By Travis Barton | [email protected]

Holladay grew almost 21% between 2010 and 2020 according to census numbers.

That census every 10 years, and resulting population change, forces all levels of government to reassess its boundary lines. For Holladay, it means realigning its districts so each district has a similar population size rather than geographic.

Holladay is separated into five districts, represented by a single councilmember that makes up the five-person Holladay City Council (the mayor is voted at-large by the entire city).

In May the council will vote to approve one of two proposed maps. The primary difference between the two comes down to two areas.

First, the southwest portion of District 2 (between Highland Drive and Holladay Boulevard) will move into District 1, the central portion of the city. One option has everything west and south of Holladay Boulevard, while the other cuts west at Lincoln Lane to Highland Drive.

Second, in the middle of the city one area (north of Cottonwood Creek and west of Cottonwood Lane) will either stay where it is or move into District 1.

Both options have everything south of Valley View and Branch, west of I-215, east of Wander Lane and north of Casto Lane moving into District 5.

The 2020 census saw District 1 with the lowest population at 6,068 and District 2 with the highest at 7,141 and a 15% increase from 2010. That’s why, in order to bring the population sizes closer in line with one another, District 2 will cede population to District 1.

The council’s preference is to go with the option that sees a portion of District 5 move into District 1 and District 2 cedes the area south of Lincoln Lane into District 1.

The change still keeps District 1, represented by Councilman Ty Brewer, as the smallest.

“By the time we take the 2030 census, Ty (District 1) will grow by another 3-4,000 residents with Holladay Hills,” Mayor Rob Dahle said. “So I think that’s the best option.”

The changes also accomplish city staff’s goals in keeping districts to within 4% of each other and maintaining clean lines. The proposed change in the middle of the city would cede area from District 5, represented by Councilman Dan Gibbons, into District 1, creating a new boundary along Cottonwood Creek.

“That really cleans up a puzzling boundary we have,” Gibbons said during the March council meeting commending the change.