2022 City Council Ward Redistricting

Note: Redistricting 2022 has concluded. The below information is available for any who would like to learn more about how the City of Pullman facilitated the process and arrived at the final ward map. If you have any questions about this page, please email [email protected].

City Council Approves Final Ward Map

As part of the May 24, 2022, regular meeting, the Pullman City Council approved an ordinance revising the description of ward boundaries and amending the City Code to match the final map shown below. Any public comments submitted during the allotted timeframe were collated and presented to Council prior to this meeting. You can also view the final map and data as a PDF.

Final Redistricting Map

Ward Total Population Over/Under Ideal Deviation from Ideal
 1  10,845  (122)  (1.1)%
 2  10,967  0  0.0%
 3  11,089  122  1.1%

Ideal Population  10,967
Overall Deviation 2.2%

Interactive City Council Ward Redistricting Map
You may use the interactive web map below to view the final map in a unique way. Check out the map viewer guide for navigation tips.

(Web map coming soon)


About Redistricting

What is redistricting?
Redistricting is the process of drawing new legislative boundaries within a municipality. This process occurs every 10 years following the U.S. Census—the goal being to mindfully re-balance districts only as necessary to maintain fair and equitable representation.

Why does redistricting matter?

Redistricting determines which communities are grouped together—as a district, or ward—for the purpose of electing an official representative.

What’s the law?
Take a look at the keys that guide the redistricting process.
The Revised Code of Washington 29A.76.010 explains that district (or ward) boundaries must:
  • Be as equal in population as possible to each other.
  • Be compact.
  • Be geographically contiguous. 
  • Not drawn to favor or disfavor a racial group or political party.
  • To the extent feasible, shall coincide with existing recognized natural boundaries. 
  • To the extent feasible, preserve existing communities of related and mutual interest.
Proposed Final Map
Following the April 26, 2022, public hearing on City Council Ward Redistricting, the Council decided to move forward with the map below as the proposed final map. 

Proposed final map for ward redistricting. Call 509-338-3311 for assistance.
View as PDF

Ward Total Population Over/Under Ideal Deviation from Ideal
 1  10,854  (113)  (1.0)%
 2  10,958  (9)  (0.1)%
 3  11,089  122  1.1%

Ideal Population  10,967
Overall Deviation 2.1%

Draft Map Overview
At the March 29, 2022, City Council Ward Redistricting workshop, FLO Analytics presented four springboard scenarios. Following the presentation and workshop session with the consultants, City Council decided to move forward with three of the four scenarios. Councilmembers selected maps 1, 3, and 4 to advance to draft map status, and rejected Springboard Scenario 2.

Note: For all draft maps, you will notice on the north side of Pullman (just north of the Pullman-Albion Road) and on the south side of Pullman (south of Grand Avenue S, between SE Fairmount Drive and SW Baldwin Drive), there appears to be two areas that do not belong to a ward. In fact, these two areas are part of larger census blocks, created before the areas were annexed into the City of Pullman. Due to the scarcity of residents living there, these areas do not affect Pullman's ideal population.
Draft Map 1 - "Minimal Change"
Draft map 1
View as PDF

Ward Total Population Over/Under Ideal Deviation from Ideal
 1  11,199  232  2.1%
 2  10,711  (256)  (2.3)%
 3  10,991  24  0.2%

Ideal Population  10,967
Overall Deviation 4.4%
Draft Map 3 - "Lowest Deviation and Largest Change"

Draft map 3

View as PDF

Ward Total Population Over/Under Ideal Deviation from Ideal
 1  10,879  (88)  (0.8)%
 2  11,056  89  0.8%
 3  10,966  (1)  0.0%

Ideal Population  10,967
Overall Deviation 1.6%
Draft Map 4 - "Low Deviation and Minimal Change"
Draft map 4
View as PDF

Ward Total Population Over/Under Ideal Deviation from Ideal
 1  10,854  (113)  (1.0)%
 2  10,958  (9)  (0.1)%
 3  11,089  122  1.1%

Ideal Population  10,967
Overall Deviation 2.1%
Learn the Terms
Census Blocks
Census blocks are the smallest geographical units for which the United States Census Bureau publishes data. They are the basis for tabulating demographic data from the census. Each block is assigned a 4-digit number ranging from 0000 to 9999. In rural areas, like Pullman, census blocks may be large, irregular, or bounded by several features like roads or streams. Learn more about census blocks.

Communities of Interest
A community of interest (COI) is a population that shares common social and economic interests like neighborhoods, school districts, or census-designated spaces.

Compact
Compactness typically refers to the geographical shape of the district. The shape should be composed, and where possible, void of areas that are unnecessarily thin or serpentine.

Contiguous
All portions of the district are physically adjacent. It should be possible to travel everywhere within a district without crossing that district's boundary.

Deviation from Ideal
This figure represents the difference between the total population and the ideal population expressed as a percentage. It is calculated by dividing the absolute over/under ideal by the ideal population.

Draft Map
While springboard scenarios resemble early concepts, draft maps are identified by City Council as stronger representations of what redistricting could look like. Once draft maps are selected and published, a 10-day public comment period commences.

Equal in Population
Cities must aim to balance population totals across districts. This refers to the total population--not only citizens of voting age. This supports the principle that Councilmembers represent all residents in a community.

Existing or Natural Boundaries
Major streets and roads along with rivers, lakes, and mountains all fall under this label. It also includes lines that are already being used as boundaries.

Ideal Population
The average population of the three City Council wards. It is calculated by dividing the total population (32,901) by the number of wards (3).

Overall Deviation
The absolute sum of the deviations of the most and least populated districts. A lower overall deviation means the total population of each ward is more adequately balanced.

Springboard Scenario
Springboard scenarios are preliminary concepts that help advance the conversation toward the adoption of draft maps. These scenarios can be critiqued and edited before potentially moving to draft map status.

Total Population
Refers to all citizens of a particular ward.

Official Timeline

March 29, 2022 | Redistricting Presentation at Regular City Council Meeting
Consultants from FLO Analytics covered redistricting basics and presented several springboard scenarios to Council. Council reviewed each scenario and workshopped with the consultants on the goals, justification, and impact.

April 16, 2022 | City Council Published Draft Maps and  Kicked Off Public Comment Period 
Council published the three official draft maps--1, 3, and 4--and allowed 10 days for public comment. The community was encouraged comment via:
  • Email
  • Phone
  • In writing and delivered to City Hall at 190 SE Crestview Street, Building A, Pullman, WA, 99163.
  • At the April 26, 2022 Council meeting beginning at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Check the "Stay Informed" section below for ways to join.
April 26, 2022 | City Council Hosted Public Hearing
The Council invited the public to comment on the three published draft maps during the public hearing. At its conclusion, Council closed public comment and approved Draft Map 4 as the proposed final redistricting map. Watch or listen to the recording of the public hearing on YouTube.

May 24, 2022 | City Council Meeting to Approve Final Map
After considering  public comments, Council approved the final map for 2022 City Council Ward Redistricting. The approved ordinance revises the description of ward boundaries and amends the City Code to match the final map. Watch or listen to the recording of the May 24 City Council Regular Meeting.

Stay Informed

Join Council Meetings in the way that's convenient for you. You can attend:
If you missed a meeting, check our YouTube channel for the recording.

Follow us!
Please follow the City of Pullman on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter for redistricting reminders and updates as well as for other city news and announcements.