Pennsylvania now has the 2020 Census Data and knows it will be going from 18 congressional districts to 17. What might a new map look like? That will depend on the priorities.
The following set of maps were created to illustrate it is possible, using a minimal overall population range, to keep every municipality in Pennsylvania whole (except Philadelphia).
Primary Priorities:
- All municipalities whole (except Philadelphia, which exceeds the size of a congressional district)
- Creating 2 majority minority districts in Philadelphia while minimizing the division of Philadelphia wards.
- Minimum county divisions
- Equal population (as close to zero while achieving the above goals)
- Demonstrating a variety of district configurations.
Secondary Considerations:
- School district boundaries
- Compactness
These priorities and considerations were applied to the maps as follows:
| Version | County divisions | Total Splits | Philly Ward Splits | Target Overall Population Range |
| 1 | No more than 14* | No more than 16 | 3 Wards | As close to zero as possible |
| 2 | Less than 14 | Less than 16 | 2 Wards | No more than 200 |
| 3 | No more than 14 | No more than 16 | 2 Wards | No more than 100 |
| 4 | No more than 14 | No more than 16 | 3 Wards | No more than 50 |
* 14 county divisions (16 total splits) seemed to be a common outcome in map configurations.
Some district configurations are interchangeable between maps.
Holt Congressional Maps
Version 1 (overall range is 13 persons)
Version 2 (overall range is 146 persons)
Version 3 (overall range is 93 persons)
Version 4 (overall range is 46 persons)
Key Metrics
Minority Districts
Each version achieves one majority-minority district and one minority coalition district. In a coalition district, no single minority group forms 50% of the voting age population, but collectively they do.
Conclusion
It is clear every municipality (other than Philadelphia) may remain whole when forming congressional districts. The law clearly allows small population variances to accommodate such an important state interest.
