New MN Congressional Maps Released: What's Changing In Woodbury?

WOODBURY, MN — New maps were released Tuesday showing how Minnesota’s eight congressional districts will look for the next decade.

The maps, released by the Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel, include changes that move some Woodbury residents into new districts.

Southern Woodbury was part of Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District for the past decade, but it will now be included in the Second District, according to the new maps.

The Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel said southern Woodbury was moved into the Second District because it “increasingly associates with its neighbors in south Washington County — sharing schools and other services.”

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The line between the Second District and the Fourth District ran along Woodbury’s southern border for the last 10 years. The new maps have moved that border about 2.5 miles north to Bailey Road.

The congressional-district border runs along Bailey Road from the Ria Lake area east to Manning Avenue, then continues south along Manning Avenue until 60th Street, at which point it extends east to the St. Croix River.

Newport will join southern Woodbury in the Second District, while Afton will remain in the Fourth District.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who represents Minnesota’s Second District, said she will seek re-election shortly after the new maps were released Tuesday.

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“While I am, of course, disappointed that the new boundaries do not include all of the cities and towns that I currently represent in Congress, I look forward to being the voice of several new communities across Minnesota,” Craig said in a statement.

“I look forward to earning voters’ support across the new MN-02 and ensuring that they have a voice in Washington who prioritizes them over special interests and works to find common ground,” she continued.

Suburban central Washington County remained in the Fourth District after redistricting, but the northern portion of the county was moved into the Eighth District. A portion of Stillwater Township also joined the Eighth District.

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Northern Washington County was in the Sixth District for the past decade, along with Anoka, Sherburne, Benton and Wright counties, as well as parts of Carver and Stearns counties.

Members of the Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel were appointed by the state Supreme Court after the Minnesota Legislature could not agree on new maps following the 2020 Census.

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Minnesota barely retained its eight seats in Congress after the Census. The state would have lost a seat if 89 fewer Minnesotans — or 89 more New Yorkers — completed the U.S. Census.

Minnesota’s population increased 7.6 percent between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, with just over 5.7 million people living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, as of 2020.

Minnesota had the best participation rate of any state in the 2020 U.S. Census.