Mississippi’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives will remain at four.
Results from the 2020 Census reveal that Mississippi’s population dipped to 2,961,279—down slightly from 2,967,297 in 2010. Mississippi was one of just three states who saw its population drop in the latest Census along with Illinois & West Virginia. Unlike those other two states, the Magnolia State is not among the list of states that either gained or lost a seat in Congress. The lines for each of the state’s four districts could be changed ahead of the August 16th deadline announced by the Census Bureau.
The state that saw the largest rise in population was Texas. With almost four million new residents, Texas will add two seats in Congress bringing its total up to 38. Four other states—Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon—will gain one seat.
California is among the states to lose a seat for the first time in the state’s history, bringing their number of delegates down to 52. Joining them on the list of states to lose a seat are Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
With 435 seats spread out over the 50 states, each member will represent an average of 761,169 people based on the 2020 Census.
The country’s population as a whole grew from 308,745,538 in 2010 to 331,449,281—a 7.4% growth. Despite the loss of a seat in Congress, California remained the US’ most populous state with 39,538,223 residents. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wyoming is the least populated state with 576,851 residents.
“The American public deserves a big thank you for its overwhelming response to the 2020 Census,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “Despite many challenges, our nation completed a census for the 24th time. This act is fundamental to our democracy and a declaration of our growth and resilience. I also want to thank the team at the U.S. Census Bureau, who overcame unprecedented challenges to collect and produce high-quality data that will inform decision-making for years to come.”
For a closer look at the data released by the Census Bureau, click here.
