Salem, Oregon
Home MenuRedraw Ward Boundaries
On November 22, 2021, Salem City Council selected the third of three ward boundary map alternatives to serve the City for the next 10 years.
A first reading of the ordinance approving the boundaries was held at the December 6, 2021 Council meeting, with a second following at the December 13, 2021 meeting. The boundaries took effect 30 days after that.
Watch Council Discussion
Every 10 years, after the U.S. Census is complete, Salem City Council ward boundaries are redrawn to assure that each ward's population is about equal. That process is now underway. Please take a moment to review the alternatives listed below.
Salem is divided into eight wards, each represented by a City Councilor. Reapportionment is the process of redrawing ward boundaries.
Independent review
Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments analyzed Census data and prepared three alternative boundary maps for ward reapportionment. Additional documents examining demographics and comparing the alternatives to neighborhood associations and Oregon House of Representative Districts are included in the "Documents" section below.
Reapportionment criteria
2020 Census population
The city's 2020 U.S. Census population is 175,535 which, if divided equally, would result in a target population of 21,942 per ward. The goal of the reapportionment process is to balance the population within each ward to within 5% of the target. In part due to construction of new housing developments in some areas of Salem, but not others, ward population now varies from the 21,942 goal by as little as 1.6% and as much as 13.1%, as shown below.
2020 Salem Council Ward Population and Deviation from Target Population (21,942)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 P.L. 94-171 Redistricting File
| Ward | Population | Deviation | % Deviation |
| 1 | 20,743 | -1,199 | -5.5% |
| 2 | 19,079 | -2,863 | -13.1% |
| 3 | 21,596 | -346 | -1.6% |
| 4 | 24,400 | 2,458 | 11.2% |
| 5 | 22,285 | 343 | 1.6% |
| 6 | 20,126 | -1,816 | -8.3% |
| 7 | 22,675 | 733 | 3.3% |
| 8 | 24,631 | 2,689 | 12.3% |
| Total City | 175,535 |
Additional criteria
Reapportionment criteria come from the Oregon Revised Statutes and apply to the drawing of electoral district boundaries based on census population figures. The criteria are listed below and can also be found in the Secretary of State's Directive.
Each district or precinct, as nearly as possible, shall:
- Each be contained within a single border;
- Use existing geographic or political boundaries;
- Not divide communities of common interest; and
- Be connected by transportation links.
- For wards, be of equal population.
No district shall be drawn for the purpose of:
- Favoring any political party, incumbent elected official or other person; or
- Diluting the voting strength of any language or ethnic minority group.
Demographic information for the current wards, including race, ethnicity and age can be found in the project documents.
The City Council has added the following criteria for consideration: limiting the number of neighborhood associations in each ward to a target of three or four, when creating ward scenarios.
Documents
Alternative 1 Boundary Scenario
Alternative 2 Boundary Scenario
Alternative 3 Boundary Scenario
City Council Information Report
Demographic Information for Current Wards