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metropolitan statistical area). In addition, Minneapolis and St. Paul experienced a small decrease in population, while the remainder of Minnesota had either some loss or modest growth. Hearings Before Minn. H.R. Comm. on Redistricting, supra, at 17. Accordingly, approximately 53.7% of Minnesota's population now lives in the seven-county metro area, and 58.3% of the state's population lives in the eleven-county metropolitan statistical area. Adding the portions of St. Cloud sitting in Stearns and Benton Counties to this total, 59.4%, or closer to five-eighths than one-half, of the state's population lives in the urban and suburban areas reaching from southeastern Dakota County to St. Cloud. Given that Minnesota has eight congressional seats, these statistics indicate that five of the eight districts should he in this urban/suburban area, while. three of the eight districts should he in Greater Minnesota. We found further support for this proposition through an analysis of the parties' proposed plans. Of the four plans submitted by the parties, two — the Moe and Zachman plans � presented "four-four options" (meaning that each plan contained four metropolitan and four out-state districts) and two — the Cotlow and Ventura plans w- presented "five-three" options. A number of rural Minnesotans supported the idea of a four-four plan because Greater Minnesota does not wish to lose a congressional representative. E.g., Hearings Before ,Minn. Spec. Redistricting Panel 13, 17-18* 35 (Marshall, Minn. Feb. 4,2002); 43 (St. Cloud, Minn. Feb. 4,2002). We also heard, however, that rural Minnesotans do not want their interests overshadowed by a strong suburban voice within any one district. E.g., Marshall Hearing supra, at 32, 39-40. An examination of the proposed four-four plans indicates that approximately 40% of the population of the Moe plan's second congressional district would live in suburban counties and St. Cloud, and two other districts would be approximately 12% and 19% suburban. Similarly, the Zachman plan's second and seventh congressional districts would be 38% and 33% suburban, respectively. -5-