According to 2020 US Census Bureau data released this week, South Dakota’s population has grown nearly 72,500 (72,487) people to 886,667.
The increase of 8.9% since 2010 put South Dakota as the 16th fastest growing state in the nation.
While this week’s information determines how the 435 seats in the US House of Representatives will be distributed, state Senate Redistricting Committee chair Mary Duvall of Pierre (D24) says there aren’t enough details yet to determine South Dakota’s legislative district boundaries.
She says dividing the new state population number by the 35 legislative areas in the state allows the committee to do some early work.
Once they receive the detailed data, Duvall says the House and Senate Redistricting Committees will have to put the pieces together within a few months.
She says the Redistricting Committees will meet June 1 in Pierre to start learning background information.
A majority vote in each chamber is required to pass a redistricting plan, which is subject to veto by the governor.
The Redistricting Committees will hold public meetings in October. Dates and locations so far are:
- Rapid City (Oct. 11 at 8am MT)
- Mission (Oct. 11 at 3pm CT)
- Mobridge (Oct. 12 at 8am CT)
- Aberdeen (Oct. 12 at 1pm CT)
- Watertown (Oct. 12 at 5pm CT)
- Sioux Falls (Oct. 13 at 2pm and 6pm)
Specific locations for each meeting have yet to be determined, but the public will be notified once details are known.
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