery and earthwork are constant reminders that Butler County is expanding rapidly.

The landscape of the entire county — the southwest portion in particular — is undoubtedly much different from what it was a decade ago.

Tracking that growth and the inevitable fluctuation in population that has come with it has become more important than ever.

Accurate accounts of that growth are crucial in determining congressional representation and funding for such things as education and transportation projects.

This makes the upcoming 2020 Census that much more important for Butler County, which stands to benefit immensely from the data collected over the next several months.

United States Census Bureau officials visiting with local leaders this week stressed that importance, and said places such as Cranberry Township will be well served by updated numbers.

Those same officials also noted Cranberry alone could approach 50,000 residents by 2030. Overall, the county is positioned to continue to grow at a pace not seen throughout the rest of the state.

The data collected for the 2020 Census will play a large role in future comprehensive plans for communities around the county.

Those plans and that data will help guide local leaders when considering future development, infrastructure upgrades and overall improvements to make the quality of life better for their citizens.

While the long-term effects from gathered data stand to benefit the county, there is also potential for a short-term windfall.

Officials said this week that 3,000 people are needed to collect data in Butler County beginning this summer. Their job will include pinpointing and tracking every new development and home in the county, which will set the groundwork for determining population data.

Those workers will be managed and coordinated through a regional Census office located in Cranberry Township, as will staff in more than 50 counties in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

While the office’s location is based solely on geography, it’s a great coincidence that Butler County stands to gain from the Census process.

We urge Butler County residents to take part in the Census survey in any way they can.

With advances being made in both efficiency and safety via an online application, completing the document will take minutes.

The simple survey can go a long way in helping Butler County capitalize on recent growth, and put it in a position to prosper moving forward.