Submitted Art A proposed map of North Dakota District 14 now includes Eddy County and part of rural Burleigh County.

North Dakota Legislative District 14 has grown slightly in size and population after committee members met to redraw the state map based on 2020 North Dakota census information.

Sen. Jerry Klein, who represents District 14, sits on the interim Senate Redistricting Committee. Klein said the district has undergone a few changes, which include adding Eddy County to the district.

The district covers a large geographical area stretching from the Pierce-Rolette County line in the north to Kidder and Burleigh counties to the south. The district now includes Eddy County on its eastern side and Sheridan County to the west.

The district’s southwestern portion has expanded to include 950 residents of Burleigh County.

Klein said of the change to the southwest, “The portion of Burleigh was part of District 14 before redistricting in 2011. It does represent similar demographics as we currently have with small communities and agriculture.”

“Other then the addition of 950 residents from Burleigh County we will continue to do what is necessary to represent that part of North Dakota,” Klein added.

District 14 Rep. Jon Nelson, who lives in Rugby, said, “The redistricting bill that the committee approved will be voted on when we reconvene on November 8.”

“As far as the inclusion of the portion of Burleigh County that was included in District 14, it will not affect our overall population change by more than 25% so it will have minimal impact on the district,” Nelson added.

Other changes in North Dakota’s state district redrawing include the creation of Districts 4A and 9A, which grew from Districts 4 and 9. District 4A includes the Ft. Berthold Native American Reservation and District 9A includes the Turtle Mountain Native American Reservation.

Nelson, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, added, “We will also approve funding proposals for the $1.07 Billion in ARPA funds that the state of North Dakota will receive.” Nelson said the committee met Oct. 12, 13, 19 and 20 and would meet again Oct. 26 and 27 “to decide which projects should be part of the funding package.”