Every 10 years we have a national census and every 10 years our political districts at all levels change due to shifts in population. At the local level in the City of St. Louis we will see some of the 28 wards get geographically larger as others get smaller. The idea is to have each ward represent the same number of persons. So as some areas lose population the ward must grow in size to equal the population of other wards.
We may also see more political battles as the boundaries are redrawn. Going into the 2000 census the following were our ward boundaries:
It was during the 2001 debate over redistricting that then Alderman Irene Smith had her urination incident that has dogged her since. The new boundaries were adopted anyway. The 10trh ward moved to The Hill, the 20th moved from the Northside to the Southside. Some became odd shapes.
The 2010 census should be interesting. It will likely show very little change in total population whereas in prior decades the losses were always huge. But we’ll also see a shift in where people live. Many wards, like the 12th down South, have had little change. But downtown has lots of residents that were not part of the 2000 census. Other areas have also gained population as new or renovated structures have become occupied in the last decade.
In 2011 those of us in even numbered wards will vote on our Aldernmen for the coming four years but after the election we may find ourselves in a differen t ward. In 1994 I moved to the Dutchtown neighborhood. I was in the 13th ward. In 2001 my house was in the 25th ward. In the 70s or 80s the 25th was in the CWE, now the 28th.
Every 10 years we have a census and every 10 years ward boundaries change. Clearly, some more than others. Political retribution through the moving of an Alderman’s ward is not uncommon. One thing is certain, 2011 will be an interesting year in St. Louis.