At one point, Selma’s population made it the second largest city in the state.

At one point, Selma’s agricultural prowess and riverfront marketplace made it an economic force in the state.

But while the area’s economic power has grown pale in comparison to other parts of the state and the area’s population has failed to grow at a pace to keep it at its once lofty position, the city remains the defacto capital of Alabama’s Black Belt. And it is that political power and influence that has been shaken by recent electoral shifts in the state and the pending Congressional redistricting process has the potential to do even more damage to Selma’s position as a political player.

The Seventh Congressional District, which remains a district firmly in the hands of the Democrats, is a district with more than a 60 percent minority population. It is also a district that was the only one of the state’s seven districts to lose population between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census.

Changes are coming to the Seventh District and there is a good chance those changes will be the inclusion of more residents from the Birmingham or Tuscaloosa area, or the inclusion of a third metropolitan area, Montgomery.

No longer does Selma carry the big stick in the district. It hasn’t for a very long time.

Even though the district is currently represented by a Selma native, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, it is hard for Selma to maintain a position of power in the district when it must compete with the likes of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.

If a portion of Montgomery is included in the district, let’s hope the home strings of being the birthplace of the district’s congresswoman is enough to leave Selma with a little bit of influence.