Thread: OR-Hispanic surge is reshaping Oregon

Hispanic surge is reshaping Oregon
by Gosia Wozniacka, The Oregonian
Wednesday May 13, 2009, 9:01 PM
Census estimates

See all of the U.S. Census Bureau numbers

Since 2000, Oregon's white majority population has grown slower and had fewer children, while Hispanics continue to increase their share -- particularly with a big surge in people younger than 20.

The latest U.S. Census figures for the state mirror a nationwide trend, suggesting that Oregon will continue to diversify for a long time and should prepare for political and other changes, experts say.

The differences are starkest in the Portland area. Four of the metro area's five counties -- Yamhill, Clackamas, Washington and Columbia -- had a negative growth rate among non-Hispanic whites younger than 20. The equivalent Hispanic population in those counties had high growth rates.

Clackamas County, for instance, had almost 10,000 fewer white children in 2008 than in 2000, while Hispanic youths grew by 61 percent.



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The U.S. Census Bureau's latest national population estimates show that our nation is becoming older and more racially and ethnically diverse. The estimates found that nearly half (47 percent) of the nation's children younger than five were a minority in 2008, with 25 percent being Hispanic. For all children under 18, 44 percent were a minority and 22 percent were Hispanic.



Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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"The growth of the Hispanic population has offset the losses seen in public schools," said Risa Proehl, a demographic analysis coordinator at Portland State University's Population Research Center, "especially considering a downward trend in the already lower fertility rates of white non-Hispanics."

Higher fertility rates among Hispanics have contributed to the significant increases in their younger age groups, Proehl said. And it means that population will continue to get bigger, she said.

But Hispanics' high growth rates were across all age groups, Proehl said, because of continuing immigration.

As immigrants assimilate, Proehl said, their growth rates may drop somewhat, but "it will be over a long period of time, and I don't foresee it dropping dramatically. For now, we're seeing Hispanic growth rates accelerate."

The growth of Hispanics in Oregon -- especially the current and expected future growth among children -- will shape the state's political scene, experts say.

"We're heading in that direction, and it's already happening in certain places like Woodburn," said Daniel HoSang, a political science professor at the University of Oregon.

But, HoSang said, Latinos are politically diverse, so it's hard to say what that will mean.

"You can see it shape statewide politics," he said, "but we won't see that there's a single trajectory it will follow."

The real influence won't be felt for at least another decade, HoSang said, because there is a lag between arrival, naturalization and ongoing participation. In states such as California, he said, only recently have large numbers of naturalized citizens headed to the ballot box.

Parties and electoral organizations in Oregon must figure out how to draw Latinos to vote, HoSang said. The climate already is changing, he said, pointing out that voters last fall rejected Measure 58, which would have restricted bilingual education.

"There will be limited appetite for that kind of politics in Oregon," HoSang said, because "the parties have learned from the California experience that it has a limited short-term appeal."

In the metro area, only Multnomah County bucked the trend among the youthful population: The county saw a 13 percent increase in the 0-4 years old age group. Births in Multnomah County have almost consistently increased since 2000, with a big jump seen in 2005 and again in 2006, PSU's Proehl said.

While non-Hispanic whites are a shrinking share of Oregon's population, their raw numbers are still increasing, Proehl noted.

The state saw a slight increase in the Asian and Pacific Islander population, while the black and Native American populations remained stable.

-- Gosia Wozniacka; gosiawozniacka@news.oregonian.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncou ... panic.html

1st it is time to STOP the use of Hispanic labeling especially when discussing race. Today Hispanic is everywhere but what about Germans, Italians etc. 2nd we have a vociferous ethno centric Hispanic advocacy movement that is very much taking advantage of the special treatment the Hispanic ethnic group is getting and you bet that is why they are organized at all levels of our society. 3rd we have Spanish everywhere. So what does this tell you? Of course there is a demographic hegemony game that is being played 1) by the so-called Hispanic leaders using taking advantage of our system 2) Non Hispanic are totally falling for misplaced compassion and political correction.

Cure? Take the Hispanic label out of our conversation and get back to pure racial distinctions because yes Hisapnics are white, black, asians etc. Teh longer we continue with this special status Hispanics enjoy we will pay a HUGE price tomorrow. We ignore this at our own peril.

You nailed alamb.

The locusts are devouring Oregon in record time.

Oregon was such a beautiful state before the illegal alien invasion.

Look at the crime rate, education level, welfare money spent, hospitals closing, and health dept. records on communicable diseaes and you will find a large illegals population from Mexico.

Sheeez it almost sounds like they can not wait to turn Oregon into another Mexico city!