Census Scandal Rocks Maryland: Delegate Seats Up for Grabs

In the sweltering summer of 1950, a controversy brewed in the heart of Maryland. The US Census had released preliminary figures, sending shockwaves through the state’s power structures. At the epicenter of the storm was St. Mary’s County, which had experienced a staggering 979% growth in population since 1940. The county’s 28,953 residents now stood 12th among the 17 counties, catapulting it to a potential gain of two representatives in the House of Delegates.