This is part of a proposal outlining one possible way to redistrict California.
This post will concentrate on Orange County.
Orange County
The population of Orange County is enough to support a bit more than four congressional districts.
More below.
CA-40 (Firebrick):
Population – 30.1% white, 2.1% black, 35.5% Hispanic, 29.9% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 2.3% other
Over-18 Population – 33.9% White, 31.0% Hispanic, 31.0% Asian
Majority-Minority District
This district takes in the Orange County suburbs closest to Los Angeles. These suburbs can be characterized as quite diverse, moderately conservative, and well-off but not quite rich.
CA-46 (Tomato, located along the shore):
Population – 63.7% white, 1.1% black, 17.1% Hispanic, 14.7% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 3.3% other
This district unites the coastal communities of Orange County. Demographically and politically, the district fits well with the stereotype of Orange County as a place full of wealthy white conservative suburban warriors.
CA-47 (Thistle):
Population – 19.2% white, 1.3% black, 65.8% Hispanic, 12.2% Asian, 1.3% Native American, 1.3% other
Over-18 Population – 23.2% White, 60.1% Hispanic
Majority-Minority District; Majority-Hispanic
If CA-46 fits the Orange County stereotype to a glove, then CA-47 runs counter to it in almost every way. Anchored by Anaheim and Santa Ana, the district is (drawn to be) strongly Hispanic, poorer than the rest of Orange County (although certainly richer than downtown Los Angeles), and not very conservative.
CA-48 (Sandy Brown, located in the center-right of the map):
Population – 56.8% white, 1.5% black, 21.0% Hispanic, 17.2% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 3.3% other
CA-48 takes in the inland suburbs of Orange County. Most of the people actually live in the northeastern part; west of Irvine the population density is much less.
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Orange County is quite simple to draw; there are no conflicts between the VRA and communities of interest that one encounters elsewhere. The next post will take a look at the Inland Empire, part of the overall Southern California area:
--Inoljt