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Redistricting update
COUNTY NEWS
Redistricting prompts changes in county representation
CHELSEY PERKINS Brainerd Dispatch
Say goodbye to the Red, White and Blue — voting precincts, that is.
Crow Wing County commissioners approved a redistricting plan in April 2022 that included new precinct boundaries and added a fourth voting precinct in the First Assessment District, otherwise known as Unorganized Territory. The precincts will now be known simply by their numbers: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Some residents of Unorganized along with those living in north Brainerd will also be represented by a new commissioner district following the once-in-a-decade reorganization of political boundaries prompted by the 2020 U.S. Census.
Two Unorganized precincts will continue to be represented by Commissioner District 4, currently filled by Commissioner Rosemary Franzen, with Precinct 1 — the Cinosam Road area — remaining in District 2, represented by Commissioner Jon Lubke. But the area around Legionville and Executive Acre roads moved to District 5, represented by Commissioner Doug Houge. North Brainerd, or Ward 2-Precinct 2, moved into District 3, which Commissioner Steve Barrows represents.
Boundary changes are necessary to equalize populations between the five commissioner districts. The population of Crow Wing County grew by 3,623 residents between 2010 and 2020 to a total of 66,123 people, according to census data. Divided equally by five, the population of each commissioner district would ideally be 13,225 people. State statute allows populations between districts to vary from that average, given a number of other principles and standards must be considered in redrawing the lines — but not by more than 10%.
Considerations in redistricting include following voter precinct lines and achieving districts that are contiguous, regular in form and as compact as possible. The majority of the districts may not have a minority of the population — meaning the commissioner districts with the three smallest populations must together combine for a majority of the county’s population.
Populations in three of the five commissioner districts fell outside of the 10% threshold, or between 11,902 and 14,548 people, meaning boundaries shifted to equalize representation. Commissioner districts 2 and 4 both exceeded the upper limit of that range, while District 5 needed at least 450 people added to its population.
The new District 2, represented by Lubke, covers the northwest portion of the county — including the cities of Crosslake, Jenkins, Breezy Point, Pequot Lakes and Nisswa — and is now home to 13,668 people after 1,089 were moved out. Franzen represents District 4, which includes the two northern Baxter precincts, two of the four Unorganized precincts and Lake Edward Township. The population of that district is now 13,989, 927 fewer residents than before.
District 5 remains the least populated district in the county with 12,109 people after 657 were moved in. Represented by Houge, it covers the northeast and east-central areas, including the cities of Crosby, Cuyuna, Deerwood, Emily, Fifty Lakes, Ironton, Manhattan Beach, Riverton and Trommald.
Crow Wing County facts:
Year county established: 1857 County named after the Crow Wing River Population in 2020: 66,123 County seat: Brainerd County square miles: 1,157 Current courthouse built in 1920 (Brainerd) Senate District: 10 Congressional District: 8 House District: 6A, 6B, 10A College: Central Lakes College (Brainerd) Daily newspaper: Brainerd Dispatch State forests: Crow Wing State Forest, Emily State Forest Recognizable lakes: 417 Largest county lake: Gull Lake (9,419 acres)
