The City of Kosciusko will soon be redistricting its wards, but the change will not be unfamiliar to longtime residents. By redistricting, ward lines will be restored to how they were prior to the 2010 census. The area between West North Street to Peachtree Street to West Adams Street to North Wells Street will be removed from Ward One and added to Ward Two.
Communications and outreach coordinator at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government Heston Lollar presented to the Board of Aldermen at its March 1, 2022, meeting with a variety of redistricting options and ward maps to select from.
Under the new districting lines, ward one is expected to have a total population of 1,769, ward two with 1,723, ward three with 1,785, and ward four with 1,837 — totaling 7,114 with an ideal population of 1,778.5 in each ward.
According to the 2020 census, Kosciusko now has a population of 7,114, showing a decrease of 288 citizens since the 2010 census last decade.
The U.S. Department of Justice requires an equal distribution of the total population among election districts. With four districts and an alderman-at-large, equal distribution works on a one-person, one-vote principle, meaning individuals should have equal voting representation.
When comparing the city’s racial composition between 2010 and 2020, according to census.gov, the Black population increased from 53.9% to 56.6%. The White alone population decreased from 43.8% to 37.7%, and the Hispanic or Latino community decreased from 0.2% to 0.02%. The percentage of individuals of two or more races decreased from 1.7% to 0.03%.
