Massachusetts's congressional districts

The Commonwealth's districts since 2013[1]

Massachusetts is currently divided into 9 congressional districts, each represented by a member of the United States House of Representatives. After the 2010 census, the number of Massachusetts' seats was decreased from 10 to 9 due to the State's low growth in population since the year 2000. This mandatory redistricting after the 2010 census eliminated Massachusetts's 10th congressional district, and also caused a major shift in how the state's congressional districts are currently drawn.

Current districts and representatives

List of members of the Massachusettsan United States House delegation, their terms, their district boundaries, and the districts' political rating according to the CPVI. The delegation has a total of 9 members, all of whom are members of the Democratic party.

District Representative Party CPVI Incumbency District map
1st Richard Neal (D-Springfield) Democratic D+14 January 3, 1989 – present
2nd Jim McGovern (D-Worcester) Democratic D+10 January 3, 1997 – present
3rd Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) Democratic D+8 October 16, 2007 – present
4th Joseph Kennedy III (D-Brookline) Democratic D+11 January 3, 2013 – present
5th Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) Democratic D+16 December 10, 2013 – present
6th Seth Moulton (D-Salem) Democratic D+7 January 3, 2015 – present
7th Mike Capuano (D-Somerville) Democratic D+29 January 3, 1999 – present
8th Stephen Lynch (D-Boston) Democratic D+9 October 16, 2001 – present
9th William Keating (D-Bourne) Democratic D+8 January 3, 2011 – present

After the 1890 Census and starting with the Fifty-third United States Congress in 1893, Massachusetts Congressional Districts were numbered west to east: with the first district in the west (Berkshire County) and the highest numbered district at Cape Cod.

Before then, the district numeration was not as consistent; sometimes running east to west, other times going counter-clockwise around Boston.

History of Apportionment

Census
Year
Resident
Population[nb 1]
Number of
Representatives[nb 2]
Constituents
per Representative
(Massachusetts)
Constituents
per Representative
(nationally)
1789 No Census 8 N/A N/A
1790 378,787 14 27,056 30,000
1800 422,845 17 24,873 33,000
1810 472,040 20 23,602 35,000
1820 523,287 13 40,253 40,000
1830 610,408 12 50,867 47,700
1840 737,699 10 73,770 70,680
1850 994,514 11 90,410 93,425
1860 1,231,066 10 123,107 127,381
1870 1,457,351 11 132,486 131,425
1880 1,783,085 12 148,590 151,912
1890 2,238,947 13 172,227 173,901
1900 2,805,346 14 200,381 194,182
1910 3,366,416 16 210,401 212,407
1920 3,852,356 16 N/A N/A
1930 4,249,614 15 283,307 280.675
1940 4,316,721 14 308,337 301,164
1950 4,690,514 14 335,037 344,587
1960 5,148,578 12 429,048 410,481
1970 5,689,170 12 477,223 469,088
1980 5,737,093 11 521,549 519,235
1990 6,016,425 10 602,905 572,466
2000 6,349,097 10 635,557 646,952
2010 6,547,629 9 [2][3] 728,849 710,767

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Historical and present district boundaries

Table of United States congressional district boundary maps in the State of Massachusetts, presented chronologically.[4] All redistricting events that took place in Massachusetts between 1973 and 2013 are shown.

Year Statewide map Boston highlight
1973 – 1982
1983 – 1992
1993 – 2002
2003 – 2013
Since 2013

See also

Notes

  1. The resident population excludes the overseas population.
  2. Congressional apportionment for each state is based upon (1) the resident population and (2) the overseas U.S. military and federal civilian employees (and their dependents living with them) allocated to their home state, as reported by the employing federal agencies.

References

  1. "The national atlas". nationalatlas.gov. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  2. "Deval Patrick Signs New Massachusetts Map", Roll Call, Washington, DC, November 21, 2011
  3. "Massachusetts Redistricting Analysis". Daily Kos. November 14, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  4. "Digital Boundary Definitions of United States Congressional Districts, 1789-2012.". Retrieved October 18, 2014.

Further reading

19th century

20th century

21st century

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