NJ Retains Congressional Seats After 2020 U.S. Census Revealed

NEW JERSEY — The U.S. Census Bureau on Monday released the results of the 2020 census, with population totals and congressional seat distribution updated in all states, including New Jersey.

“The Census results we received today are a testament to what we’ve known all along: that New Jersey is the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family. Not only did we gain nearly half a million residents, but we also ensured that our representation in Washington would be unchanged," Governor Phil Murphy said. "Whether it’s having the number one public schools in the nation, investing in world-class transit and infrastructure, or building an economy that works for every family, we are making investments that will support our state and people for the next decade and beyond."

The congressional appointments in the Garden State stayed the same due to the results of the new census.

The population in New Jersey increased since the 2010 census, with the 2020 total population recorded as 9,288,994.

That’s a 5.7 percent increase in population over the last decade. (Find this in the map here)

Murphy was quick to thank everyone involved in the census project in 2020.

"“I want to thank Secretary Way, members of the Complete Count Commission, and the thousands of advocates and volunteers who dedicated their time toward last year’s Census," he said. "Most importantly, I want to thank the people of New Jersey for their incredible commitment to civic engagement and democracy.”

Nationally, six states will gain congressional seats. Texas will gain two seats, while Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon will each gain one, census officials said in a Monday afternoon news conference.

Seven states — California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — will lose one congressional seat each.

The population of the United States totaled 331,449,281, an increase of 7.4 percent since the 2010 census, said Ron Jarmin, acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s the second-lowest decade-long growth in population in United States history, just one-tenth of a percent more growth than the 7.3 percent growth shown from 1930 to 1940.

The population growth from 2010 to 2020 was highest in Utah, which saw an 18.4 percent increase. West Virginia, with a 3.4 percent decrease, was one of only three states to see an overall population loss, and it had the largest population decrease since 2010.

Despite losing a congressional seat, California remains the most-populous state with a head count of 39,538,223. Wyoming is the least-populous state, the census found, with 576,851 residents.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said participation in the 2020 census was “overwhelming,” despite having been held during a year that brought the global coronavirus pandemic, deadly wildfires and civil unrest.

“Census takers managed to overcome these hurdles to conduct a complete and accurate census count,” said Raimondo, the former Rhode Island governor.

Jarmin said a number of outreach methods had differed due to the pandemic.

“We advertised on pizza boxes instead of at basketball games,” he said, adding that, adding that holding a census in a pandemic year made the process “even more challenging.”

The Census Bureau released only state-level data Monday, with data to come regarding counties and municipalities in the coming months.

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