Shelby County, Tennessee
According to the 2000 Census, Shelby County, Tennessee has a population of 897,472 people. Of those, 424,834 (47%) are White, 435,824 (49%) are Black, and 23,364 (3%) are Latino[1]. However, 6,656 (or 1% of the 897,472 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 Shelby County a population of 890,816 with a demographic that is 48% White, 48% Black, and 3% Latino.
| Reported in Census 2000 |
Incarcerated population |
Actual population |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 897,472 | 6,656 | 890,816 |
| White | 424,834 | 1,616 | 423,218 |
| Black | 435,824 | 4,925 | 430,899 |
| Latino | 23,364 | 306 | 23,058 |
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
Learn more about the organization behind the Prison Gerrymandering Project.
In prisons, Blacks and Latinos do the time while Whites get the jobs
We explore the racial disparity inside prisons.
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
This is not the first time a policy barred people of color from the polls and transferred their political power to white voters.