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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2001
Our View
Wrong turn?
Rappahannock growth rate revealed
in U.S. Census
The; feeling we got when we realized we had used
outdated estimates instead of the “real” census
numbers to describe Rappahannock’s population growth was akin to finding ourselves heading into a beautiful sunset while driving out U. S. 211 — in the eastbound lane.
At the time, we thought the numbers we used made bonse. (Irowth from the east has been creeping in our direction, and with over 20,400 new residents in the five ot her counties in our region, it seemed that our share \vas at least 5 percent of that —just over 1,000 people in •10 years.
So, while we were proceeding down U.S. 211, the fact that we were looking at the backs of road signs and poticing that people were trying to get our attention didn't quite sink in before we went with what we had. • Despite the number of new folks we know about who have moved here and the number of new houses, Rappahannock County grew by only 361 souls since 1990, a rate of 5.5 percent for the decade.
There was one issue addressed in the article that Kill needs to be stressed, and that’s our concern about how changes in Virginia’s population will affect y^ppa bannock in the upcoming redistricting. ** Because of growth elsewhere in the state, we may be Seeing a*big change in how Rappahannock is represented in the Virginia House of Delegates next year. * Many people in both Fauquier and Rappahannock have spoken in favor of the alignment of the 31st District. But insiders have noted that the creation of Oew districts in nearby high-growth areas and moves to protect incumbents in others may force Rappahannock into a new “partnership.” ! Let’s hope that it’s not just the “numbers” — which <jan be worked several different ways — but how best to represent Virginia’s rural counties that is on our legislators’ minds. While this work is going on, we wait at the crossroads to see which way we’ll be heading in 20012010. But a wrong turn could leave us without a voice in Richmond.
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