The U.S. Census will release detailed data about Minnesota's population next week, giving politicians a chance to dig into the decennial blood sport of redistricting.
Minnesota has had to wait as the Census drips out states' numbers weeks by week.
But Thursday some good news from the numbers bureau: "Next week, the U.S. Census Bureau anticipates releasing local-level 2010 Census population counts for Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Tennessee. For each state, the Census Bureau will provide summaries of population totals, as well as data on race, Hispanic origin and voting age. These data will be presented for multiple geographies within the state, such as census blocks, tracts, voting districts, cities, counties and school districts."
That means political geeks of all stripes can start the intense work of redrawing political boundaries so all the districts -- from Congressional on down -- have about equal population when next voters go to the polls.
