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CHARLOTTE

Census reports immigration figures

Foreign-born transplants accounted for more than a third of Charlotte's 85,164 new residents during the past five years, according to U.S. Census data released Tuesday.

About one of eight Mecklenburg county residents was born in another country, the statistics show.

North Carolina, like many Southeastern states, continues to be a big draw for immigrants in search of jobs and more affordable living conditions. The state's immigrant population grew by 30.4 percent during the past five years, statistics show. In South Carolina, that sector grew by 48 percent in the same period.

Nationally, 12.4 percent of U.S. residents are foreign-born.

Around Charlotte, Cabarrus County's immigrant population grew by 47.8 percent over the last five years. In Union County, that population rose by 73 percent.

Following a national trend, most immigrants in the county came from Mexico and other Latin American countries, while others also arrived from countries including India, China and Vietnam.