General Overview

Every 10 years, federal, state and local district lines are redrawn based on the most recent census data. These lines determine who can run to represent us in elections at all levels. District lines should be drawn to ensure fair and equal representation for all residents.

It is the responsibility of Georgetown County Council to update the seven county council districts. These lines determine representation for county residents on the County Council, as well as the Georgetown County School Board. Georgetown County received census data in late September of 2021 that allowed it to begin the process of redistricting. The county contracted with the state office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs (RFA) to guide it through the redistricting process and create draft maps of the new Council districts for Council consideration. Information the RFA used to redraw district lines is available in the report below.

Latest Update -- Council Adopts Map 650

Council requested a 5th map following a public input meeting on Feb. 2, 2022. Map 650 was unveiled at County Council's Feb. 8 redistricting workshop. Later that evening, at Council's regular meeting, County Council unanimously adopted Map 650. The map addressed many of the concerns expressed by the public.

View the map.

Upcoming Meetings

• There are no upcoming meetings

Map 509

The most significant differences between Map 509 and its predecessor, Map 843A, are that the new map has a significantly larger minority population in Council District 4 and a majority of the City of Georgetown are brought back into one district. These were the two changes most requested by residents based on public input.  

In Map 509:

• The minority population in District 4 increases to 42.29%, up from 22.74% in Map 843A, making the council district a “minority influential” district.
• The standard deviation decreases to 5.09%, down from 7.13% in the previous version. One of the primary goals of redistricting is to ensure equal representation for all voters, and the lower the standard deviation, the more effectively that goal is being achieved.
• More of Georgetown’s West End and Maryville community are included in District 4. The communities were kept together in the same district “to the maximum extent possible,” said Stephen Williams, the county’s GIS manager.
• Wedgefield is moved back to District 7.
• The West End from the railroad tracks on Highmarket St. south to Front Street is in District 3. The area west of Congdon St. is in District 3. In the previous map, none of the West End was included in District 4. 
• The area from the Sampit River to Nine-Mile Curve and south of Saints Delight Rd. are in District 3.
• There were only very minor changes to the boundary between Districts 5 and 7.
• Districts 7 and 3 remain “minority majority” districts, though the percentage of minority population is lower than in Map 843A. The minority population in District 7 is 57.6%, down from 63.02%. The minority population in District 3 is 59.62%, down from 70.01%.

Other Maps 

Two maps showing options for federally mandated redistricting were drafted by the State office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs (RFA), and delivered to Council in mid-December, 2021. After reviewing the two maps and having individual meetings with County Administrator Angela Christian, it was clear Council had a definite favorite: the map labeled Plan 1-843. However, all of the council members had concerns about various aspects of that map. Those concerns and feedback from each council member were used to create a third map, 1-843A.

Key considerations in developing the maps are as follows:

• The requirement of “one person, one vote” under the Equal Protection clause of the 14^th Amendment.
• The Voting Rights Act.
• Traditional redistricting principals.
• Input from Council members
• Other applicable court decisions and federal and state laws 

The 2020 census saw the county’s total population increase by 5.4%. Just under 30% of the county’s population is minority. The RFA told the county the new maps were a challenge due to “the compactness of the minority community.”

Maps may be viewed in detail on our GIS Mapping System. A video tutorial of how to use our GIS Mapping System is located at the bottom of the page.

 Highlights of each draft map and changes in comparison to current district lines are as follows. 

Map 1-843A

• Has two “majority minority” districts (Districts 3 and 7).
• District 4’s minority population makeup shrinks to 22.89% from just over 50%. However, the minority population for Districts 3 and 7 is considerably higher in Plan 1-843A. The percentage of minority residents in the county as a whole decreased from 2010 to 2020, according to the census, making it a significant challenge to ensure minority representation.
• The Kensington community moves from District 2 to District 4 instead of moving the DeBordieu community from District 2 to District 4. Council members said they wanted to see communities with like interests – such as coastal communities – remain grouped together.
•  Two current school board members – Lynne Ford and Pat DeLeone – would no longer reside in the districts they represent. 
• District 1 County Council Member John Thomas and District 6 Council Member Steve Goggans would no longer reside in the districts they represent. Both announced previously that they do not plan to seek re-election when their terms expire at the end of this year.
• Litchfield Country Club is shifted from District 1 to District 6.
• Districts 1 and 6 are shifted significantly in the alternative plan. Both areas gained a large number of new residents over the last decade. District 1 shrinks to include only the northernmost portion of the current area covered by the district. District 6 would also move north and take over a large portion of the area currently in District 1, from the current District 7 line all the way to the coastline.
• The lower portion of the area currently in District 6 would move to District 2 and the district becomes smaller, again due to increased population density. 
• Perhaps the biggest changes are to District 4, which would absorb Kensington and much of the easternmost portions of District 3 from Highway 17 toward Winyah Bay and southward to the county line. The City of Georgetown’s West End community would be shifted to District 3 and most of the current northwestern portion of District 4 would move to District 7, with District 5 picking up a smaller portion.
• District 7 expands into the northern portion portion of what is currently District 4 while losing some area to District 5 in the northern portion west of Carvers Bay Road. 
• District 5 expands into the central northern part of what is currently District 3.

Map 1-843

• Attempting to create equal population throughout each district according to the Voting Rights Act did not have a significant impact to the voting age population or racial makeup of the districts.
•  Map 1 consists of one “majority minority” and two “majority influential” districts with respect to voting age population. 
• DeBordieu is shifted from District 2 to District 4.
• Map 1 used overall population, which reduced the voting age population of two of the three majority minority districts.
• The deviation range was reduced from 36.32% to 8.43%.
• 114 census blocks were shifted.
• 11 voting precincts were affected
• Map 1 took into consideration as many natural boundaries as possible to reduce the burden to voters and voting precincts.
• Map 1 also minimizes as many changes as possible to reduce the burden on voters and voting precincts.
• No current council or school board members would be unseated by redistricting under the plan.

Map 1-777

• In attempting to create equal population throughout each district according to the Voting Rights Act, voting age population was taken into consideration.
• Map 2 kept three “majority minority” districts.
• The deviation range was reduced from 36.32% to 7.77%.
• 148 census blocks were shifted.
• 17 voting precincts were affected.
• As many natural boundaries as possible were taken into consideration.
• Due to the compactness of the minority population, voter precincts were impacted.
• In attempting to retain the majority minority districts, people were shifted into new districts. Trying to reduce the number of impacts was a significant challenge.
• Current incumbent residences for both County Council and School District seats were taken into consideration.
• No current council or school board members would be unseated by redistricting under the plan.

Questions

 If you have questions that are not covered on this page, please send an email to redistricting@gtcounty.org.