(This is the first of a two-part report on how the U.S. Census impacts federal funds in local communities.)

The 2020 census is critically important for cities and towns in North Dakota and will influence the amount of federal funding doled out over the next decade.

The Bakken oil field, including Tioga, may also be one of the most difficult regions in which to obtain an accurate count.

“This is a real challenge for us,” said Kevin Iverson, the North Dakota Department of Commerce liaison...