The new district maps have been published! Every ten years the population is redistricted to reflect changes in population, and this task falls by law to the Oklahoma Legislature.

According to the most recent Census in 2010, Oklahoma’s population increased by 8.7 percent. As a result, the ideal population for each state House district will be 37,142 citizens, an increase of 2,977 people compared to the last round of redistricting.

The Redistricting Committee has released new district maps which have been approved by the Legislature and were signed by the Governor. House District 56 has changed in size and shape and has been moved out of Canadian County and westward to include part of Kiowa County, along with Caddo County in the center and Grady County in the east. House District 56 now includes fewer Union City residents in the north and more of the Chickasha population in the east.

The new House District 56 map (see link below) shows the new district boundaries – and is overlaid with the new Senate boundaries. House District 56 now shares Senate District 38 on the west side with Senator Mike Schulz, Senate District 26 in the center with Senator Tom Ivester, and Senate District 23 on the east side with Senator Ron Justice.

New districting boundaries will take effect January 1, 2012 and will be in effect through 2020, when the next Census and redistricting process will once again take place.