Thread: Census: U.S. Latino Population to Top 50 Million

Census: U.S. Latino Population to Top 50 Million

Published March 24, 2011

March 8th: Jurrors and court workers, a cross section of Orange County, leave the Santa Ana, Calif. courthouse. (AP Photo/Orange County Register, Jebb Harris)

The Latino population of the United States is on track to exceed 50 million, or roughly 1 in 6 Americans; among U.S. children, Hispanics are now roughly 1 in 4, according to Pew Hispanic Center analysis of U.S. Census Data.

The population numbers released by the Census so far show the Hispanic population on track to be 900,000 higher than expected as their ranks surpassed census estimates in roughly 40 states. Many of their biggest jumps were in the South, including Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and Louisiana, where immigrants made large inroads over the last decade.

America's heartland is moving Westward in a historic path fueled by Latinos accounting for more than half of the U.S. population increase over the last decade while also making up an unprecedented 90 percent of the total U.S. growth since 2000.

The Census Bureau on Thursday will release its first set of national-level findings from the 2010 count on race and migration, detailing a decade in which rapid minority growth, aging whites and increased suburbanization were the predominant story lines.

Geographers estimate that the nation's population center will move southwest about 30 miles and be placed in or near the village of Plato in Texas County, Mo.

"There is excitement," said Brad Gentry, 48, of Houston, Mo., who publishes the weekly paper in Texas County, noting that the U.S. population center typically carries symbolic meaning as the nation's heartland. "It is putting a spotlight on a corner of the world that doesn't get much attention. Most residents are proud of our region and like the idea that others will learn our story through this recognition."

Racial and ethnic minorities are expected to make up an unprecedented 90 percent of the total U.S. growth since 2000, due to immigration and higher birth rates for Latinos.

Asians for the first time had a larger numeric gain than African-Americans, who remained the second largest minority group at roughly 37 million. Based on the 2010 census results released by state so far, multiracial Americans were on track to increase by more than 25 percent, to about roughly 8.7 million.

The number of non-Hispanic whites, whose median age is now 41, edged up slightly to 197 million. Declining birth rates meant their share of the total U.S. population dropped over the last decade from 69 percent to roughly 64 percent.

"This really is a transformational decade for the nation," said William H. Frey, a demographer at Brookings Institution who has analyzed most of the 2010 data. "The 2010 census shows vividly how these new minorities are both leading growth in the nation's most dynamic regions and stemming decline in others."

"They will form the bulk of our labor-force growth in the next decade as they continue to disperse into larger parts of the country," he said.

The final figures come as states in the coming months engage in the contentious process of redrawing political districts based on population and racial makeup, with changes that analysts believe will result in more Hispanic-majority districts.

The population changes will result in a shift of 12 House seats and electoral votes affecting 18 states beginning in the 2012 elections. Most of the states picking up seats, which include Texas and Florida, are Republican-leaning, even as most of their growth is now being driven largely by Democrat-leaning Hispanics.

Among other findings:

—In at least 10 states, the share of children who are minorities has already passed 50 percent, up from five states in 2000. They include Mississippi, Georgia, Maryland, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, California, New Mexico and Hawaii.

—Over the last decade, Latino population growth was most rapid in the South, where many states have seen their Latino populations double since 2000. For the first time, Hispanic population growth outpaced that of blacks and whites in the region, changing the South's traditional "black-white" image.

—More than half of the cities with the largest African-American concentrations showed black population declines in the last decade, including Chicago and Detroit. In contrast, the suburbs of growing southern metro areas like Atlanta, Dallas and Houston saw some of their highest gains.

The Census Bureau calculates the mean U.S. population center every 10 years based on its national head count. The center represents the middle point of the nation's population distribution — the geographic point at which the country would balance if each of its 308.7 million residents weighed the same.

Plato, with a population of 109, is roughly 30 miles southwest of the present mean center in Phelps County, Mo. Based on current U.S. growth, which is occurring mostly in the South and West, the center of population is expected to cross into Arkansas or Oklahoma by midcentury.

The last time the U.S. center fell outside the Midwest was 1850, in the eastern territory now known as West Virginia. Its later move to the Midwest bolstered the region as the nation's cultural heartland in the 20th century, central to U.S. farming and Rust Belt manufacturing sites.

Based on reporting by the Associated Press.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2 ... z1HWKz5OUK

"Half those counted are here illegally, but of course they won't mention that fact!"

Related Thread :
Is America Becoming Hispanic Country
htttp://www.alipac.us/ftopict-231830-la ... ion+census

I think that a CONSERVATIVE estimate Is that at least HALF of that 50 million are Illegals and their anchors Invasion of our country without ever firing a shot

what is the total net effect of illegal immigration? We are committing suicide because of political correctness and misplaced compassion.

Illegals are here not just because of jobs but also because of free education, healthcare and welfare, for themselves and their kids!

We have been subsidizing the lives of millions of latin americans and it is basically recasting/destroying the United States and we are letting this happen.

And flood continues un abated

After readiong these articles today I had to once again call DC and voice my opposition to allowing this to happen along with some other issues. I just get so peed off that this is allowed to happen and no action taken. Our government in DC is AWOL on their responsibilities to this nation.

And Obama should be dragged from office for going to war or carrying out war in Lybia without any directives from our Congress. Lybia is NO THREAT to our nation and should have been handled through our CONGRESS,NOT THE ARAB NATIONS (for permission)

the census opening sentence, " IN A SURPRISING SHOW OF GROWTH, HISPANICS ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN HALF OF THE U.S. POPULATION INCREASE OVER THE LAST DECADE, EXCEEDING ESTIMATES IN MOST STATES! " REALLY? SURPRISED? everyone i know is not SURPRISED at all!what planet do these people live on because it most certainly is not this one!

"Welcome to Alipac gsellr!" yeah they don't mention that half are illegal!

Originally Posted by gsellr

the census opening sentence, " IN A SURPRISING SHOW OF GROWTH, HISPANICS ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN HALF OF THE U.S. POPULATION INCREASE OVER THE LAST DECADE, EXCEEDING ESTIMATES IN MOST STATES! " REALLY? SURPRISED? everyone i know is not SURPRISED at all!what planet do these people live on because it most certainly is not this one!

They live on that New World planet, the one created by mass deception of the people.