2020 Census: Louisiana keeps 6 congressional seats as population grows 2.7%

Lafayette Daily Advertiser

Louisiana's population grew by 2.7% in the 2020 Census, allowing the state to preserve its six congressional seats for another decade.

The U.S. Census Bureau on Monday announced its first official state-by-state population results that determine how many congressional seats each state gets.

Louisiana's total population for the 2020 Census is 4,661,468 (inlcuding 3,711 overseas residents like military members), an increase of 128,096 over the 2010 Census.

The U.S. conducts a census every 10 years in part to determine how to disperse 435 congressional seats among 50 states.

Louisiana had eight congressional seats for decades but lost a seat following the 1990 Census and another after the 2010 Census because of stagnant population growth.

Seven congressional seats will shift states beginning with the 2021 elections.

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

Seven congressional seats will shift between states following the 2020 U.S. Census. Minnesota will maintain its eight seats. Texas will gain two. Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, Montana and Oregon will gain one seat each. The states in purple on the map will lose one seat.

Louisiana's neighbor Texas will gain two seats with Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon gaining one seat each.

More detailed data for each state to redraw its own political boundaries was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic but will be delivered "no later than Sept. 30," U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo promised during a press conference Monday.

The United States 2020 population is 331,449,281, a 7.4% increase. But that's the second-lowest 10-year increase behind only 7.3 percent from 1930-1940 during the Great Depression.

America's southern region grew at the fastest rate at 10.2%.

Among other data released Monday:

► The most populous state was California (39,538,223); the least populous was Wyoming (576,851).

► The state that gained the most numerically since the 2010 Census was Texas (up 3,999,944 to 29,145,505).

► The fastest-growing state since the 2010 Census was Utah (up 18.4% to 3,271,616).

► Puerto Rico's resident population was 3,285,874, down 11.8% from 3,725,789 in the 2010 Census.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.