Hispanics now largest group in Escondido

By J. Harry Jones and Morgan Lee

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 9:56 p.m.



South County has long had cities where Hispanics make up the largest part of the population. Now for the first time, the trend has extended into North County — and demographers expect more of that growth in years to come, perhaps changing the makeup of city councils, boosting the ethnic mix of schools and increasing tensions over illegal immigration and public services.

Hispanics account for 46 percent of Escondido’s population, according to the latest estimates from the San Diego Association of Governments. The second-largest group, non-Hispanic whites, comes in at 44 percent.

Another North County municipality, Vista, shows a tie — at 44 percent — for Hispanic and non-Hispanic white residents.

Escondido and Vista join three South Bay cities that have significant Hispanic populations: National City (63 percent), Chula Vista (51 percent) and Imperial Beach (48 percent).

The statistics do not differentiate between legal and illegal residents. They are based on data about births, deaths, migration patterns and other factors, said senior analyst Beth Jarosz at the association of 18 cities and the county.

Patrick Osio of Chula Vista, who edits a newsletter on Hispanic affairs, said the dynamics are ripe for a political transformation once more Hispanics — such as the young and recent immigrants — join the voting ranks.

“If you just take these numbers, the mayor and council of Escondido should be Hispanic. But they’re not,â€