Re-counting heads: Census data shows jump in Sidney's daytime population, though the exact amount remains in question

In Mark Twain's hierarchy of misinformation, statistics occupy the bottom rung, lagging behind lies and "damned lies."

It's no wonder America's most revered humorist cast doubt on the validity of numbers. Those who study such data can't even pin down Sidney's exact population.

The Census Bureau's head count puts it at 6,748. Yet survey-based research from the same organization bumps the figure above 8,000. Meanwhile, Sidney City Manager Gary Person considers both numbers low, estimating a population of up to 12,000.

Why the confusion?

"It depends on how you read the stats," Person pointed out....