Monday, December 29, 2008

Census estimates: What they mean for Mississippi and the nation

USA Today had an article detailing the Census estimates for 2010. The estimates pointed to a slight population increase of 3.3% for Mississippi since 2000, going from 2,844,666 to 2,938,618. Overall, the national population is estimated to have grown about 8% since 2000, with our current population at 304,059,037.

According to the report, eight states would lose a seat in the House of Representatives if reapportionment were conducted today instead of after the decennial Census in 2010. You might recall that the 2000 Census recorded Mississippi's population decrease--and with it, our lost seat in Congress. (Mississippi now has four, not five, U.S. Represenatives.)

Low population counts result in lost representation. We cannot allows this to happen again. Mississippi, be counted!