Richland County, South Carolina
According to the 2000 Census, Richland County, South Carolina has a population of 320,677 people. Of those, 161,276 (50%) are White, 144,809 (45%) are Black, and 8,713 (3%) are Latino[1]. However, 6,174 (or 2% of the 320,677 people) are not residents by choice but are people in prison.
Even though prisoners cannot participate in the local community, the Census Bureau nevertheless counts them as residents of the county where they are incarcerated.
A more accurate description would not include the prisoners. This would give Richland County a population of 314,503 with a demographic that is 51% White, 45% Black, and 3% Latino.
| Reported in Census 2000 |
Incarcerated population |
Actual population |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 320,677 | 6,174 | 314,503 |
| White | 161,276 | 1,637 | 159,639 |
| Black | 144,809 | 4,508 | 140,301 |
| Latino | 8,713 | 17 | 8,696 |
Notes:
[1]The numbers for Whites, Blacks and Latinos may not add up to the total number because we have not included racial groups other than Whites and Blacks and because the Census Bureau considers "Latino" to be an ethnicity, not a race. Most of the people reported as being Latino are also counted as being White or Black.
Recommended Reading:
About the Prison Policy Initiative
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In prisons, Blacks and Latinos do the time while Whites get the jobs
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Rome NY ends prison gerrymandering, Census Bureau can do better
Rome finally corrected the problem of prison gerrymandering within its borders; other cities and counties need the Census Bureau's help.
Prison-based gerrymandering's historical precedent
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