Talk:Tennessee's 5th congressional district

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Nashville's district number has changed at least three times since it was formed in 1866--see for yourself here: [1] Blueboy96

This article is not about Nashville's district, it is about Tennessee District 5. Kaldari 29 June 2005 21:12 (UTC)

[edit] Historical boundaries

The Tennessee congressional boundaries are typically redrawn in the second year of each decade (1951, 1961, etc.) following publication of the Census. Because congressional elections occur on even years, the first elections to use the new boundaries are on the third year of each decade (1952, 1962, etc). And because the elected officials don't actually take office until January, the effects of redistricting don't practically take effect until the fourth year of each decade (1953, 1963, etc.). There are, of course, exceptions. For example, in 1945 there was a mid-decade redistricting (which did not affect District 5).

For verification, check out the Tennessee Blue Books or look at the Tennessee State Planning Commission's Maps of Congressional Districts for the years in question. For decades prior to 1940, you'll probably have to look at election results (if you can find them). Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any between 1890 and 1922. It will probably take a visit to the State Archives to dig up the rest. Kaldari 03:34, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

I guess what jumped out at me is that a lot of congressional districts change numbers with each census while retaining the same boundaries. Like John Dingell's district in the Detroit burbs--it's changed numbers three times since he's been in office. And my home district, NC9, has changed numbers three times since it was formed in 1943, but is still focused on Charlotte.

One basis for some of my changes earlier is that Jo Byrns had his district number change from the 6th to the 5th during his next-to-last term (he represented the 6th from 1909-33 and then the 5th from 1933 until his death in 1936, according to the Political Graveyard), but still represented a Nashville/Davidson County-based district. Same thing happened to Percy Priest--he represented the 5th from 1941-43, the 6th from 1943-53 and the 5th again from 1953 until his death in 1956. Through all those changes, he still represented a Nashville/Davidson County-based district. I probably should have bandied this in the Talk page sooner, but I usually don't make an edit unless I'm sure what I have is correct. Blueboy96 09:50, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Here are some specific references for the historic boundaries:

• Tennessee State Planning Commission Map of Congressional Districts (2-6-41) (Established by Chapter 95 Public Acts of 1941 with 1940 Population Figures): Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Giles, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Rutherford, Wilson
• Congressional Directory 1940: Davidson, Macon, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale
• Election of 1936: Davidson, Macon, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale
• Election of 1934: Davidson, Macon, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale
• Election of 1932: Davidson, Macon, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale
• Election of 1930: Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Rutherford
• Election of 1928: Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Rutherford
• Election of 1926: Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Rutherford
• Election of 1924: Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Rutherford
• Election of 1922: Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Rutherford
• Election of 1890: Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, Moore, Rutherford

Kaldari 00:06, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

Hmmm ... looking at the Political Graveyard, it appears that the 5th District which existed from 1875-1933 was eliminated in the 1930 census even though Tennessee remained at 10 districts, while the old 6th, which was Nashville's district for most of that time, was renumbered the 5th. Jo Byrns represented the 6th from 1909 until 1933, and then the 5th from 1933 until his death in 1936. You may want to compare the boundaries for the 6th in the 1930 election to the boundaries of the 5th for the 1932 election ... methinks they might be the same or pretty close. If I had to hazard a guess, I think the old 5th (the one that last existed in the 1930 election) was largely collapsed into the 4th, the district where Albert Gore started his D.C. career. That district merged with Joe Evins' 5th District, but Evins kept the seat after Gore, Sr. moved to the Senate. Al Gore took over in 1977, and the district was renumbered as the 6th--its current number--after the 1980 census. So it looks like the 5th District that last existed in 1930 is an ancestor of the current 6th.Blueboy96 05:03, 13 March 2006 (UTC)