The census results show that the state's overall population increased by 21.4 percent. But population in urban counties, particularly in the Triangle, Triad and Charlotte areas, increased by more than 30 percent.
According to state estimates, the counties in the three urban areas will have a combined total of about 24 seats in the N.C. Senate and 59 seats in the House -- nearly half of both legislative bodies.
N.C. legislators have to redraw district lines after each census to reflect population shifts and to ensure that each House and Senate district has roughly the same population.
Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange,
