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Census: Virginia Grows 7.9% to 8.6 Million

U. S. Census Bureau

The US Census bureau had estimated that Virginia wouldn’t gain or lose a seat in congress after this census. The state as a whole grew by 7.9%, but Virginia will keep electing 11 members of the US House of Representatives.

8,631,393 people now live in Virginia, according to the new census data. That means each Virginian Representative is there on behalf of 786,777 people. The new apportionment data has 761,169 people per representative, meaning Virginians are slightly underrepresented in congress compared to the US average. 

Virginia’s neighbors did see a change in their representation. West Virginia lost a seat. It’s population decreased by just over 3%. North Carolina gained a seat. It grew by 9.5%.

The last time Virginia gained a congressional seat was in 1990.

America’s population grew by 7.4%. That was the slowest growth since the Great Depression.

Once more detailed data comes out in the fall a committee of citizens and lawmakers will have to draw new maps of legislative districts in Virginia.

Jahd Khalil is a reporter and producer in Richmond.
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