North Carolina Gains A Congressional Seat After 2020 US Census

NORTH CAROLINA — The U.S. Census Bureau on Monday released the results of the 2020 census, with population totals and congressional seat distribution updated in all states, including North Carolina.

North Carolina gained one congressional appointment due to the results of the new census.

The population in North Carolina increased since the 2010 census, with the 2020 total population recorded as 10,439,388, a 9.5 percent increase in population over the last decade.

Nationally, six states will gain congressional seats. Texas will gain two seats, while Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon will each gain one, census officials said in a Monday afternoon news conference.

Seven states — California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — will lose one congressional seat each.

The United States population totaled 331,449,281, an increase of 7.4 percent since the 2010 census, acting U.S. Census Bureau Director Ron Jarmin said. It's the second-lowest decade-long growth in population in United States history, just one-tenth of a percent more growth than the 7.3 percent growth shown from 1930 to 1940.

The population growth from 2010 to 2020 was highest in Utah, which saw an 18.4 percent increase. West Virginia — with a 3.4 percent decrease — was one of only three states to see an overall population loss, and it had the largest population decrease since 2010.

Despite losing a congressional seat, California remains the most populous state with a headcount of 39,538,223. Wyoming is the least-populous state, the census found, with 576,851 residents.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said participation in the 2020 census was "overwhelming," despite having been held during a year that brought the global coronavirus pandemic, deadly wildfires and civil unrest.

"Census takers managed to overcome these hurdles to conduct a complete and accurate census count," said Raimondo, the former Rhode Island governor.

Jarmin said a number of outreach methods had differed due to the pandemic.

"We advertised on pizza boxes instead of at basketball games," he said, adding that, adding that holding a census in a pandemic year made the process "even more challenging."

The Census Bureau released only state-level data Monday, with data to come regarding counties and municipalities in the coming months.

Marcus K. Garner, Patch Editor, contributed

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