Population Figures Show Council District Gains and Losses

The county added more than 51,000 people since 2000, and more than 60 percent of those settled in three council districts, according to preliminary 2010 Census figures.

While the numbers will help guide the five-member redistricting commission expected to be named at the council's Monday night meeting, the population shifts could result in a redrawing of district borders.

The names on the preliminary list for the commission appear to be changing—council officials now say Dunbar Brooks will be unavailable to serve. A final vote is expected Monday night.

The preliminary district figures were made available to council members on Tuesday. Council Chairman John Olszewski Sr. said Tuesday he wasn't certain the council would release the preliminary figures publicly because they were subject to change.

A copy of the figures obtained by Patch show that about 33,000 new residents settled in three council districts: Democrat Ken Oliver's 4th District, Republican David Marks' 5th District and Democrat Cathy Bevins' 6th District.

Preliminary council redistricting numbers are as follows:

Official figures have not been released publicly by the U.S. Census. The calculations used by the council are considered preliminary because they do not yet include county residents held in state and federal prisons as required by Maryland's No Representation Without Population Act.

County and state officials do not expect the addition of prisoner populations will have a major effect on county population numbers.

The new target population figure for the new districts is about 115,000. The final figure can stray by about 5 percent (about 5,750) over or under the target figure and still meet legal requirements.

Only three districts—the 1st, 5th and 6th—are over or under the 5 percent tolerance.

The commission could make simple border changes to adjust existing districts to bring them into compliance rather than blow up the map and begin anew.