Redistricting Volusia County

Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a census to determine the number of people living in the United States. This census aims to determine the population at various scales across the nation for voting representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Many of us are familiar with, at least, some of this process. We have heard about it on TV, we have gotten flyers and reminders in the mail, and we may have even been visited by a census taker. This nationwide decennial event is also the beginning of the Volusia County redistricting process.

The goal of the census is to determine where people live (population) and who lives there (demographics). Local governments, like Volusia County, then use GIS, or geographic information systems, to analyze the census data. Then, data-driven methods are used to create equal representational districts. More information about the 2020 Census and the processes involved can be found  here .

The Volusia County Charter requires five County Council members to be elected to five districts. The sole purpose of these districts is to elect members to the Volusia County Council. Additionally, the County Council includes a County chair and an at-large member, both of whom are elected countywide. 

Over time, the populations in these districts fluctuate at varying rates. Due to this uneven change, re-evaluation of the districts is necessary every ten years. If the populations in the districts are out of proportion to one another, the boundaries must be redrawn to make them as equal as possible. The goal is to create districts that are similar to one another, as mandated by federal law, with regard to population and demographics.

An example of this change is shown below. Here, you can see how the districts were drawn in the years 2000 and 2010. The map on the left shows the Volusia County districts as they were in 2000 (swipe to the right). The map on the right (swipe to the left) shows the current districts, which were established in 2010. To see these changes in greater detail, you can use the  Volusia District App . The shifts in the district boundaries are due to the shifting population landscape in Volusia County over those ten years.

• After every decennial census and prior to the next ensuing general election, the Volusia County Council shall prepare a plan for reapportionment of the five districts to ensure division into contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable.
• The County Council shall review and adopt the reapportionment plan as an ordinance by two-thirds vote of the full council.
• If the County Council is unable to complete the reapportionment of the council districts within six months after the official publication of census data, the county attorney, upon authorization of the County Council or petition of 25 electors, shall petition the circuit court having jurisdiction in the county to make such reapportionment.

• Nearly as possible equal in proportion of population
• Considers existing election and special taxing districts
• Considers population densities
• Considers economy of government operations

• Residences of County Council members remain in their current districts, and no two members are in the same district.
• Population differences between districts are kept within + or - 1% if possible.
• Preserve integrity of municipal boundaries when feasible.
• Keep intact large concentrations of minority populations.
• Preserve communities of interest (a geographically connected population that share common social and economic interests)

The U.S. Census Bureau captures data at various geographic scales. From largest to smallest, these are Tract, Block Group, and Block. It is the aggregation of the smallest units, the census blocks, that determines the outlines of the district boundaries. These blocks vary in shape due to geographical features (e.g., rivers and mountains) and the urban landscape (e.g., streets and subdivisions). As the smallest geographic area reported by the Census Bureau, they are the building blocks that define the rest of the scales. For more in-depth information about the creation, shape, and boundaries of individual census blocks, see this  blog  post by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

In the year 2000, Volusia County was made up of 11,122 census blocks. In 2010, that number increased by 2,132, resulting in a total of 13,254 blocks. The map below provides a broad comparison of the 2000 and 2010 census blocks. Darker colors represent higher populations. You can click each block to see the population and demographic data.

These datasets, which come from the  2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File , provide the first look at populations for small areas and include information on Hispanic origin, race, age 18 and over, housing occupancy and group quarters. They represent where people were living as of April 1, 2020, and are available for the nation, states and communities down to the block level.

The Census Bureau also released  data visualizations ,  America Counts stories , and  videos  to help illustrate and explain these data. This resource is available on the  2020 Census results page . Advanced users can access the data on the Census provided  FTP site .

The Volusia County Council and the Volusia County School Board will begin the redistricting process once they have received the detailed, block-by-block data from the U.S. Census Bureau on Sept. 30, 2021. From that point in time, the elected bodies will have three months to develop and adopt a new map for County Council districts based on the current population distribution.

The Volusia County School Board also uses districts to elect its five members. The County Council has historically collaborated with the School Board to redistrict along the same or similar lines. The School Board may choose to use the same districts as the County Council.

The new districts will go into effect after the County Council passes the redistricting ordinance by a two-thirds vote. 

 Agenda Item Reapportionment Plan 1-19-2021  

 County Council of Volusia County and Volusia County School Board Joint Meeting 10-18-2021 Agenda 

 County Council of Volusia County and Volusia County School Board Joint Meeting 10-28-2021 Agenda 

Update #2:  View the map (FI-5A)  that the County Council selected on Oct. 28, 2021.

Update #3:  View the map (FI-5B)  that the County Council selected on Nov. 2, 2021.

Residents may participate in the following joint meetings with the Volusia County Council and Volusia County School Board. The meetings will be held in the first-floor training room of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand.

• 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11 - Meeting Canceled
• 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18
• 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28 

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