Kind of a random question, but how do you guys figure all of this out?
I have a spreadsheet programmed with the projection algorithm. I then use the spreadsheet and a map to reach a basic design. Then I look for swaps by hand that would optimize the outcome.
Is that something you setup? I always find it cool that you can just create these maps. How long does each one take on average? (obviously smaller states take less time)
How long it takes depends less on the size of the states and more on the size of the counties. States with lots of small-population counties are really easy, but states with a few large population counties are tough. (Some just aren't even worth doing this for because their counties are too large to avoid splitting nearly every county multiple ways--think New Jersey, Arizona, etc.)
New Jersey isn't so bad. The secret there is to use the town (or other municipality) as a fundamental unit. See my
post earlier this year. As the post indicates it took a few hours to get that map.
Arizona is more problematic since Maricopa county is not fully divided into subdivision that have estimates. However, the incorporated places do have estimates and that can be used to make a reasonable 2010 division.
