The census numbers are in + city leaders have already started the redistricting process. Let’s break it down.
Local redistricting is the process of redrawing the city’s 35 council districts + 9 school districts to account for population growth. Davidson County’s population exceeded expectations and now stands at 715,884 residents — up 14.2% from 2010 — according to census data.
Redrawing lines
Wondering who draws the lines? The Metro Charter (think local constitution) assigns responsibility for redistricting to the Planning Commission.
By law, the new district boundaries must be balanced in population — in our case ~20,400 per district — so city planners went back to the drawing board + released draft maps available for public review.
According to this interactive breakdown, all areas of Davidson County experienced growth in the past decade, but the fastest-growing areas were the urban core and Southeast Nashville. City planners found that many districts are now imbalanced, meaning it’s possible you will fall under new representation when the process is finalized early next year.
Community-led redistricting
Want your voice heard? The Planning Commission has designated a few ways for residents to participate in the redistricting process, including online surveys, virtuals sessions, and the following upcoming community feedback meetings:
- Thurs., Oct. 21: Madison Library, 2-4 p.m. by appointment, 4:30-7 p.m. open house
- Mon., Oct. 25: Southeast Library, 2-4 p.m. by appointment, 4:30-7 p.m. open house
- Wed., Oct. 27: Bordeaux Library, 2-4 p.m. by appointment, 4:30-7 p.m. open house
And if you want to learn more about how districts have changed over time, take a deep dive into historical council districts and school board districts dating back to 1961.
