On April 26, the Census released two datasets, which produced similar but different numbers: (1) national and state-level apportionment counts from the 2020 Census and (2) US and state-level resident counts from the 2020 Census.  These data typically are released by year’s end of the Census year (i.e. by December 31, 2020 in this case). The releases were delayed almost five months in response to the processing challenges of the pandemic and related time needed to crosscheck data quality. The Census held a news conference to announce the results (of both series), and you can watch the full video on the Census site. But why do that when you can read our synopsis below?

First, let’s look at the reapportionment counts. These data guide the once-in-a-decade redistribution of the country’s 435 members of the House of Representatives. There was less redistribution than usual this time, as trends from 2010-2020 yielded the smallest shift of any decade since 1940. The Census lets you review all those historical shifts  back to 1900. Thirteen states saw change this time, while 37 states did not. Most importantly for us, Georgia did not gain a seat, but it didn’t lose one either. The three exhibits below give you the story over time (Map 1) and an easier-to-read snapshot for just 2020 (see Map 2) and a summary of Georgia (Chart 1) . There were some very notable things to mention, including California’s loss of  a seat for the first time in its history. Texas was the only state to see a net change of more than one, as it gained two seats. States with changes will now begin a yearlong process of redrawing congressional districts ahead of the 2022 election Talking Points and CNN offer concise written summaries of the above, and more.

And yet, even with those cool visuals about reapportionment, the fun is just beginning v.v. political units and boundaries. The real stress points occur (and the most critical work begins) when the small-area redistricting data are released in  late September of this year. These population data counts will go down to the Census block level and will include information on race and (limited) age. They will serve as the foundation for redrawing political districts.  The image below (a Nebraska example) gives a good overview of what is involved. And to back up—yes, these data too will be delayed, largely in response to the apportionment data delay. Typically they are released in late April in the year following the Census, so basically everything has been pushed back about five months.

Beyond allocating House seats, we got resident population counts as well. The Census Bureau found the US population grew to almost 331.5 million over the past decade. While it represents an increase of 7.4% from 2010, the figure marks the second-slowest growth rate in the country’s history.

States in the South and the West led the nation in growth, as they did in the 2000-2010 timespan. As for our state, Georgia went from the ninth largest state in 2010 to eighth largest in 2020, adding about a million people to 10.7 million, which is a 10.6 percent increase from the 2010 population of the state. Several states, like Georgia, moved up one place in the state rankings for total population, but a very few states in the West jumped up even more. Utah rose four spots from #35 to #31. Nevada went up three spots from #36 to #33, and Arizona bumped up two slots from #16 to #14. As for states that lost relative position, Mississippi dropped the most, losing three spots from #32 in 2010 to #35 in 2020. Michigan, Indiana, Kansas, and West Virginia all lost two spots in the rankings. And more notably, Mississippi and West Virginia actually lost population between 2010 and 2020. The map below shows percentage trends for all the states. Do remember: the back story on/for all these data is going to remain pretty murky, and the explanations of why growth did or didn’t occur a bit speculative at best, until the small area details start coming out (in the redistricting data) in late September of this year.

Still want more? Check out all the tables in the 2020 Census Press Kit, released yesterday. And watch out for blogs in October on that next data tranche!