The last edition of Black Elected Officials: A Statistical Summary showed that as of January 2000, the number of black elected officials (BEOs) in the U.S. was 9,040. This edition, which records the most current complete data for those in office as of January 2001 shows that in the intervening year,the number of BEOs rose by 61 to reach 9,101, a 0.7 percent increase over the previous year (Table 1). In 1970, the first year in which the Joint Center collected this data, there were 1,469BEOs. The newest total of 9,101 black elected officials in 2001 represents a historic high.

The largest categorical increase in BEOs was at the county level, where there was an increase of 22positions, a 2.3 percent rise. There were also significant increases among black state level officials, 11or 1.8 percent, primarily due to an increase of 13 black state representatives. Every category of BEOs increased from 2000 to 2001, with the exception of U.S. House members, which remained constant.

The Joint Center previously published this information in book version annually from 1970 to 1993. The Joint Center now provides information on BEOs in more abbreviated formats and statistical summaries. More detailed information on BEOs including names, addresses, and offices may be purchased. For ordering information, please contact the Joint Center's Office of Development and Communications at (202) 789-6366.

Date Published: May 2002