BLACK representation on Ferguson City Council increased from one to three on Tuesday in the wake of last year’s killing of Michael Brown by white police officer Darren Wilson.

The election of Wesley Bell and Ella Jones means that half of the council will soon be black in the Missouri, US, city where two-thirds of the 21,000 residents are black.

Mayor James Knowles III, who could break any tie votes, is white.

Lone incumbent black councillor Dwayne James was not up for re-election.

“This community came out in record numbers to make sure our voices were heard,” said councillor-elect Mr Bell.

“When you have a community engaged, the sky is the limit.”

It was the first municipal election in Ferguson since Mr Wilson shot the unarmed Mr Brown, sparking fierce protests in the St Louis area and spawning a national Black Lives Matter movement to press for changes in police treatment of minorities.

A St Louis County grand jury decided not to indict Mr Wilson, who subsequently resigned from the police force, on any charges related to Mr Brown’s killing.

Voter turnout increased substantially from the previous election following a strong get-out-the-vote effort from trade unions and other national organisations.

The town that mobilised only 12.3 per cent of registered voters last April had a 29.4 per cent turnout on Tuesday, according to the St Louis County elections board.

That was about double the overall turnout in St Louis County, where Ferguson is located.